Your book investigates the reign of the fourth dynasty of Egypt’s Old Kingdom. What sets this period apart from others in ancient Egyptian history?
This is the only book written in a storytelling style about the Fourth Dynasty that is also based on evidence about the family of the Fourth Dynasty’s founding pharaoh, Seneferu, and his son Khufu. The Fourth Dynasty was the golden age of Egypt. Every scholar and many members of the public are thrilled by the magic of this dynasty.
In Mountains of the Pharaohs, you bring to life the rulers of ancient Egypt with vivid details and anecdotes. Can you share a particularly intriguing story or aspect about one of the pharaohs featured in your book that might surprise readers?
I think the Pharaoh should be Khufu. I reveal the story of the builders of Khufu’s pyramid and bring some of these builders back to life for the readers. I also share exciting details about the secret doors found inside Khufu’s pyramid.
The construction of the pyramids at Giza remains one of the most enduring mysteries in archaeology. Based on your research, what do you believe was the most significant purpose or motivation behind the building of these monumental structures?
I always say that building the pyramids is what built Egypt. Khufu and his followers had to use science and technology to construct them—as a tomb, as a symbol of Khufu’s power and dignity, and to save his body from the afterlife.
For readers who are fascinated by ancient history but may not be familiar with Egyptian archaeology, what key takeaway or message do you hope they gain from reading Mountains of the Pharaohs?
I think the message that I want people to understand is that they must not look at the pyramids as a structure built by a lost civilization. When you read Mountains of the Pharaohs you will see that the pyramids were the national project of the whole nation. If you were to try to build them again today, you would not succeed because you don’t have the same dedication that Egyptians had in the past.
As a renowned archaeologist, what was the most surprising discovery or realization you made during your research for this book and how did it impact your understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization?
The most important discovery is that of the tombs of the pyramid builders which prove that the pyramids were built by Egyptians and not slaves. Also, I introduce accurate evidence about the family and the queens of this dynasty. The secret doors that I found are another very important discovery and 2024–2025 will be the year that I reveal to the public the secrets of these doors.
Explore more in this article in Ancient Origins, which features a Q&A with Dr. Zahi Hawass. In this interview, he discusses various topics elaborated in his books Mountains of the Pharaohs and Scanning the Pharaohs.
