IFAO

The 18^th session of the seminar series 'Exploring Egypt: Histories and Historiographies', a joint initiative of the Ifao, DAIK, CAI, PCMA, NVIC, & ARCE will be hosted at the NVIC, Zamalek. This session features Dr. Azza Ezzat, and it is entitled " Egyptian Perceptions of Antiquities (1869–1925): A Justification for Marginalization? ". The lecture is open to the public in the limit of available places.

Abstract:

This lecture examines Egyptian perceptions of antiquities between 1869 and 1925 under foreign control, questioning whether such perceptions were used as a justification for the marginalization of Egyptians within the field of Egyptology. It explores various attitudes toward heritage during this period, including the exploitation and rejection of antiquities through forgery, looting, and religious opposition to ancient remains.

The lecture also traces the restricted formation of Egyptian Egyptologists through four educational institutions, highlighting pioneering figures such as Ahmed Kamal, Selim Hassan, Sami Gabra, Labib Habachi, and Hassan Sobhi. In addition, it investigates the French, German, and British competition for control over antiquities, the exclusion of Egyptians from the Antiquities Service, and their limited participation in international scientific forums.

Particular attention is given to the first “lost” generation of Egyptian Egyptologists and their attempts to Arabize Egyptology despite criticism and institutional obstacles. Finally, the lecture discusses later achievements, including the establishment of archaeology and Egyptology studies at Cairo University, the foundation of Egypt’s first archaeological society in 1925, and Egyptian efforts to improve the condition and historical knowledge of dragomans (interpreters).

Exploring Egypt Seminar: Histories and Historiographies

A joint collaboration between the Ifao (Institut français d’archéologie orientale) & the DAIK (German Archaeological Institute in Cairo), joined in 2025 by the CAI (Centro Archeologico Italiano), PCMA (Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology Cairo), NVIC (Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo) and ARCE (American Research Center in Egypt).

This seminar series aims, broadly speaking, to discuss different aspects related to the production of historical knowledge on Egypt. Speakers are invited to reflect on the different ways of writing, narrating and thinking about Egypt’s history at different periods, as well as on the actors, contexts, and power relations involved in the production of historical narratives. By adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, the seminar series seeks to bring into conversation fields which have traditionally been examined separately, such as the history of Egyptology, the study of modern Egyptian historiography, and the history of heritage and preservation.

In addition, while the seminar series seeks to shed a critical light on the formation of specific disciplinary fields and traditions, it also moves beyond an exclusive focus on professional history writing, in order to explore the various institutions, genres, and channels, through which historical narratives have been produced and disseminated.  Among the themes that will be discussed, for instance, are the different “histories” of Egyptology, archaeology or Arabic and Islamic studies, academic versus “popular” representations of history, and heritage preservation as a site of production of historical narratives.

Exploring Egypt: Histories and Historiographies Seminar is organised by Fatma Keshk, Postdoctoral fellow at DAIK & Ifao and Malak Labib, scientific member of the Ifao.