6 - 12 December 2001
Issue No.563
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 6 - 12 December 2001 Issue No.563 |
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Ancient history
Whenever I hear about excavations that have turned up Ancient Egyptian artefacts, I am filled with wonder at this country's rich heritage. Throughout its history, Egypt has been the crossroads of many civilisations. But the greatest discovery of all is that of the tomb of Tutankhamen.
When Howard Carter came upon the tomb, the treasures that emerged from the depths dazzled the world. Tomb robbers had not known of these splendours, thankfully. Although the king who was laid to rest there was not the greatest of monarchs, and had ruled for only nine years, his mummy was encased in gold. The chamber's magnificence made me wonder what the tombs of other monarchs must have held before robbers looted them.
The discovery had a profound impact on me as a writer. It opened up unexplored vistas, gave me a fresh impetus to write, and turned my fiction in a new direction. From that time on, I decided to bring ancient history to life in my novels.
Another revelation prompted me to write about the present, since I am convinced that our history is alive and embedded in our lives today. So I have not abandoned the past after all. The object of my fascination is Akhnaten, "the One Who Dwelt in Truth."
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
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