“See” Hosts Prominent Archaeologist Hussein Bassir (Photos)

Prominent Archaeologist Dr. Hussein Bassir talked about his new book “First Queen: Drama of Love and Power” in a seminar hosted by Sada ElBalad English website “See”, in the presence of Editor in Chief, Safaa Nawar, and a number of reporters.

“My book aims at restoring Egyptian woman position as an equalizing force during the pharaonic era,” Bassir said. “The book deals with the biography of thirty Egyptian queens since the queen Neithhotep in ancient Egypt 1st dynasty, through the great queens; Hatshepsut, Tey, Nefertiti, Nefertari and Twosret, to the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra.”

Moreover, the prominent archaeologist noted that his book sheds light on the unknown ancient queens; as everyone knows the famous queens of Egypt, like Hatshepsut and Nefertiti, but the public might not be familiar with Egypt’s queens in the period from the beginning of the old kingdom until the Greco-Roman era.

“Egypt’s queens have proven worthy either as supporters for their husbands; the great kings of Egypt, or as guardians of their young kings’ thrones, and even when they took over the rule of Egypt,” he stressed.

“It is the first time to publish a book in Arabic about ancient Egypt queens,” Bassir added. “The book highlights the key role played by women in ancient Egypt, and their great achievements.”

“The Egyptian woman has never changed throughout Egypt’s history,” the archaeologist said. “They are mothers of men and heroes who ruled the whole world.”

In addition, he added that Queens like Tetisheri and Ahhotep I encouraged their sons; kings Kamose and Ahmose I to fight against Hyksos until they were expelled from Egypt.

Noteworthy, Hussein Bassir is an Egyptian archaeologist, novelist, and writer. In 1994, he got his BA in Egyptology from Cairo university. He got his MA and Ph.D in Near Eastern Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

He has held many positions at home and abroad. Bassir is also the author of several works of fiction in Arabic on ancient Egypt such as: In Search For Khnum, The Love in Tokyo and The Old Red Hippopotamus.

The novelist worked as a member of Dr Zahi Hawass' archaeological team alongside Justin Ellis and Gregory Peters while participating in many archaeological excavations in sites all over Egypt.

He is currently the director of Egyptian antiquities museum, and Supervisor of Zahi Hawas Egyptology center at Bibliotheca Alexandria.

By: Ali Abu Dashish