A Passion for Egypt

Book excerpt: The biography of Arthur Weigall, the British Egyptologist who was involved in the exploration and conservation of the monuments and antiquities of a region stretching from Luxor to the Sudan border. At a time when Egypt was being ransacked by private collectors and the agents of Western museums, it was said that, without Weigall, much more would have been lost altogether - most notably, the wall paintings in the Tombs of the Nobles. The enthusiasm and energy of the man and of the books and articles he wrote played a large part in popularising Egypt and Egyptology, and in promoting the then radical view that Egypt's antiquities belonged to the Egyptians. When, in 1922, Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered by his old colleague Howard Carter, Weigall came into open conflict with Carter's patron, Lord Carnarvon, for his handling of the question of rights in the tomb, and for his sale of information from it to the London Times. Following Carnarvon's premature death in Egypt, it was Weigall's remarks to the press that led to the notorious story of the 'Curse of the Pharaohs': a myth that persists to this day. Weigall had many talents: he also designed theatre scenery, made films and wrote novels. But his real legacy derives from his passion for Egypt, both ancient and modern - a passion that informs the whole of his compelling story.