Hawass to write opera about Tutankhamen

CAIRO- 12 September 2017: Famous Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass announced on Monday, September 11, during his speech in the book signing ceremony of the Italian novel Il loto e il Papiro “The Lotus and Papyrus”, that he will write a special opera pertaining to the life of the great Pharaonic King Tutankhamen on the occasion of the centennial of the discovery of the king’s tomb.

‘’I will perform this opera in cooperation with some Italian artists,’’ Hawass stated during the ceremony that took place at the Ritz-Carlton hotel opposite the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

He expressed his wishes for the return of Italian tourists to Egypt and asserted his dissatisfaction with the delay of this issue, despite the fact that everyone now knows that all the Egyptian archaeological sites are completely protected, adding that Egypt is completely safe.

Parts of the new pharaonic Italian opera, titled “Papyrus and Lotus”, was shown on September 10 at Bibliotheca Alexandrina to highlight deep Egyptian-Italian relations, according to Hawass. Hawass has invited Francesco Santocono, the author of “The Lotus and Papyrus”, the book upon which the opera is based, and several Italian actors to visit Egypt and attend the show.


Presenting this play in Egypt aims to activate Egyptian tourism and to ensure that Egypt is safe, said Hawass previously to Middle East News Agency.

“Papyrus and Lotus”, which was performed in Italy in May 2017, focuses on Egypt’s fight against the Hyksos. It consists of three parts: the birth of Ahmose, the struggle led by Queen Ankh Hotep, and the betrayal of Set Nakhat, a new character added by Santocono.

Hawass, one of the most distinguished archaeologists worldwide, has many discoveries to his name; he is also the author of hundreds of books in different languages. His recent discoveries include the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders and the Valley of the Golden Mummies.


Among the important works of Hawass is that he headed the team that scanned King Tutankhamen’s mummy to unravel mysteries surrounding the lives and deaths of ancient Egyptian kings.