A Tribute to Ali Radwan

 

by

 

Fayza Haikal  

American University in Cairo, EGYPT

 

Because of his concern for all Arab as well as Egyptian heritage, Professor Ali Radwan founded the «Arab Archeologists’ Association» in Cairo in order to create a forum for Arab archeologists concerned with heritage of all periods to meet annually and interact,  share and publish their research. Professor Radwan left this world in February 2020 and it is with great sorrow that I am writing  these lines in reverence not only for a friend I have known since we were students at Cairo University, but also for a great scholar whose impact on Archeology will not be forgotten. The creation of the Arab Archeologists’ Association is one of his most important contributions as it introduced Arab scholarship first to the Arab themselves and then to the world. Today, this Association desires to express its gratitude for all the efforts Radwan deployed to defend Arabs’ heritage on diverse fora in order to have it known and appreciated, and even listed by the UNESCO. The publications of this book to honor his memory in spite of the fact that the Supreme Council of Antiquities already offered him 3 volumes of homages a few years ago (Supplément aux Annales du Service des Antiquités de l’Égypte, Le Caire, 2005) is but a token of this gratitude.

Ali Radẉān was born near Ismailia in 1941; he graduated from The Faculty of Arts Department of Archeology at Cairo University in 1962, and he received his PhD from the University of Munich in Germany in 1968. He then returned to Egypt and consecrated his whole career to Cairo University where he was first appointed as Assistant Professor. Although he was an excellent teacher in all different fields of ancient Egyptian culture, Radwan’s lectures on Art were particularly brilliant. His love of Egyptian art was contagious and his interesting commentaries fascinated his students so that he was solicited to lecture at the different faculties of Fine Art as well, thus transmitting his knowledge to a very large number of students, and increasing the knowledge and appreciation of Ancient Egypt among younger generations.

In addition to his teaching and mentoring graduate students in various universities, Radwan excavated at Abusir for a number of years and duly published a series of articles on his finds there mainly dating to the early periods of Egyptian History.

Radwan occupied a number of administrative positions as member, or head of committees in the antiquities’ organizations under their various names (from Services des Antiquités Égyptiennes to Ministry of Antiquities) as well as in the Faculty of Archeology in which he  headed  the Egyptology Department from 1980-1987 before he became Dean of the Faculty, from 1987-1993. During his administration as Dean, Radwan established a branch of the Faculty of archeology in the Fayoum area; this branch kept growing until it developed into an independent faculty which collaborates intensively today with international universities.

Among Radwan’s important contributions to Archeology was his role as consultant to the head of the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities during which he represented Egypt at the UNESCO. During the sessions on heritage there, his profound knowledge of archeological sites in Egypt and in the Arab world and the eloquence and arguments with which he presented them as important sites of Human Heritage won the appreciation of the audiences, so that many archeological sites in the Arab world owe their listing at the UNESCO to him. Inside Egypt he showed the same concern and enthusiasm for ancient heritage sites and artifacts and he constantly shared in protecting them and in enhancing museums’ roles in society. For example, he, for a long time, headed a team in charge of the selection of artifacts that were to be put in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization where the royal mummies rest today. And indeed, his concern for museums and their role in society appeared even in his publications among which we find and article titled «Museology, Egyptology and Marketing Interests: A Contradiction?»

Ali Radwan was also always present on international congresses to be updated on all recent research, present his own papers or and share in discussions. Because of his vast knowledge and his wise advices, Radwan is greatly missed on the Egyptological and archeological fora today. This vast Egyptological knowledge is also evident through the variety of topics he tackled in his publications, whether in German, English or Arabic.  

First: Awards and Medals:

-          Holder of the State Incentive Award in Archeology [1983] and the Medal of Science and Arts.

-          Holder of the State Appreciation Award in Social Sciences [2003].

-          Holder of the Grand Medal of the German Republic with «Leader» rank [2006].

-          Holder of the First Degree Austrian Medal of Honor in Science and Arts [2009].

-          Holder of the Nile Prize «formerly Mubarak» in social sciences [2009].

 

Second: Qualifications and Experience:

-          Ph.D. in ancient Egyptian Antiquities in July 1968 from Munich University, Germany.

-          Head of the Department of Ancient Egyptian Archeology, Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University [1980-1987]

-          Dean of Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University [1987-1993]

-          Member of the Egyptian Society for Historical Studies.

-          Member of the Cultural and Archaeological Heritage Division in the Specialized National Councils.

-          Member of the Antiquities Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture [formerly].

-          Member of the scientific committees of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority since 1974.

-          Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Museum [currently], and member of its Board of Directors since 1977.

-          Member of the Supreme Council of Antiquities [currently].

-          Rapporteur of the Permanent Scientific Committee of Pharaonic Antiquities and the History of Egypt and the Ancient Near East for promotion to the positions of professors and assistant professors (previously) and member of the committee [currently].

-          Member of the International Conference on Egyptology.

-          Member of the International Conference on Prehistoric Archeology.

-          Member of the International Conferences on Nubian and Meroitic Archeology.

-          Member of the UNESCO International Committee of Museums [ICOM] - Paris [since 1972].

-          Member of the UNESCO Committee on Antiquities and Archaeological Sites (ICOMOS) - Paris [since 1975].

-          Member of the National Division of UNESCO (Egypt).

-          Member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee [since 2007].

-          Member of the National Division of Museums (Egypt).

-          Head of the Cairo University mission in the excavations of «Abu Sir» site (north of Saqqara).

-          Member of the Egyptian Scientific Academy.

-          Member of the Education and Scientific Research Committee of the National Democratic Party.

-          Member of the Culture Committee of the National Democratic Party.

-          Rapporteur of the National Museums Conference (Academy of Scientific Research and Technology).

-          Member of the Board of Trustees of Mubarak Library in Luxor

-          Member of the Supreme Council of Luxor

-          Head of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists.

-          Member (from abroad) at the German Institute of Archeology in Berlin.

-          Fellow of the World Assembly: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Bonn – Germany [1975 – 1977].

-          Member of the Austrian Archaeological Institute - Vienna.

 

Third: Academic activity:

-          Supervisor of the establishment of Faculty of Archeology at the Cairo University branch in Fayoum [1992-1993].

-          Supervisor of the establishment of the Prehistoric Diploma - Cairo University.

-          Supervisor of the establishment of the Art History Diploma - Cairo University.

-          Supervisor of the establishment of the History of the Near East Diploma - Cairo University.

-          Supervisor of the establishment of the Restoration Diploma - Cairo University.

-          Supervisor of the establishment of the Museum Art Diploma - Cairo University.

-          Supervisor of more than seventy Master's and Doctoral theses on the arts and civilization of ancient Egypt in its various stages (prehistoric - Pharaonic periods  Greek and Roman periods - Coptic arts - art in Nubia).

 

Fourth: International seminars and conferences abroad:

 

Germany:

Lübeck [1972] ;  Frankfurt [1975] ;  Freiburg [1975] ; Cologne [1992, 1976], Berlin [1979, 1988, 1992, 2004] ; Munich [1985, 1992] ; Heidelberg [1986] ; Bamberg [1989] ; Bonn [1989, 1992, 2007] ; Hamburg [1994].

 

Canada:

Toronto [1977, 1982].

 

United States of America:

Boston [1977];  New York [1982, 1987] ; Memphis [1987] ; Chicago [2006] ; Philadelphia [2007].

 

France:

Grenoble [1979, 2004].

 

Sweden:

Uppsala [1986].

 

 

Austria:

Vienna [2006, 1990].

 

Italy:

Turin [1991]

 

Spain:

Madrid [1991].

Yemen:

Sana’a [1990].

 

The Czech Republic:

Prague [1993, 2004].

 

Denmark:

Copenhagen [1995].

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

Riyadh [1995].

  The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:

Amman [2003].

 

Mexico

Mexico City [2007].

 

Kuwait

Kuwait City [2007].

 

Sixth: The current scientific activity:

-        Scientific Advisor for Prehistoric Antiquities at the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

-        Head of the Egyptian joint team in the [Egyptian-French Center for the Study and Restoration of Karnak Temples].

-        Chairman of the committee of inspection and review of the project of the development works in Karnak Square.

-        Head of the committee of the preparation of the scenario for the new museum display of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to make it a museum for the history of ancient Egyptian art.

-        Head of the committee of the preparation of the scenario for the museum display of the Akhenaten Museum in Minya.

-        Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Museum of Civilization.

-        Chairman of the Supreme Committee for selecting the artifacts required for new museums (Museum of Civilization - The Great Museum - Akhenaten Museum ... etc).

 

Publications    

1969.

Die Darstellungen des regierenden Königs und seiner Familienangehörigen in den Privatgräbern der 18. Dynastie. Münchner Ägyptologische Studien 21. Berlin: Hessling

 

1973.

‘Amenophis III., dargestellt und angerufen als Osiris (wnn nfrw).’ Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 29, 71-76.

 

1973b.

‘Gedanken zum "Würfelhocker".’ Göttinger Miszellen 8, 27-31.

 

"مصر في متاحف العالم"، مجلة السياحة المصرية، ع. 161.

 

1974.

‘Ein Relief der Nachamarnazeit.’ Orientalia 43, 393-397.

 

‘Der Trauergestus als Datierungsmittel.’ Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 30, 115-129.

 

1975.

‘Der Königsname: Epigraphisches zum göttlichen Königtum im Alten Ägypten.’ Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 2, 213-234.

 

‘Zur bildlichen Gleichsetzung des ägyptischen Königs mit der Gottheit. Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 31, 99-108.

 

1976.

‘Concerning the identification of the king with the god.’ Magazine of the Faculty of Archaeology 1, 24-36.

 

‘Eine Inschrift aus Gebel El-Silsila.’ Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 32, 187-189.

 

1978.

‘Ramses II. und seine Mutter vor Osiris.’ Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 6, 157-161.

 

1980.

‘Some Meroitic bronze vessels.’ Meroitic Newsletter 20 (Mai), 42-43.

 

1981.

‘Zwei Stelen aus dem 47. Jahre Thutmosis' III.’ Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 37, 403-407.

 

1982.

‘Das Waschgerät bei den alten Ägyptern. In Papenfuss, Dietrich and Volker Michael Strocka (eds), Palast und Hütte: Beiträge zum Bauen und Wohnen im Altertum von Archäologen, Vor-und Frühgeschichtlern. Tagungsbeiträge eines Symposiums der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, veranstaltet vom 25.-30. November 1979, in Berlin, 289-294. Mainz: von Zabern.

 

1983.

Die Kupfer-und Bronzegefässe Ägyptens (von den Anfängen bis zum Beginn der Spätzeit). Prähistorische Bronzefunde Abteilung II 2. München: C. H. Beck.

 

1984.

‘Darstellungen der aufgehenden Sonne auf einigen Stelen der Ramessidenzeit.’ In: [Junge, Friedrich] (ed.) Studien zu Sprache und Religion Ägyptens: zu Ehren von Wolfhart Westendorf, überreicht von seinen Freunden and Schülern, vol. 2, 823-831. Göttingen: F. Junge.

 

1985.

 ‘Einige Aspekte der Vergöttlichung des ägyptischen Königs.’ In: Anonymous (ed.), Ägypten: Dauer und Wandel: Symposium anlässlich des 75jährigen Bestehens des DAI Kairo am 10. und 11. Oktober 1982, 53-69. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.

 

‘The anx-vessel and its ritual function.’ In: Posener-Kriéger, Paule (ed.), Mélanges Gamal eddin Mokhtar, tome 2, 211-217, Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale.

 

‘Hermann Grapow 1885-1969.’ In: Anonymous (ed.)  German-Egyptian symposium on the contribution of German scholars to medicine in Egypt. Cairo: n.p.

 

   "حوني، حرخوف، بيبي نخت، امنحتب الثاني، امنحتب بن حابو" الموسوعة الافريقية.

1987.

‘Hathorschale.’ In: Eggebrecht, Arne (ed.), Ägyptens Aufstieg zur Weltmacht, 170-171. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.

 

‘Six Ramesside stelae in the popular pyramidion-form.’ Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 71, 223-228.

 

1988.

‘Egypt from 3105 to 1780 B.C.’ History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind, vol. 2.

"عن الامومة والطفولة" مجلة المنهل، جدة.

 

1989.

 المتاحف والحفائر، القاهرة: مطبعة کلية الاثار.

1990.

‘Expedition of Alexander the Great to Siwa.’ In: Anonymous (ed.), Silk Roads Seminar, 4-5. Cairo: Cairo University.

 

 ‘Zur Stellung des Königs in der Zweiten Zwischenzeit.’ In: Schmitz, Bettina and Arne Eggebrecht (eds), Festschrift Jürgen von Beckerath: zum 70. Geburtstag am 19. Februar 1990, 223-233. Hildesheim: Gerstenberg.

 

" حفائر کلية الآثار- جامعة القاهرة في منطقة "أبوصير" (تقرير أولي عن موسم 1989-1990)" مجلة کلية الاثار، ع. الرابع، 379-386.

 

الخطوط العامة لعصور ما قبل التاريخ وبداية الاسرات، القاهرة: مطبعة جامعة القاهرة.

 

تاريخ الفن في العالم القديم، القاهرة: مطبعة جامعة القاهرة.

 

1991.

‘Ein Treppengrab der 1. Dynastie aus Abusir.’ Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 47, 305-308.

 

‘Ramesses II as mediator.’ In: Bleiberg, Edward and Rita Freed (eds),Fragments of a shattered visage: the proceedings of the international symposium of Ramesses the Great, 221-225. Memphis, TN: Memphis State University.

 

1993-1994.

"مقدمة عن تاريخ الفن المصري القديم" الموسم الثقافي، جامعة القاهرة.

 

1995.

‘Recent excavations of the Cairo University at Abusir: "a cemetery of the 1^st Dynasty".’ In: Kessler, Dieter and Regine Schulz (eds), Gedenkschrift für Winfried Barta: Htp dj n Hzj, 311-314. Frankfurt am Main; Berlin: Peter Lang.

 

1998.

‘The first appearance of Isis in a foreign dress.’ Memnonia 9, 175-189. 

 

‘Thutmosis III. als Gott.’ In: Guksch, Heike and Daniel Polz (eds), Stationen: Beiträge zur Kulturgeschichte Ägyptens, Rainer Stadelmann gewidmet, 329-340. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.

 

1999.

‘Concerning the deification of the monarch in the Empire of Kush.’ In: Wenig, Steffen (ed.), Studien zum antiken Sudan: Akten der 7. internationalen Tagung für meroitische Forschungen vom 14. bis 19. September 1992 in Gosen/bei Berlin, 255-272. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.

 

"مصر الفرعونية" الموسوعة الحضارية، القاهرة: وزارة التربية والتعليم.

 

2000.

‘Mastaba XVII at Abusir (First Dynasty): preliminary results and general remarks.’ In: Bárta, Miroslav and Jaromír Krejčí (eds), Abusir and Saqqara in the year 2000, 509-514. Praha: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Oriental Institute.

 

بالاشتراک مع د. فوزي مکاوي. "بوتو (تل االفراعين) مرکز الثقل ومعقل الزعامة السياسية للدلتا قبل وحدة القطرين، مجلة الآثاريين العرب، ع.1، 90-96.

 

2003.

‘Gedanken zu einigen Statuetten aus dem Grab des Tutanchamun.’ In: Kloth, Nicole, Karl Martin, and Eva Pardey (eds), Es werde niedergelegt als Schriftstück: Festschrift für Hartwig Altenmüller zum 65. Geburtstag, 335-345. Hamburg: Buske.

 

‘Museums and Marketing-A Contradiction?, Response to R. Schulz.’ In: Hawass, Zahi and Lyla Pinch Brock (eds), Egyptology at the dawn of the twenty-first century: proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Egyptologists, Cairo, 2000, vol.3, 102-104. Cairo; New York: American University in Cairo Press.

 

‘Nekhbet with Wadjet or Isis with Nephtys: the lasting concept of two goddesses in ancient Egypt.’ In: Grimal, Nicolas, Amr Kamel, and Cynthia May-Sheikholeslami (eds), Hommages à Fayza Haikal, 217-224. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale.

 

‘Some remarks concerning the superstructure of some mastabas at Abusir.’ In: Hawass, Zahi and Lyla Pinch Brock (eds), Egyptology at the dawn of the twenty-first century: proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Egyptologists, Cairo, 2000,

vol.1, 377-379. Cairo; New York: American University in Cairo Press.

 

‘The step pyramids.’ In: Hawass, Zahi (ed.), The treasures of the pyramids. 86-111.

 Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.

 

‘Zum Erscheinen des Wesirs Paser in der Begleitung Ramses.’ In: Hasitzka, Monika R.M., Johannes Diethart, and Günther Dembski (eds), Das alte Ägypten und seine Nachbarn: Festschrift zum 65. Geburtstag von Helmut Satzinger, mit Beiträgen zur Ägyptologie, Koptologie, Nubiologie und Afrikanistik, 120-122. Krems: Österreichisches Literaturforum. 

 

2004.

‘The National Museum of Egyptian civilization samples from the Helwan collection.’ Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 78, 211-221. 

 

2005.

‘Highlights of unknown collections: samples from the site of Helwan.’ Museum International 57 (1-2), 87-91.

 

‘The sacred ram-head of the sun-god.’ Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 79, 211-224.

 

2006.

‘Die Götten Hathor und das göttliche Königtum Altägyptens: zwei Reliefs aus Deir el-Bahari.’ In: Czerny, Ernst, Irmgard Hein, Hermann Hunger, Dagmar Melman, and Angela Schwab (eds), Timelines: studies in honour of Manfred Bietak, vol.1, 275-285. Leuven: Peeters; Departement Oosterse Studies.

 

2007.

‘Concerning the cult of Amenhotep III after his death.’ In: Hawass, Zahi A. and Janet E. Richards (eds), The archaeology and art of ancient Egypt: essays in honor of David B. O'Connor, vol. 2, 289-297. Le Caire: Conseil Suprême des Antiquités de l'Egypte.

 

‘Small mastabas and subsidiary graves from the archaic cemetery at Abusir.’ In: Goyon, Jean-Claude and Christine Cardin (eds), Proceedings of the Ninth International Congress of Egyptologists: Grenoble, 6-12 septembre 2004, vol. 2, 1559-1566. Leuven: Peeters.

 

'Stier, Falke und Kartusche Amenophis' II.: zur Deutung einer Kioskszene im TT 101.’ Bulletin of the Egyptian Museum 4, 89-95

 

2008.

‘Die Kandake als Stellvertreterin des Vaters (Amun-Re): zur göttlichen Erscheinung der Königin in Kusch.’ In: Waitkus, Wolfgang (ed.), Diener des Horus: Festschrift für Dieter Kurth zum 65. Geburtstag, 229-237. Gladbeck: PeWe-Verlag.

 

‘Ein Jenseitsboot der 1. Dynastie aus Abusir - Teil I.’ In: Engel, Eva-Maria, Vera Müller, and Ulrich Hartung (eds),Zeichen aus dem Sand: Streiflichter aus Ägyptens Geschichte zu Ehren von Günter Dreyer, 559-571. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.

 

‘The Louvre stela C54.’ In: Hawass, Zahi A., Khaled A. Daoud, and Sawsan Abd El-Fattah (eds), The realm of the pharaohs: essays in honor of Tohfa Handoussa, vol.1, 349-362. Cairo: General Organization for Government Printing Offices.

 

‘The nun-basin of Renpetneferet.’ In: Thompson, Stephen E. and Peter Der Manuelian (eds), Egypt and beyond: essays presented to Leonard H. Lesko upon his retirement from the Wilbour chair of Egyptology at Brown University June 2005, 277-283. Providence, RI: Brown University, Department of Egyptology and Ancient Western Asian Studies.

 

2009.

 Ancient Egypt at the Cairo Museum. Cairo: Supreme Council of Antiquities.

 

‘The rise of civilization: Egypt in the Prehistoric and Archaic periods.’ In: Radwan, Ali (ed.), 47-66. Cairo: Supreme Council of Antiquities.

 

‘Sayed Tawfik in Saqqara: einiges zu fünf Fundobjekten aus seinen Ausgrabungen.’ In: Rössler-Köhler, Ursula and Tarek Tawfik (eds), Die ihr vorbeigehen werdet … Wenn Gräber, Tempel und Statuen sprechen: Gedenkschrift für Prof. Dr. Sayed Tawfik Ahmed, 169-174. Berlin; New York: de Gruyter.    

 

2010.

‘ (British Museum statue EA 480 - Bankes stela 15).’ In: Hawass, Zahi A., Peter Der Manuelian, and Ramadan B. Hussein (eds), Perspectives on ancient Egypt: studies in honor of Edward Brovarski, 395-403. Cairo: Conseil Suprême des Antiquités de l'Égypte.

 

‘The stela Louvre C 211.’ The Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 21, 99-114.

 

Bresciani, Edda, Ali Radwan and Alberto Siliotti (eds.), Medinet Madi: archaeological guide. Verona: Geodia.

 

2011.

‘Ahmose-Nefertari als Sistrumspielerin.’ In: Hawass, Zahi A., Khaled A. Daoud, and Ramadan B. Hussein (eds), Scribe of justice: Egyptological studies in honour of Shafik Allam, 337-345. Le Caire: Ministry of State for Antiquities.

 

‘Concerning the divine triads at Medinet Madi.’ In: Pirelli, Rosanna (ed.), Natural and cultural landscapes in the Fayoum: the safeguarding and management of archaeological sites and natural enviroments, 60-69. Cairo: UNESCO.

 

‘Die Stufenpyramiden.’ In: Hawass, Zahi (ed.), Die Pyramiden, extended and updated edition. Translated by Martina Fischer, Regina von Treeck, and Regina Theis-Passaro, 102-127. Vercelli: White Star.

 

 

2013.

‘Amenemhat III. als Gott. I: Göttlichkeitsstufen eines Monarchen zu seinen Lebzeiten und kurz danach.’ In: Floßmann-Schütze, Mélanie C., Maren Goecke-Bauer, Friedhelm Hoffmann, Andreas Hutterer, Katrin Schlüter, Alexander Schütze, and Martina Ullmann (eds), Kleine Götter - große Götter: Festschrift für Dieter Kessler zum 65. Geburtstag, 381-402. Vaterstetten: Patrick Brose.

 

‘Die Königsbüste im Schrein (Stele - Ägyptisches Museum, Kairo - JE 40720): Iulius Caesar, Pnepheros oder ein Abzeichen des göttlichen Königtums?’ Études et Travaux 26 (2), 567-578.

 

2015.

‘Neferu Re und Neferu Osiris (Liverpool-Stele 49.56).’ In: Morenz, Ludwig D. and Amr El Hawary (eds), Weitergabe: Festschrift für die Ägyptologin Ursula Rößler-Köhler zum 65. Geburtstag, 351-359. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.

 

2020.

‘The scribal palette.’ In: Kamrin, Janice, Miroslav Bárta, Salima Ikram, Mark Lehner, and Mohamed Megahed (eds), Guardian of ancient Egypt: tudies in honor of Zahi Hawass, vol. 3, 1277-1302. Prague: Charles University, Faculty of Arts.

 ...................................................................................................................................................

 

Editor-in-chief's word

 

by

 

Mohamed El Kahlawy

Professor of Islamic Archeology, Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University

 Head of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists, Egypt

 

More than 19 years ago, I stood before a crowd of colleagues, students and friends of the great late Prof. Ali Radwan at the occasion of celebrating Prof. Ali Radwan turning sixty years old at the Arab Council for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Cairo University. My mouth was knotted as I attempted to speak in front of the audience about this prominent figure that I have accompanied for a long time, as for me, he was the role model and the idol, for he is the professor upon whose hands I have learned to love my work and to be dedicating to  its performance. He was also my neighbor, who lived next to me in the neighborhood of Zamalek, and he was my sole friend throughout my life. He was the kind gentle person of compassion, and he was my partner in establishing the largest edifice of Arab archaeologists from the ocean to the Gulf.

Allah Almighty has blessed me with being the companion of this great scientist throughout his path, especially in his last days. God inspired me to discover the health status of Dr. Ali Radwan early, following his return from visiting his daughters in Germany, where I realized that he was suffering from some health issues, and I suggested that he stops giving lectures at the university until a comprehensive medical examination was performed.

But he refused both my suggestions, so I notified with him the following day that the faculty’s graduate program had been suspended, beginning with him a comprehensive medical examination, which resulted in a set of conflicting diagnoses, which necessitated his transfer to the hospital more than once. During those difficult days, I was accompanied him devotedly, witnessing the deterioration of his health from moment to another, but he was still speaking in a weak and intermittent tone. I realized the seriousness of the matter, so I asked him to inform his family, but he refused, hoping that his condition would improve soon in order not to disturb anyone, as he was very sensitive to that. I felt bitter for witnessing my life companion being seized by the disease, making him unable to move and depriving him of speaking, which made me call his daughters to come to Cairo to visit their father before his departure. Praise to God, they made it and visited him for days, after which I continued in accompanying him until he passed away.

This is the life image that I was destined to experience with all its cruelty, but I am still waiting for my phone to ring from my beloved professor to talk to me for nearly an hour and an hour and a half each time as I listen to him attentively as he liked. His absence is a great loss, not only for me, but for science and scientists, as the void he left is still expanding as much as he gave, left, and planted in his fertile orchard. Today, I am writing these words, not as a matter of eulogy, but to record a reality I accompanied him in. It has been many years, more than forty years, through which he was the best professor, friend and companion. I ask God, the Almighty, to have mercy on him and to forgive his sins. May Allah join him to his Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him... Amen.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

کلمة رئيس التحرير

 

أ.د./ محمد الکحــــــــــلاوى

أستاذ الآثار الإسلامية بکلية الآثار، جامعة القاهرة – رئيس الاتحاد العام للآثاريين العرب، مصر

 

منذ أکثر من 19 عاماً، وقفتُ أمام حشد من زملاء وطلاب وأصدقاء الراحل الکبير  أ.د/ على رضوان في حفل أقيم بمناسبة بلوغ أ.د./ على رضوان سن الستين  بالمجلس العربي للدراسات العليا والبحث العلمى بجامعة القاهرة، وقد انعقد لساني وأنا أتحدث أمام الحضور عن هذه الشخصية التي التصقت بها منذ زمنٍ بعيد فکان بالنسبة لى القدوة والمثل الأعلى فهو الأستاذ الذى تعلمت على يديه حب العمل والتفانى في أداءه، وهو الجار الذى يقطن بجواري في حى الزمالک وهو الصديق الذى لم أجعل له شريکاً أخر في حياتي وهو الإنسان الخلوق الرقيق صاحب المشاعر الفياضة، وهو الشريک في بناء أکبر صرح جمع الآثاريين العرب من المحيط إلى الخليج. 

 

وقد أدخرنى الله سبحانه وتعالى لأکون رفيق الدرب لهذا العالم الجليل وبخاصة في أيامه الأخيرة، فقد ألهمني الله بأن أکتشف مبکراً الوضع الصحي للدکتور/ على رضوان في أعقاب عودته من زيارة بناته في  ألمانيا حيث أدرکت أنه يعانى من بعض المتاعب واقترحت عليه التوقف عن إلقاء المحاضرات بالجامعة لحين عمل فحص طبى شامل، ولکنه رفض الأمرين فتذرعت له في اليوم التالى بأن برنامج الدراسات العليا بالکلية قد توقف وبدأت معه رحلة الفحص الطبي الشامل والتي أسفرت عن مجموعة من التشخيصات المتضاربة مما استوجب نقله إلى المستشفى لأکثر من مرة وکنت في تلک الأيام العصيبة خادماً ملازماً لسيادته شاهداً على تدهور حالته الصحية من لحظة إلى أخرى ولکنه کان مازال يتحدث بنبرة ضعيفة متقطعة وأدرکت خطورة الأمر فطلبت منه أن أبلغ عائلته ولکنه رفض متأملاً بأن حالته سوف تتحسن في القريب العاجل، وحتى لا يزعج أحد فقد کان شديد الحساسية لذلک، وکنت أشعر بمرارة وأنا أرى رفيق عمرى يقتنصه المرض ويقعده عن الحرکة ويسکته عن الکلام مما جعلني أتصل ببناته للحضور إلى القاهرة لزيارة والدهم قبل رحيله والحمد لله قد جاءوا على الفور في زيارة استغرقت أياماً ثم عادوا واستکملت رحلة المرافقة إلى أن وافته المنية.

 

تلک الصورة الحياتية التى قدر لي أن أعيشها بکل قسوتها إلا أننى ما زلت أنتظر رنات هاتفي ليحدثني أستاذي الحبيب ما يقرب من الساعة والساعة ونصف فى کل مرة وأنا استمع إليه وانصت کما کان يحب ذلک، إن غيابه يمثل خسارة کبيرة ليست لى فحسب بل للعلم والعلماء حيث مازال الفراغ الذى ترکه يتسع بقدر ما أعطى وما ترک وما زرع فى بستانه الخصب، واليوم وأنا أخط هذه الکلمات ليس من باب التأبين ولکن أرصد واقع رافقته فيه، إنها سنوات عديدة أکثر من أربعين عاماً کان نعم الأستاذ والصديق والرفيق، أسأل الله العلى القدير أن يرحمه رحمة واسعه وأن يغفر ذنبه، اللهم يا جامع الأولين والآخرين إلى ميقات يوم معلوم ألحقه بنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ...  آمين.

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