Early Egyptologists

Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832)

The world might never have heard of Champollion were it not for the Rosetta Stone. He was the intellect who broke the mysterious code of hieroglyphics, and because of this, is often recognized as the founder of Egyptology.

In addition to his work with the Rosetta Stone, he visited Egypt and studied the monuments and collected a wide range of documentation. he also authored a series of scholarly works on Egyptian history, religion and language.

William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942)

Petrie is one of the most famous Egyptologists of all times. He is considered by many to be the founder of modern Egyptologists. Known as the "Father of Pot Shards", because he learned to extract considerable amounts of information from what other's might see merely as refuge.

Yet, Petrie had no formal education and was self taught in the areas that he worked. He worked at dozens of sites in Egypt, devoting himself to the organization and methodology of archaeological investigation. His work at the pyramids in Giza set the standard for later research in the area, but he did a vast amount of other important work in Egypt.

Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge (1857 - 1934)

An Englishman, Budge studied Egyptology under Samuel Birch at the British Museum between 1870 and 1878. He later studied at Christ's College at Cambridge. He went to work for the British Museum after graduation in 1883, and between 1894 and 1924, was a Keeper in the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities.

He excavated at Aswan, Gebel Barkal, Meroe, Semna and other Nubian sites. Budge was known as a prolific author with over 140 titles to his credit, some of which continue to be printed.

Howard Carter (1874-1939)

Howard Carter is probably the most famous Egyptologist we know of because of his discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, and the resulting media frenzy. However, he worked on many other excavations.

He was a British Egyptologist, who began his career as a draftsman and artist, documenting work and excavations at a number of locations in Egypt, including of course, the Valley of the Kings.

Early Egyptologists

Top: Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832)
Middle Top: William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942)
Middle Bottom: Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge (1857 - 1934)
Bottom: Howard Carter (1874-1939)

Snippets

Ma'at

Ma'at is the Egyptian goddess of justice. She is a lunar goddess. She ruled over laws, order, and justice, as well as the motion of the cosmos. Her emblem is the feather, used to judge the souls of the deceased.

Ma'at is the principal of universal justice and divine order believed to be set forth by her at the time of the world's creation.