Kazimierz Michalowski
Encyclopedia
Kazimierz Józef Marian Michałowski (b. November 11, 1901 in Tarnopol – January 1, 1981 in Warsaw
, Poland
) was a Polish
archaeologist and Egyptologist, and the founder of Nubiology
.
, Heidelberg
, Münster
, Paris
, Rome
, Athens
and Cairo
. In 1939–1981 he acted as the Vice-director of the Warsaw National Museum and headed the chair of classical archeology at the University of Warsaw
. During this time he educated a solid group of specialists in classical, Near East
ern and Egypt
ian archeology.
Michałowski's interest in Egyptology
began in 1937–1939, when he took part in Polish-French excavations at Tell Edfu (see Edfu
), organized by him, and published later in three volumes. Objects from Edfu enriched the collections of the Warsaw National Museum. After World War II
he participated very actively in the reconstruction of Polish academic life and in building Polish participation in the international program of studies on Mediterranean cultures. In 1959 he founded in Cairo
the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archeology, now named after him. He was a specialist in many areas of Egyptian art and archeology.
Michałowski directed Polish excavations at many sites, including Tell Atrib (ancient Athribis
) from 1957, Alexandria
from 1960, Dabod 1961, Faras 1961–1964, Deir el-Bahari from 1961 and Dongola
from 1964. In 1963–1971 he presided over the International Committee of Experts for Rescue of the Abu Simbel Temple
. His publications included the famous L'Art de l'ancienne Egypte (English-language version: Art of Ancient Egypt, 1968).
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) was a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
archaeologist and Egyptologist, and the founder of Nubiology
Nubiology
Nubiology is the designation given to the primarily archaeological science that specialises in the scientific study of Ancient Nubia and its antiquities. It is sometimes also applied to scientists who study other ancient lands and cultures south of Ancient Egypt. The term was coined by Kazimierz...
.
Life
Michałowski studied classical archeology and art history at the University of Lwów; he studied at the Universities and Archaeological Institutes of BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. In 1939–1981 he acted as the Vice-director of the Warsaw National Museum and headed the chair of classical archeology at the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. During this time he educated a solid group of specialists in classical, Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
ern and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian archeology.
Michałowski's interest in Egyptology
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
began in 1937–1939, when he took part in Polish-French excavations at Tell Edfu (see Edfu
Edfu
Edfu is an Egyptian city, located on the west bank of the Nile River between Esna and Aswan, with a population of approximately sixty thousand people. For the ancient history of the city, see below...
), organized by him, and published later in three volumes. Objects from Edfu enriched the collections of the Warsaw National Museum. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he participated very actively in the reconstruction of Polish academic life and in building Polish participation in the international program of studies on Mediterranean cultures. In 1959 he founded in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archeology, now named after him. He was a specialist in many areas of Egyptian art and archeology.
Michałowski directed Polish excavations at many sites, including Tell Atrib (ancient Athribis
Athribis
Athribis or Athlibis Athribis or Athlibis Athribis or Athlibis (Greek: or was the Greek name for two cities of ancient Egypt: this article concerns the chief town of the Athribite, the Tenth nome, in Lower Egypt...
) from 1957, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
from 1960, Dabod 1961, Faras 1961–1964, Deir el-Bahari from 1961 and Dongola
Dongola
Dongola , also spelled Dunqulah, and formerly known as Al 'Urdi, is the capital of the state of Northern in Sudan, on the banks of the Nile. It should not be confused with Old Dongola, an ancient city located 80 km upstream on the opposite bank....
from 1964. In 1963–1971 he presided over the International Committee of Experts for Rescue of the Abu Simbel Temple
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel temples refers to two massive rock temples in Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 230 km southwest of Aswan...
. His publications included the famous L'Art de l'ancienne Egypte (English-language version: Art of Ancient Egypt, 1968).
Works
- Fouilles franco-polonaises. Tell Edfou (1938)
- Sztuka starożytna (1955)
- Kanon w architekturze egipskiej (1955)
- Fouilles polonaises, kilka tomów (od 1960)
- Nie tylko piramidy. Sztuka dawnego Egiptu (1966)
- Faras. Centre artistique de la Nubie chretienne (1966)
- Art of Ancient Egypt (1969)
- Arte y civilizacion de Egipto (1969)
- Karnak (1969)
- Luksor (1971)
- Aleksandria (1972)
- Piramidy i mastaby (1972)
- Teby (1974) (wspólne z A.Dziewanowskim)
- Od Edfu do Faras. Polskie odkrycia archeologii śródziemnomorskiej (1974)
- Egypte (1978)
- Wybór prac Opera Minora (1990).
See also
- List of Egyptologists
- List of Poles
- NubiologyNubiologyNubiology is the designation given to the primarily archaeological science that specialises in the scientific study of Ancient Nubia and its antiquities. It is sometimes also applied to scientists who study other ancient lands and cultures south of Ancient Egypt. The term was coined by Kazimierz...