History of Czech institution of egyptology
The Czech egyptology founder is Frantisek Lexa, the author of up to now evaluated work about ancient Egypt magic and Demotic grammar. Seminar for egyptology started thanks to him in Faculty of Philosophy and Arts of Charles University in Prague in 1925. Two years later Lexa became the first regular professor of egyptology in then Czechoslovakia. Except many other also Jaroslav Cerny belonged to his students, one of the most significant egyptologist in 20. centrury and professor of egyptology on universities in London and Oxford.
The first impuls for changing the seminar for egyptology into Czechoslovak institute of egyptology in Prague and Cairo (this name was changed to recent name after Czechoslovakia's partition) was declaration of an international UNESCO campaign. The campaign was for Nubia sights rescue threatened by waters of Aswan Dam, which had started then. Our government decided to support this campaign with our egyptologist participation on work in Nubia instead of a financial contribution. So an international institution was established with egyptian government approval. One workplace was in Prague and the other in Cairo.
Lexa's learner Prof. Zbynek Zaba and his organizing skills helped significantly with the institution establisment. The institution's expedition started the work under Zbynek Zaba leading in Nubia in the beginning of sixties. In connection with his egyptian workplace establishing an archaeological concession was assigned to the institute for pyramidal field in Abusir at Cairo. The researched was especially focused on Ptahshepses' mastaba in sixties and the first half of seventies. It was one of the most significant private architectures from Old Kingdom period. Institute's archaeological work got a new impuls in Abusir in 1976. The institute gained a new concession for this area in that time, which contains pretty large area about 2 km2 covered the whole area between Abusir and Saqqara with many sights, especially from Old Kingdom and Late period. Former institute director Prof. PhDr. Miroslav Verner, Sc.D. has an indisputable credits in CEgU UK development and Czech egyptology on the whole. A significant milestone for further Czech egyptology development was Czech national egyptological center establishing in summer 2000.
The most significant successes of Czech egyptology
| 1976 | Discovery and research beginning in pyramidal complex of queen Khentkaus, royal mother and wife |
| 1982 | Research beginning of pyramidal complex of pharaoh Raneferef, who was known only from written sources till that time |
| 1995 | Research beginning of vizier Qar and his sons mortuary complex from 23. century BC; this complex helps to understand the causes, which led to Egypt downfall at the end of pyramid architectures Old Kingdom period |
| 1996 - 1997 | Research of priest Iufaa shaft tomb (5. century BC); unrobbed funerary chamber discovery with unique funerary equipment |
| 1999 | the discovery of the up to now oldest tomb with Abusir's concession - the priest's Hetepi tomb, who lived in pharaoh Djoser period; Djoser was the first egyptian pyramid's architect (about the year 2650 BC) |
| 2003 | Detailed satellite photographs of pyramidal fields in Abusir, Saqqara and Dahshur were taken for the first time in the world. |
| 2003 - 2004 | The first season in Western desert, identification of large settlement and plantation system from Roman Empire period |
| autumn 2004 | discovery of unique rock tomb of ram deity Khnum's unknown priest |
Source: Czech institute of egyptology
