★ 6 / 10
Uncovering lost antiquities is one of those topics
Brent Marchant
Uncovering lost antiquities is one of those topics that fascinates most of us, especially when they’re documented as the discoveries are made. This is one of…
Uncovering lost antiquities is one of those topics that fascinates most of us, especially when they’re documented as the discoveries are made. This is one of the goals behind the Netflix “Unknown” documentary film series in its chronicles of such events around the world. In the series’ latest installment, filmmaker Max Salomon follows the efforts of Egyptologist Zahi Hawass and his colleagues as they seek to find the lost pyramid of Pharoah Huni, a little-known monarch of Egypt’s Old Kingdom, in the necropolis of Saqqara. The structure, believed to be located in an area of the ancient city that hasn’t been excavated (and thus suspected of not having been looted by grave robbers), fills the archaeological team with tremendous enthusiasm as to what they’ll find. It’s also an undertaking largely being conducted by native Egyptian investigators, a departure from previous excavations, which have been almost exclusively conducted by Westerners, a venture that’s hoped will put these researchers on the map in their own right. And, with a scant nine-month digging window open to them, they need to work quickly before desert weather conditions make their efforts impossible until the following year. The film reveals some truly remarkable discoveries, too, some of the most significant finds in the history of Egyptology. However, despite the significance of these revelations, the picture also lays it on a little thick when it comes to what Hawass and company have found. The degree of self-aggrandizing self-congratulation truly becomes tiresome and repetitive, so much so that the unbridled boasting overshadows the most valuable aspects of the film. What’s more, even though some genuinely remarkable artifact discoveries emerge from the excavators’ work, digging on what’s believed to be Huni’s pyramid itself is left at a preliminary stage when the nine months come to an end, suggesting that continued efforts are needed during a subsequent digging season. This means that the chronicling of this venture, though laudable, could nevertheless be premature. In light of this, perhaps it might have been better to wait until the excavation is complete before releasing this offering, as waiting for later may have provided viewers with a fuller, more impressive, more definitive finished product. In short, this documentary feels more like a work in progress than a conclusive record, one that I would have rather watched when complete than in the preliminary stage in which it has been left.
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★ 4 / 10
Weak Sause
MajBlade2
I have more questions then answers about this whole story after watching How and why did the pyramid get lost? Who was Huni and why was he important? Why are…
I have more questions then answers about this whole story after watching
How and why did the pyramid get lost?
Who was Huni and why was he important?
Why are these finds important other then to stroke the ego of the main guy?
There was a lot of info squished into the documentary that should have been explained better.
Also it turned me off right at start when he complained about "foreigners" if it wasn't for these foreigners there would be no Egyptologist or frankly many digs as they finance most of them
There are more then a few scenes where its all about him and his legacy then about what they found.
Would never watch a documentary featuring this guy again.
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★ 4 / 10
I thought this was supposed to be about historical egypt
greysky72
This isn't about Egypt and her historical mysteries. It's about her extremely egotistical head of antiquities Dr Zahi Hawass. He's absolutely insufferable. I…
This isn't about Egypt and her historical mysteries. It's about her extremely egotistical head of antiquities Dr Zahi Hawass. He's absolutely insufferable. I understand having pride in your nations history however his way of going about it is more about him and his love for himself than the good of Egyptian archaeology. He is the extreme opposite of early archaeology, the era of foreign excavators. He hogs everything for himself and refuses to work with others. He needs to find a middle ground and stop making it the Hawass show. Egypt deserves better than him. The world deserves better.
Besides Hawaas and the obviously staged aspects of the show it does let you glimpse into the beauty that is and was Egypt. For that it gets 4 stars.
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Zahi Hawass is gatekeeping humanities history and truth