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Vol.17.p.202

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 202

Sunday, February 14, 1926

In spite of the favorable report last evening, I was waked at 11:30 to receive a note from Dr. Coleman saying that Said Ahmed was at the crisis and might not last the night. I sent in his brother, Mahmud el Meyyit, his nephew Duwy and his eldest son Ahmed, but did not give up hope.
At 5:30 I was waked again to receive a verbal message that Said was dead. In spite of oxygen and everything the doctor and nurse could do, he passed away at 2:30. The men were wailing and many of them streaming off to the hospital. I roused up Wheeler and Hawes and took measures to hold the guards on duty. I detailed Hawes to stay at G 7000 X.
At 7:00 Wheeler and I went in. Dunham also arrived. I decided to send the body up to Quft for burial and after I had arranged for the undertaker's work, left Dunham to arrange for shipment on the 7:00 p.m. express. I detailed ten men to accompany the body to Quft, arranged money matters, etc. at the camp.
The reises and workmen with Firth and with Junker and our own men assembled weeping at the hospital.
Mahmud Salman is to take the Meyyit's place as chief guard at G 7000 X. Mohammed Tammam takes Said Ahmed's place inside G 7000 X. Mahmud Qenawi takes Mahmud Salman's place as reis of excavations at G 7000 south (etc.). This is a temporary arrangement until el Meyyit, Duwy and Ahmed have returned. I consider Ahmed Said as the proper person to succeed his father, being best fitted by training.

microfilm: end page 202

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    02/14/1926
  • Mentioned on page
    Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]
    Alex B. Hawes
    Cecil Mallaby Firth, British, 1878–1931
    Dows Dunham, American, 1890–1984
    Dr. Coleman
    Duwy Mahmud Ahmed (Reis)
    Hermann Junker, German, 1877–1962
    Mahmud Ahmed Said 'el-Meyyet' (Reis)
    Mahmud Qenawi (Reis)
    Mahmud Salman (Reis)
    Mohamed Tammam
    Noel F. Wheeler, British
    Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

Tombs and Monuments 2

People 14

Modern People

  • Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Son of Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Head Reis 1908-1926), brother of Mohammed Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Head Reis 1936-1939) and Mahmoud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator).

  • Alex B. Hawes

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates

  • Cecil Mallaby Firth

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates British, 1878–1931
    • Remarks Egyptologist; husband of Winifred Nest Firth. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Dows Dunham

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1890–1984
    • Remarks Egyptologist; Curator; Assistant Curator, Egyptian Department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Dr. Coleman

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks C.M.S. Hospital

  • Duwy Mahmud Ahmed (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1933-1935. Son of Mahmoud Ahmed Said 'el-Meyyit' (Head Reis 1926-1933) and nephew of Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Head Reis 1908-1926).

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Hermann Junker

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates German, 1877–1962
    • Remarks Egyptologist, Director of German-Austrian expedition to Giza, 1911–1929. Published 12 volumes of final excavation reports from Giza expedition. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Mahmud Ahmed Said 'el-Meyyet' (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1926–1933. Brother of Said Ahmed Said (Head Reis 1908-1926) and father of Duwy Mahmud Ahmed (Head Reis 1933-1935).

  • Mahmud Qenawi (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates

  • Mahmud Salman (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates

  • Mohamed Tammam

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Guard at Giza (from Quft).

  • Noel F. Wheeler

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates British
    • Remarks Wheeler was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy according to George A. Reisner's, "A HIstory of the Giza Necropolis, Vol. I."

  • Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1908–1926. In his "A History of the Giza Necropolis I," George A Reisner described Said Ahmed Said as "the most gifted foreman who ever worked for the expedition." Father of Mohammed Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Head Reis 1936–1939), Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator), Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]. Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.