WATANI International
21 March 2010
Mary Mansour
I knew the Coptologist and archaeologist Girgis Daoud (1930 – 2010) as one of the distinguished professors of the Institute of Coptic Studies where I was doing graduate studies. I also knew him through my work with Watani where, till the last minute of his life, he weekly contributed the “Coptic Icon”, accompanied with a detailed caption, since 1999.
Ishaq Ibrahim, the secretary general of the Institute of the Coptic Studies, who knew Mr Daoud throughout some 26 years, appreciatively remembered his 40-year contribution to the institute which was established in 1954. Dr Ibrahim remarked that Mr Daoud had a great heart that was open to all, and enjoyed a wealth of culture and knowledge.
Mr Daoud passed away last month. This week marks his arbaeen, the fortieth day after his death—a date Egyptians honour and which carries notations from the ancient Egyptian mummification procedure.
He leaves behind his widow Suad Hanna, and three daughters who are all in the teaching profession, and two grandchildren Bernadette and Mina.
Coptic folk
Mr Daoud specialised in teaching Coptic archaeology, especially where the Coptic Museum is concerned, relying on the rich references in the field by veteran Egyptian Coptology scholars, among whom are Ra’ouf Habib, Heshmat Messiha, Pahor Labib, Morqos Simaika, and Gawdat Gabra.
Mr Daoud took part in several conferences. His research “Popular trends in Coptic art” was uncommon in that it portrayed Coptic art as folk Egyptian art. “The Coptic artist,” Mr Daoud said, “is inspired by the natural Egyptian elements of landscape, geography, and astronomical phenomenon, as well as folk customs and traditions. Among the most important features of this art are its being a folk art, objective, symbolic and, in many cases, humorous.”
From 1962 to 1964, Mr Daoud accompanied the expedition to register and save the monuments of Nubia, which were threatened with drowning under the lake that was to form behind the High Dam
A committed researcher
Mr Daoud lectured on Egyptian and Coptic archaeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands and at the German universities of Gronigen, Bonn, and Munster. He took part in many research programmes on Coptology in various places in the world.
He attended the exhibition of Tutankhamun in Germany in1980 as a lecturer and consultant. Also in Germany, he did research on an 18th-century Arabic manuscript on Pope Benjamin the 38th patriarch of the Coptic Church who lived in the 7th century.
Mr Daoud also contributed in the research to draw the map of the first century flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
Anba Demitrius, Bishop of Mallawi and Ashmonein, and head of the Coptic Language department at the Institute of the Coptic Studies, remembers Mr Daoud as a dedicated Coptologist who was keen on providing valuable material on Coptolgy to the libraries of churches and monasteries.
The dean of the Institute of the Coptic Studies from 2000 to 2009, Dr Rasmy Abdel-Malak, said that Mr Daoud’s most prominent characteristics were commitment and scientific honesty, while Antoun Yacoub, the current dean, recalled Mr Daoud’s wealth of knowledge, and his captivating gentleness.
Girgis Daoud
• Graduated in 1961 from the Cairo Universitry, with a degree in Archaeology.
• Earned a diploma from the Institute of the Coptic Studies in 1979.
• Was assistant to the archaeological supervisor of al-Haram, Saqqara, and Middle Egypt from 1961 to 1968.
• Deputy to the director of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority for accompanying foreign expeditions from 1962 to 1970.
• Archaeological supervisor at Abu Simbel, regional museums, and al-Haram during the 1970s.
• Curator of the Coptic Museum (1973-1976).
• Earned award certificates of appreciation from the Institute of the Coptic Studies, the Supreme Council for Antiquities; and from Watani in its Jubilee Year in 2008.