Everything revolves around him. However, I do understand his desire to protect these structures.
He was interviewed by Art Bell. Hawass has his own hypothesis that Egyptians built the pyramids, and he has risen to the top archaeology position in Egypt. He is the man in charge, so archaeologists have to work with him. Some foreign archaeologists are still trying to assert ownership of the Egyptian past, but Egypt is in possession of Egypt, is putting its own will into the objects, and is giving them form. Egypt owns Egypt and Egypt's past.
.....he comes off as a pompous jerk....
I cut him some slack. He is the official custodian of ancient mankind's greatest architectural, geodesic, astroomical, mathematical achievement. Letting every academic Thomas, Richard and Hanri deface the place would be unforgivable. The job in question needs to have more science brought to bear before the destructive rockwork begins.
He wakes every day and sees the noseless Sphinx, French work of a bygone era. I'd be wary of the French regardless of their credentials. A French Emperor defaced the Sphinx.
From everything I've ever read about Hawass, he comes off as a pompous jerk.
Hawass worships himself. Haven't you seen the pompous, self-serving b@$tard slime his way through his well-rehearsed "discoveries" on National Geographic specials?
Egypt is terminally stupid for putting such a phony in charge of their priceless antiquities...
You ought to try catching him on a Discovery- or History- or Learning- Channel show. It's almost entertaining to see him hyperventilate over dead egyptians and piles of rocks. Of course he worships those rocks - without them he'd never be able to get his face in front of a camera.