The UNESCO Courier

The Nubia campaign: when UNESCO moves mountains

32min | 03/06/2025

Description

This is the story of one the greatest archeological rescue operations of all times. Under the aegis of UNESCO, over fifty countries put their differences aside in the midst of the Cold War to save temples and sites of ancient Egypt from drowning. Under threat from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam built in Egypt’s drive for modernization, they were in danger of being irrevocably lost.

The campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, launched at the UNESCO Headquarters in 1960, led to the relocation of over twenty architectural complexes. Among the monuments saved by this colossal project are the emblematic temples of Abu Simbel and Philae.

Today, the Nubia campaign is seen as a defining example of international solidarity. Moreover, this campaign of unprecedented scale gave rise to the concept of heritage belonging to everyone. This idea took shape a few years later with the adoption of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

A story told through the voices of prominent figures from the late 1950s to the present day, and The UNESCO Courier archives.

Featuring in this episode:
Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, French archeologist specializing in Egyptology
Lazare Eloundou, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Zahi Hawass, Egyptian archaeologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

Rex Keating, director of the Mission Radio and Television of UNESCO (1956-1971)
Bénédicte Lhoyer, French archaeologist and scientific adviser to the exhibition Ramsès et l’or des Pharaons (Paris, 2023)
André Malraux, French writer and politician
Vittorino Veronese, Director-General of UNESCO 1958-1961

An episode by Katerina Markelova and Anuliina Savolainen, production by Emmanuel Rudowski.
With the voices of François Wibaux, Ma'aly Hazzaz, Dov Lynch, Anuliina Savolainen, Katharine Lovatt, Julian Barbière, Tariq Talal Mosaad

English adaptation Gina Doubleday and Daniel Brown.

,

https://courier.unesco.org/en

https://courier.unesco.org/en/subscribe

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About The UNESCO Courier

Since 1948, The UNESCO Courier has followed its initial mission: to be a window onto the world. Beyond the slogan, this multilingual magazine constantly seeks out different viewpoints and approaches on global issues, giving voice to scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers from all over the globe. Le Corbusier, Isamu Noguchi, Chucho Valdès, Joan Miró, Kailash Satyarthi, Denis Mukwege and Yuval Noah Harari are some of the many leading personalities who have appeared in The Courier – the only international magazine to cross the iron curtain during the Cold War. Topics are never treated in isolation, but through a multiplicity of perspectives from all regions of the world.

In this podcast series we explore in depth a variety of global issues that matter today and tomorrow. Drawing on sound archives, magazine articles, and exclusive interviews, we tell the story of a constantly changing world. From culture to education, science and much more, this podcast will be your window onto the world.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About The UNESCO Courier

Since 1948, The UNESCO Courier has followed its initial mission: to be a window onto the world. Beyond the slogan, this multilingual magazine constantly seeks out different viewpoints and approaches on global issues, giving voice to scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers from all over the globe. Le Corbusier, Isamu Noguchi, Chucho Valdès, Joan Miró, Kailash Satyarthi, Denis Mukwege and Yuval Noah Harari are some of the many leading personalities who have appeared in The Courier – the only international magazine to cross the iron curtain during the Cold War. Topics are never treated in isolation, but through a multiplicity of perspectives from all regions of the world.

In this podcast series we explore in depth a variety of global issues that matter today and tomorrow. Drawing on sound archives, magazine articles, and exclusive interviews, we tell the story of a constantly changing world. From culture to education, science and much more, this podcast will be your window onto the world.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

This is the story of one the greatest archeological rescue operations of all times. Under the aegis of UNESCO, over fifty countries put their differences aside in the midst of the Cold War to save temples and sites of ancient Egypt from drowning. Under threat from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam built in Egypt’s drive for modernization, they were in danger of being irrevocably lost.

The campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, launched at the UNESCO Headquarters in 1960, led to the relocation of over twenty architectural complexes. Among the monuments saved by this colossal project are the emblematic temples of Abu Simbel and Philae.

Today, the Nubia campaign is seen as a defining example of international solidarity. Moreover, this campaign of unprecedented scale gave rise to the concept of heritage belonging to everyone. This idea took shape a few years later with the adoption of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

A story told through the voices of prominent figures from the late 1950s to the present day, and The UNESCO Courier archives.

Featuring in this episode:
Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, French archeologist specializing in Egyptology
Lazare Eloundou, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Zahi Hawass, Egyptian archaeologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

Rex Keating, director of the Mission Radio and Television of UNESCO (1956-1971)
Bénédicte Lhoyer, French archaeologist and scientific adviser to the exhibition Ramsès et l’or des Pharaons (Paris, 2023)
André Malraux, French writer and politician
Vittorino Veronese, Director-General of UNESCO 1958-1961

An episode by Katerina Markelova and Anuliina Savolainen, production by Emmanuel Rudowski.
With the voices of François Wibaux, Ma'aly Hazzaz, Dov Lynch, Anuliina Savolainen, Katharine Lovatt, Julian Barbière, Tariq Talal Mosaad

English adaptation Gina Doubleday and Daniel Brown.

,

https://courier.unesco.org/en

https://courier.unesco.org/en/subscribe

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About The UNESCO Courier

Since 1948, The UNESCO Courier has followed its initial mission: to be a window onto the world. Beyond the slogan, this multilingual magazine constantly seeks out different viewpoints and approaches on global issues, giving voice to scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers from all over the globe. Le Corbusier, Isamu Noguchi, Chucho Valdès, Joan Miró, Kailash Satyarthi, Denis Mukwege and Yuval Noah Harari are some of the many leading personalities who have appeared in The Courier – the only international magazine to cross the iron curtain during the Cold War. Topics are never treated in isolation, but through a multiplicity of perspectives from all regions of the world.

In this podcast series we explore in depth a variety of global issues that matter today and tomorrow. Drawing on sound archives, magazine articles, and exclusive interviews, we tell the story of a constantly changing world. From culture to education, science and much more, this podcast will be your window onto the world.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About The UNESCO Courier

Since 1948, The UNESCO Courier has followed its initial mission: to be a window onto the world. Beyond the slogan, this multilingual magazine constantly seeks out different viewpoints and approaches on global issues, giving voice to scientists, artists, writers, and thinkers from all over the globe. Le Corbusier, Isamu Noguchi, Chucho Valdès, Joan Miró, Kailash Satyarthi, Denis Mukwege and Yuval Noah Harari are some of the many leading personalities who have appeared in The Courier – the only international magazine to cross the iron curtain during the Cold War. Topics are never treated in isolation, but through a multiplicity of perspectives from all regions of the world.

In this podcast series we explore in depth a variety of global issues that matter today and tomorrow. Drawing on sound archives, magazine articles, and exclusive interviews, we tell the story of a constantly changing world. From culture to education, science and much more, this podcast will be your window onto the world.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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