Andrzej Stefan Niwiński (born 1948 in Warsaw) is a Polish archaeologist who studies religious images and myths from the 21st and 22nd Dynasties. He is especially known for studying coffins from the 21st Dynasty and for searching for the tomb of Herihor.

Biography

In 1971, he earned a degree in Mediterranean archaeology from the University of Warsaw, with guidance from Professor Kazimierz Michałowski. From 1973, his research focused on the religious iconography of the 21st dynasty. He completed his doctorate in 1979 and received his habilitation in 1989. He worked at the Department of Egyptian Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw. He participated in the Polish Archaeological Mission at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut from 1972 to 1974. In 1981, he received a scholarship at the Ägyptologisches Institut of Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg as part of the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme (1981–1984). In 2000, he became a full professor.

He founded and presided over the Association of Egypt Enthusiasts HERHOR. In 2022, he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

The search for Herihor tomb

Andrzej Niwiński started looking for the tomb of Herihor in 1980. Because no mummy of this pharaoh has been found yet, Niwiński believes that if the tomb is dug up, it might be an untouched tomb.

The Cliff Mission at Deir el-Bahari began in 1999. However, the area above the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, which Niwiński had already chosen as a possible location for Herihor’s tomb in 1986, was studied by the mission. The main goal of the Cliff Mission was to study the cliff ledge above the temples of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III to look for signs of human activity and to find the tomb of Herihor.

In 2020, during the work of the Cliff Mission at Deir el-Bahari, Niwiński’s team discovered a stone chest containing important items with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose II written on them. These items might be near the tomb of that pharaoh, which has not yet been found.

Popularisation of archaeology

Andrzej Niwiński hosted a television series about Ancient Egypt on the program Kwant in Telewizja Polska. He appeared in the documentary film "The Secrets of Herihor" (Tajemnice Herhora) (2010) and "What if Nothing" (A co jeśli nic?) (2020), both directed by Monika Krupa.

He has shared his research on Herihor through television and newspapers. He is known for interviews that explain knowledge about Ancient Egypt and point out theories that are not based on science.

Selected publications

• Niwinski, A. (1989). "Studies on illustrated Theban Funerary Papyri from the 11th and 10th centuries B.C." Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis. 86. Universitätsverlag / Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. doi: 10.5167/uzh-156842. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
• Niwiński, A. (1992). Mity i symbole starożytnego Egiptu. Publisher: "PRO-EGIPT". ISBN 978-83-900692-0-3.
• Tyszkiewicz, M.; Niwiński, A. (1994). Egipt zapomniany czyli Michała hr. Tyszkiewicza dziennik podróży do Egiptu i Nubii (1861-1862): oraz 180 rycin z XIX wieku. Publisher: "PRO-EGIPT", Warsaw. ISBN 83-900692-2-9.
• Niwiński, A. (2008). Abecadło znad Nilu. Series: "Okiem Horusa". Publisher: "Pro-Egipt", Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-915941-1-7.
• Niwiński, A. (2005). Czekając na Herhora…: odkrywanie tajemnic Teb Stubramnych czyli szkice z dziejów archeologii Egiptu. Publisher: Bertelsmann Media, Warsaw. ISBN 83-7391-831-0.
• Niwiński, A. (2008). Bajki staroegipskie. Series: "Okiem Horusa". Publisher: "Pro-Egipt", Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-915941-2-4.
• Niwinski, A.; Brzeziński, W. (2011). Papirusy, mumie, złoto– : Michał Tyszkiewicz i 150-lecie pierwszych polskich i litewskich wykopalisk w Egipcie = Papyri, mummies and gold–: Michał Tyszkiewicz and the 150th anniversary of the first Polish and Lithuanian excavations in Egypt. Publisher: Dla Stowarzyszenia Miłośników Egiptu "Herhor" : Państwowe Muzeum Archeologiczne w Warszawie, Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-915941-4-8.
• Niwiński, A. (2012). Hieny i lotosy. Publisher: "Pro-Egipt" Wydawnictwo Książkowe Andrzej Niwiński, Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-915941-5-5.
• Niwinski, A. (2020). Hyenas and lotuses. Publisher: Royal Hawaiian Press. ISBN 978-1-73486-061-0.