I found in one of the tombs an inscription saying, 'If you touch my tomb, you will be eaten by a crocodile and hippopotamus.' It doesn't mean the hippo will eat you, it means the person really wanted his tomb to be protected.

Controversies
Hawass has been widely accused of domineering behaviour forbidding archaeologists to announce their own findings and courting the media for his own gain after they were denied access to archaeological sites because according to Hawass they were too amateurish. Hawass later said “They should give us the opportunity to change things and if nothing happens they can march again. According to other newspaper reports he was sacked from his job.

Hawass has received widespread publicity internationally and was the subject of a reality television series in the United States Chasing Mummies. In connection with the awarding of a gift shop contract at the Egyptian Museum and alleged smuggling of antiquities he was sentenced to a prison term which was later lifted.