During the long road towards understanding and discovering the secrets of ancient Egypt, there have been great events, curious incidents and comical moments, all of which have helped to mold the modern history of Egypt, and in turn, the history of the modern world . Accidental discoveries, which are the theme of this book, have occurred in tandem with the political and social development of Egypt during the past 200 years. The three principal aims of this book are to unveil the hidden connections and strong linkages between the true stories behind the major archaeological discoveries in Egypt, spanning the time period from the 19th century, immediately after the French expedition to Egypt, until today; to outline the relationship of these discoveries with the sudden opening of Egyptian society to the modern western world; and to explore how the study of ancient Egypt became a bridge to enlightenment.