If there is one person I blame for ruining a childhood hero, it would be Egyptian antiquities minister Zahi Hawass. He completely ruined Indiana Jones for me when he adopted his symbolic hat.

Hawass was, finally, fired from the intern cabinet and will be replaced tomorrow – to the relief of thousands of archaeologists protesting against him – during a large cabinet reshuffle.

The Egyptologist Hawass, with his larger-than-life attitude, quickly became the face of ancient Egypt by appearing on countless international programmes, most prominently on National Geographic, talking about the ancient civilizations that lived here thousands of years ago.

Hawass has often been accused by fellow archaeologists of stifling debate and attributing scientific findings to himself even when not involved. There has been several protests against him by archaeology graduates since ousted President Mubarak’s regime collapsed.

Though Hawass resigned from his post after the revolution toppled the Mubarak-appointed government he was part of, he was reappointed as antiquities minister less than a month later.

The Egyptian daily Al-Youm Al-Saba’a reported that Hawass had to leave the ministry building from the back door, after being chased by archaeology graduates protesting at the front gate of the minister asking for his removal from his position.

However, following prime minister Essam Sharaf announcement of Hawass’ successor, Abdel Fatah El-Banna, an associate professor in restoration, archaeologists across the country mounted a huge campaign against the move. They threatened mass resignations and closing down of archaeology sites across Egypt if the decision goes through.

This prompted a delay in the announcement of the new cabinet, as El-Banna declined the post and the prime minister went back to discussions to choose a new replacement for Hawass.

Till then, however, protesters in the iconic Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution, celebrated what they hope is Hawass’ final departure.