Basically what he did was purchase Egygptian artifacts from a black market in Egypt. The Egyptian museums did not preserve the artifacts and didn't take care of them, so he purchased the items, deciphered the hieroglyphics and wrote a translation book of the Book of the Dead, which is the most famous scroll in Egypt. Many Egyptians have said that he's a thief because the government stated that the artifacts were not to be sold but he found them and purchased them. He didn't sell them as profit, instead preserved them as stated and wanted to find out about Egyptian history.
The way I look at it is, he did purchase them illegally but they were out there and he took a chance on it. He also took care of it and helped Egyptians learn about their culture in the early years. He published a translation of the Book of the Dead in 1890 I think and the Book of the Dead also has helped shape the Bible.
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