Starting in 1894, he took part in excavatory work in Egypt, most notably at the Necropolis of Thebes.[1] Around 1900 he began work at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, serving as a cataloger and editor of Demotic material.[2] Spiegelberg made important contributions towards the deciphering of Demotic script and in the field of Demotic lexicography.[1]
During his tenure at Munich, he accompanied novelist Thomas Mann to Egypt, where he provided assistance towards the drafting of Mann's "Joseph" tetralogy.[1][3] In 1919 he became a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences (a non-resident member since 1923), and from 1924, was a full member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.[2][4]
Selected works
Studien und Materialien zum Rechtswesen des Pharaonenreiches der Dynastien XVIII–XXI, Hannover 1892 (dissertation) – Studies on the law of the Pharaohs of the dynasties XVIII–XXI.