The discovey may offer fresh clues about the world described in the Bible’s story of Moses
Archaeology boffins reckon they have uncovered compelling new evidence linking an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to the Bible’s Moses.
Excavations at Tell Abu Seifi, around 90 miles northeast of Cairo in northern Sinai, have uncovered ancient stonework that researchers believe strengthens the site’s ties to the long-lost ancient city of Mesen.
The discovery includes a 3,000-year-old stone bearing the name of King Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers and a figure many historians associate with the pharaoh described in the Book of Exodus.
The latest findings do not prove that Moses or the Israelites passed through Mesen, and the ancient city is not named in the Bible. However, Egyptian officials say the inscriptions provide a strong archaeological and historical hypothesis linking Tell Abu Saifi to Mesen, and Mesen and its surrounding ancient infrastructure to the Book of Exodus.
The literal cornerstone of the new evidence comes in the form of an inscribed stone beam, Arkeonews.com reports. The stone beam – also called a lintel – was found broken into two pieces and has hieroglyphic inscriptions carved into three sides.
It bears the titles of Ramses II and refers to restoration work carried out on a statue of Horus, described as “Lord of the City of Mesen”.] The discovery could provide important evidence as archaeologists attempt to establish the identity of the ancient city they are excavating. Egyptian officials said the newly found inscriptions “present a strong archaeological and historical hypothesis linking the site to the ancient Egyptian city of Mesen”.
They vowed to continue “excavation and scientific study” in the hope of putting Mesen on the map.
A city bearing the pharaoh’s name – Raamses – is mentioned several times in the early books of the Old Testament, specifically Genesis, Exodus and Numbers.
While Mesen is not mentioned in the Bible, its surrounding ancient infrastructure was. In the Bible’s second book, Exodus, Raamses is referenced as one of the cities built by the enslaved Israelites. Historically, that city was built by Ramses II circa the 13th century BCE.
Another Mesen connection to Exodus comes from its location along the Military Road, which linked Egypt with the Sinai Peninsula and Canaan.
So, even though Mesen and Ramses II himself are not mentioned in the Book of God, archaeologists are filling in important gaps in ancient history that are taking us one step further into providing Moses and friends weren’t just a parable of old.
However, the Bible states that the Israelites were intentionally led away from the Horus Military Road because God feared they would turn back to Egypt if they encountered war.
According to scripture, God warned the Israelites fleeing Egypt against taking this shorter and more direct route to Canaan because it would lead to warfare and potentially drive them back to the land they had just escaped.
Some scholars associate that route with the “way of the land of the Philistines” mentioned in Exodus.
Also uncovered at the site of the incredible Anicent Egyptian breakthrough were the remains of a fortified temple complex surrounded by a mudbrick wall and gates.
Storage rooms and two stone roads leading into the temple were found alongside fragments of falcon statues and other sculptures.
The team also recovered the torso of a royal figure carved from basalt, a Late Period statue missing its head and feet, and pieces of limestone and basalt falcon sculptures.
Supreme Council of Antiquities head of Egyptian Antiquities Mohamed Abdel Badie said: “The archaeological evidence shows that the site underwent several phases of development.”
Director General of Sinai Antiquities Mahmoud Galal, who led the excavation, said the objects reflected both the military and administrative activity that once took place at the site.
The fragment is thought to depict Ramesses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers and a figure many historians associate with the pharaoh described in the Book of Exodus.