Research Institute - Bringing Archaeological Sites of the Mediterranean to Adelaide Project
Egypt
For the student of the Bible, Egypt figures largely. It was one of the greatest military and political powers of the ancient world. The Israelites' ancestors travelled and lived there. Under a change of leadership they remained enslaved. With Ramses II (1279-1212 BCE) Egyptian imperial power reached its zenith. He made peace with the Hittites, created several monuments to glorify his rule, moved the capital to the Delta region and named this capital "The House of Ramses".
It is possibly in the time of Ramses that the biblical event of the Exodus occurred. This is the great memorable event which inscribed itself into the Israelite national memory -- God's liberation of the Israelites through the diplomatic activity of Moses. This primary formative experience shaped a people and provided them with the most important image of their God: one who liberates and cares for the oppressed.
Click on the small images below to view larger images:
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The head of Queen Nefertiti of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty (14th century BCE), unfinished quartzite from Tel el Amarna. |
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A 12th-century BCE altar in the temple area at Luxor. This shape and Egyptian styled altar eventually influenced the design of the Jerusalem temple altar. Note the four "horns" on each corner of the altar -- symbols of life, protection and fertility. |
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A temple inscription at Luxor of the Pharaoh Seti (Sethos) I (1290-79 BCE) offering to the god Maat, who in turn offers long life to the king. |
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The avenue of ram-headed sphinxes leading to the temple of the god Amun at Luxor-Karnak, and built in the reign of Ramses II (1279-1213 BCE). Amun, one of the greatest of Egyptian deities, was freqently shown as a human being with a ram's head or as an animal associated with strength
and fertility. |
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The famous Giza pyramids (c2500 BCE). |
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The hypostyle hall of the temple of the goddess Hathor at Dandera,
a Graeco-Roman construction built between 125 BCE and 60 CE. It is one of the best preserved temples of the Late Period. The tops of the columns are decorated with interpretations of the godess' head. |
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