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Short overview of the main evidence
OVERVIEW
A major new 190-page book by UK-based Egyptology author Dirk Schroeder presents and discusses an amazing list of over 35 separate main points of archaeological and documentary evidence proving a link between the enigmatic ‘Amarna Period’ of Pharaoh Akhenaten, and the Biblical Exodus. He claims this is the first real wide-ranging archaeological evidence of the Exodus as a historical event, based on recent fresh examinations of the hundreds of Amarna Letters, several ancient mummies from that time, and very strong circumstantial features that explain the reasons behind this hitherto mysterious time period.
Dirk, a well-travelled specialist writer of tours in the Near East, reveals the powerful motivation behind the creation of the beautiful and peaceful Amarna Period, with its stunningly unique royal family of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, and solves many mysteries relating to Akhenaten’s so-called ‘pacifism’ and ‘monotheism’, far outweighing any alternative theories or doubts which until now have been held by many.
The book will appeal to anyone who is captivated by this profoundly obscure but beautiful era, but especially to a diverse range of Bible-believers and also to egyptologists. The style of the book is progressive, for the benefit of those less familiar with the topic, whilst providing more scholarly detail as the book progresses.
The start of the discoveries was made at the British Museum, where around 90 of the 382 Amarna Letters are housed. Several translations of these ancient Akkadian tablets have become available, and Dirk began to realise that they described in astonishing detail the same features as recounted in the Biblical book of Exodus; almost 200 of the letters seriously bemoan the total lack of Egyptian soldiers; many of the letters make repeated demands for gold which is suddenly lacking; and one letter speaks of the sudden ‘tragic death’ of the previous great Pharaoh (Amenhotep III). These are the main features described in Exodus.
Added to these startling discoveries, it was soon realised that the actual mummy of the young firstborn heir who evidently died in the tenth plague, has been found buried between the Exodus Pharaoh and his wife; the youngster evidently died of unknown cause at age of around 11 years. This explains also why Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) was a second-born Pharaoh and brought unexpectedly to power.
Supporting these monumental discoveries, it was also found that Akhenaten indicated to us his motivation in making such huge changes in Egypt; he forced a new religion onto his people, focussing on just one god who had evidently demonstrated his actual power, symbolised by powerful sun rays with hands at the ends of each ray. He effectively disbanded all other religions and gods that had evidently been suddenly discredited in the ten plagues which were targeted at them, and even changed all theophoric names from the discredited Amun to the seemingly uniquely powerful ‘Aten’, and changed the iconography of the Aten at this time from falcon-headed to the 'rays-with-hands' icon.
Adding to this, is the stunning paradox of Amenhotep III’s mummy, death and burial. Despite being probably the greatest-ever Pharaoh, his manner of death, mummification and burial are conspicuously consistent with the Bible account of a Red Sea encounter and the total loss of his army.
The book adds another twenty or so major points of evidence, plus many other minor supporting points... it really is a potent read!
Skeptics will point out that popularly accepted Egyptian chronology prevents Amenhotep III and IV from being the relevant Pharaohs, but recent debate has raged about the lack of ‘fit’ of accepted chronology, with an increasing number of writers proposing an earlier time frame which fits well with Dirk’s findings, although he doesnt enter the fray on that particular topic.
‘People of the Book’ will no doubt be especially interested in this ground-breaking book, which indicates the existence of a supernaturally powerful unseen force, rather than the man-made gods who were now literally in ruins. The book gives some insight too on how this is embedded in the nature and meaning of the god-name.
Cover image: http://www.egyptology.org.uk/amarna.jpg
Also: http://www.egyptology.org.uk/amarna3d.jpg
Author bio: http://www.egyptology.org.uk/amarna.php
Email to author:md.schroeder2015@gmail.com
See inside the book (first few pages): Click here.
