Court of Amenhotep III at Thebes

July 6, 2012

In the oracle against Egypt, God said, “I will make Pathros desolate, Set a fire in Zoan and execute judgments on Thebes” (Ezekiel 30:14). “The phenomenal city [Thebes]was the center of Upper Egypt, and the seat of government during most of the time of Egyptian world power” (Bible and Spade, Vol. 7, p. 33).

This shot of the Luxor temple at Thebes shows the court of Amenhotep III (reigned 1390-1352 BC), with its double rows of massive columns.

Court of Amenhotep III, at Luxor, biblical Thebes. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

An article in Biblical Archaeological Review entitled “Egyptian Finds Uncovered in Jaffa,” by Judith Sudilovsky contained an interesting reference to Amenhotep III. The mention of Jaffa (biblical Joppa) in this excavation report illustrates the fact that Egyptian rule/influence often included the land of Canaan (and far beyond):

. . . The team also found a 3.5-inch Egyptian scarab, dating to the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390–1352 B.C.). The eight lines, engraved in hieroglyphs, enumerate the pharaoh’s achievements, proclaiming his prowess as a hunter and declaring that he had killed 102 lions during the first ten years of his reign. According to the team’s Egyptologist, Deborah Sweeney, such seals were typically sent to the edges of the Egyptian kingdom to praise and glorify the king (BAR 26:02 March/April 2000).

Click image for larger view.


Daniel’s Babylon

July 5, 2012

This lion in glazed brick from the Processional Way, Babylon, dates back to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon 605-562 BC. This lion (among other animals) is now in the Archaeology museum in Istanbul. Perhaps this can help us visualize the challenge to Daniel’s faith as he was cast into a den of lions by the Medo-Persian king, Darius.

Lion from Processional Way, Babylon. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

A beautiful painting of ancient Babylon, built by Nebuchadnezzar, is displayed in the Oriental Institute Museum in Chicago.

Artist conception of ancient Babylon. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

 


%d bloggers like this: