Pharaoh’s Tomb Discovered by Egyptian Archaeologists
Dr. Joseph Wegner, a curator at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, has made a significant archaeological discovery recently.
Experts have unearthed ancient “propaganda” linked to Egyptian pharaohs—thought to refer to a key character in the Old Testament—at a Paris location. Jean Guillam Orette Perletier, an Egyptian scholar from the University of Sorbonne, discussed this with Fox News Digital, sharing that a formal publication is forthcoming.
The propaganda supporting Ramses II was found at the Paris site near Dela Concorde, specifically on an ancient obelisk. Olette-Pelletier noted he obtained permission in 2021 to ascend the scaffolding for his research.
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Ramses II, who lived from 1303 BC to 1213 BC, is often regarded as one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful and influential rulers. Some believe that he is the Pharaoh referenced in the Book of Exodus, though the text does not name him directly. According to the account, Ramses II opposed Moses and then suffered a series of plagues as a consequence.
Olette-Pelletier finds the hieroglyphs related to Ramses II on the obelisk to be “propaganda.” He has identified seven codes indicating Ramses II’s authority dating back to 1280 BC. “This was a message directed at the nobles,” he said, emphasizing that they had the ability to interpret the codes.
Interestingly, Ramses II’s legitimacy was questioned due to his lineage; Olette-Pelletier speculated that nobles capable of reading these codes might have felt tempted to challenge his rule because he was said not to have divine birth. “A nobleman could be swayed by the subversion of power,” he commented.
He highlighted that the obelisk has four sides, with the side facing the Seine—intended to mirror the Nile—depicting Ramses II wearing the dual crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. It seems that by using coded messages, Ramses II aimed to reinforce his divine authority.
Olette-Pelletier mentioned that during the first two years of Ramses II’s reign, he focused on showcasing his divine nature alongside his wife Nefertari by honoring major deities and acquiring priestly approval. In the process, he altered his name from Usermaatra to Usermaatra Setepenra, which loosely translates to “Ra’s chosen.”
He stated, “The obelisk also includes hidden texts indicating his justice and divine kingship, thereby diminishing the risk of a coup.”
This discovery fits within a series of findings related to Ramses II over the past year. For instance, in September, an ancient sword from Ramses’ army was recovered in Haush Essa. Earlier in January, Egyptian officials announced plans to restore the temple of Ramses II located in Luxor, known as Ramsesum.
