By Donny Ndoka –
Archaeologists recently discovered a 3,200-year-old sword thought to belong to soldiers from the Egyptian army during the time of Moses.
This exciting find was made in Hosh Issa, located in Beheira Governorate, a region in northern Egypt. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced this discovery in a press release on September 4.
The bronze sword is engraved with the name Ramses II, in honor of the famous pharaoh who extended Egypt’s dominions in the 13th Century BC. Ramses II – also called Ramses the Great – is believed to be the pharaoh who faced off with Moses in the liberation of the Hebrews in the Exodus.
The sword was probably more ceremonial than actually a weapon of war, says Oxford University Egyptologist Elizabeth Frood in the Washington Post.
It was a “marker of status and prestige (for) someone of relatively high rank,” Frood adds. “It’s a very striking and a truly remarkable find.”
The sword was uncovered during a dig led by Dr. Ahmed Said El-Kharadly from the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The team found many interesting structures made of mudbrick, which included places where soldiers lived and storage rooms for weapons, food, and other supplies.
These buildings date back to a period known as the New Kingdom, which lasted from about 1550 BC to 1070 BC.
During the New Kingdom, Egypt was very powerful and extended its control over Syria and Sudan.
Along with the sword, archaeologists found many other ancient items that used to belong to the soldiers. One notable feature of the sword is a hieroglyphic symbol representing the pharaoh, which adds to its historical significance.
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About this writer: Donny Ndoka studies at the Lighthouse Christian Academy near Playa Vista Los Angeles.
