Introduction 19- Moses and Pharoah: The history of ancient Egyptians remained buried for tens of centuries. Only in this century, with the discovery of the “Rosetta Stone”, were the gates of this history thrown open. Later, discoveries of the Royal tombs has demonstrated that mummies of kings had been kept intact – through mummification (embalming) – to the present times. Particularly, the mummies of the 18th dynasty Pharaohs, who witnessed the struggle between the Prophet Moses and the Pharaoh, were all intact. These include the well-known Thotmoses, Ramses, and Mernbetah. The latter is believed by most historians to be the so-called “Pharaoh of Exodus”, who was drowned while chasing Moses and the Israelites. The Qur’ân, however, revealed that, after drowning, the Pharaoh’s mummy has been kept as is, for future generations to witness: § So this day We shall deliver your (dead) body (out from the sea), that you may be a Sign to those who come after you. [10/92] |