J.E. Blanton: Moses real? Yes, and no shortage of proof
Re “Is Moses more history or myth?” (Opinions, Dec. 14): This question was asked by Ishaam Tharoor, who wrote “outside of biblical scripture, there is next to no evidence in archaeological and historical record of (Moses) existence.”
The ancient Sinai Inscriptions as recorded in his Library of History begs to differ. Diodorus Siculus (10 BC) knew about the Inscriptions; the Greek writer Strabo (24 AD), in his Geography confirms these Inscriptions. Cosmas Indicopleustes (518 AD) reports the same. They were found near the place called “The Wells of Moses” by the Arabs. They describe the crossing of the Red Sea from Egypt by Moses and the Hebrew people. Mentioned is the dry river bed; the wall of water on each side; the enemy dying, and more. Even the dispute between Moses and his sister Miriam is recorded there (Numbers 12).
What actually proves the authenticity of these inscriptions, and Moses as a real person, would be that they are carved in a rock with Hieroglyphics and ancient Hebrew. No one could read the Egyptian Hieroglyphics until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. With the stone the ancient Sinai Inscriptions could be translated. Both history and archeology records Moses as a real person.
J.E. Blanton, Ceres
This story was originally published December 16, 2014 at 1:28 PM with the headline "J.E. Blanton: Moses real? Yes, and no shortage of proof."