How Is Historical Evidence Validated?

[chance]

A pharaoh? would be a Rameses but not sure wich one. (some dead dood in a pyramid).

 

[Ed]

Re: Bible History Quiz - Physical Evidence

The mortal remains of just one person mentioned in the bible have been positively identified. Who is that person?

(I wonder who will know, a believer or a skeptic?)

Ramses? Thought that they were rethinking that.

 

[Thinking in CT]

Quiz Winner!!

Rameses is correct! He was the Pharaoh in Exodus.

 

[The Mighty Thor]

Re: Quiz Winner!!

Rameses is correct! He was the Pharaoh in Exodus.

I'm curious. What evidence do you have for this claim? Is it the 'grain storage' at 'Ramses' claim?

 

[steenkh]

Re: Quiz Winner!!

Rameses is correct! He was the Pharaoh in Exodus.

It is disputed which Rameses was the one in exodus. However, the tombs of a number of Rameses have been found so the probability of having found the right one is high.

 

[Thinking in CT]

I'm afraid my evidence is either anecdotal or "from authority". A biblical scholar of my acquaintance stumped me with this question. I did not inquire about his source materials.

I suspect many such anecdotes find their way into "History".

 

[The Mighty Thor]

I'm afraid my evidence is either anecdotal or "from authority". A biblical scholar of my acquaintance stumped me with this question. I did not inquire about his source materials.

I suspect many such anecdotes find their way into "History".

Thanks for that candid reply, Thinking in CT.

What a refreshingly honest and modest answer. Well done! (and I'm not being sarcastic here.)

The 'Biblical Scholars' and historians disagree on the Pharoah in question. Pharaoh Merneptah (1213--04 B.C.E.), a son of Ramses II, is a hot favourite just now.

 

[Hand Bent Spoon]

Isn't there some great doubt over whether the Jews were ever enslaved in Egypt to begin with? If they were never there, then the answer to the Pharoh question would be, "None of them."

 

[thaiboxerken]

Yes, there is no record of hebrew slaves in Egyptian history.

 

[The Mighty Thor]

Yes. No matter how much literal believers and Creationists want the Bible to be truly historical, it is anything but. It would be more accurate to describe it as a religious Epic. Much like the Illiad and Odessey, there are some events in the Bible that seem to ring true. In fact most of the OT cannot be verified historically. Archeology has found no evidence to support the Exodus story. There is a stele from the time of pharaoh Merneptah which mentions his subjugation of a nation/people called Isreal. AFAIK this is the only reference to the Hebrews to be found in all the Egyptian records. No mention of any slaves either. The ordinary Egyptians did the building work for their pharoah under the supervision of master masons. It was a matter of loyalty and pride rather than enforcement.