Followers

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Newly Discovered Pyramid Predates Noah


4,600-year-old step pyramid discovered near the modern town of Edfu, Egypt.
Image credit: Oriental Institute

The pyramid belongs to a series of almost identical small pyramids that have been discovered near several provincial centers in Egypt such as Elephantine, Hierakonpolis, Naqada, Abydos, Zawiet el-Meitin near Minya, and Seila in the Fayum.

According to an inscription found at Elephantine that can be linked directly to this pyramid, the whole group dates to the reign of Pharaoh Huni (around 2600 BC), last ruler of the 3rd Dynasty.

The monument is situated north of the modern village of al-Ghonemiya – between the edge of the desert and the cultivated areas of the Nile Valley, about 5 km south of Tell Edfu and at 25 km south of the pyramid of al-Kula, which is linked to the major Predynastic site of Hierakonpolis.

Read it all here.


Hierakonpolis (Nekhen) was a Predynastic shrine city dedicated to Horus. The priests there were Horites. During the 1897/1898 field season, British archaeologist J. E. Quibell found what is called the “Narmer Palette” at Nekhen. The Narmer Palette illustrates Narmer’s unification of the Nilotic peoples. Noah likely would have known this prestigious city which was on the Nile. Noah lived about 2490-2415 B.C. when the Sahara was wet. This step pyramid predates Noah by about 200 years.

Related reading: Abraham's Habiru Ancestors; Boats and Cows of the Nilo-Saharans; Undiscovered Pyramids Seen From Space



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alice,

This is just a follow up question, from our earlier discussion on the priesthood.

How can earthly priests represent angels, in the liturgy when angels are not human?

Angels serve God, but do not partake in the one priesthood of Christ, only human beings do.

Margaret said...

The Church militant, those in the Body of Christ comprising both the ordained priesthod and the congregation, liturgize before the throne of God during every Divine Liturgy -- and the Church militant is joining the Church Triumphant, those before the throne of God, along with God's ministering angels, and all are lead by Christ the only High Priest before the throne of God: one Church, 'on Earth as it is in Heaven.'

Alice C. Linsley said...

Thank you, Margaret.

Alice C. Linsley said...

Savvy,

Margaret's explanation is very sound.

The "earthly priests" found in Revelation are angelic beings because they are the deified righteous ones. Such deified elders /rulers were expected to serve at the Throne. Remember that Jesus said, "Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." (Mat. 20:23) This was Jesus' answer to the request made by James and John. To which He added, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized." Words to ponder this Lent.

DDeden said...

I situate Noah (7.5ka) much earlier than you do (4.5ka?)... after the mural at Catal Huyok showing the horns of Heracles (active volcanos), but before the oldest ziggurats/raised platform temples at Sumer and the later similar step-pyramid form in Egypt.
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/science-catalhoyuk-map-mural-volcanic-eruption-01681.html

Alice C. Linsley said...

That early dating is plausible, DDedan. I once placed Noah about that time, but the Genesis kings lists suggest a more recent date. Though the early date is certainly possible given that the material in Genesis 10 spans an unspecified period of time (telescopic).