David Rohl
Summer Lectures
Saturday 21 May, 2.00-5.00 pm
‘Exodus – Myth or History’
David Rohl’s career as a historian has been largely spent in examining the chronology of the
ancient world, including its impact upon the historicity of the Bible and the identification of the
pharaohs of the Famine and Exodus. Author of A Test of Time, Legend: The Genesis of
Civilisation, From Eden to Exile and The Lords of Avaris, David's two lectures will cover the
themes of his latest book Exodus – Myth or History?
Session 1: Sojourn and Exodus: The evidence from Egypt
David presents the latest findings from Avaris, which appear to indicate that the Exodus
tradition was based on real events from the Middle Bronze IIA period in Egypt, when a
Western Asiatic population settled in the Eastern Nile Delta, at the invitation of the state, during
the late 12th Dynasty. These highly Egyptianised Semites then abandoned the city at the end
of the 13th Dynasty, prior to the arrival of the Hyksos at the transition to the Middle Bronze IIB.
Session 2: In the Footsteps of Moses: Investigating the Sinai wanderings and the
conquest of Canaan
David discusses past research on, and possible mechanisms for the Yam Suph (‘Reed Sea’)
crossing, before heading into Sinai on an expedition to trace the putative route of the
wilderness wanderings. On the way he visits Serabit el-Khadim to examine the Proto-Sinaitic
inscriptions discovered by Petrie, and explores a Middle Bronze IIB conquest of Canaan.
There will be a book-sale and signing of David’s latest book
G6 Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0HP
Tickets: PMF £10, non-members £15, full-time students £5
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