Did Moses, one of the absolute main characters in the Hebrew Bible ever exist? Influential movements within modern branches of biblical research say no.
          Having compared the Moses narratives from the second to the fifth Books of the Pentateuch with archaeological excavations in Palestine, nobody has been able to scent out one single indisputable trace of the biblical titan. So it has been asserted. And according to the sceptical-methodological motto, lack of proof means proof of non-existence, and consequently that Moses is a mytical figure being staged because of religion-political circumstances, probably invented by a Jewish priesthood in the centuries prior to the beginning of our calendar. In other words, the impulsive basis of the appearance of three world religions, i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, has eventually created - well, a figment of the imagination.
          According to Ove von Spaeth (OvS), the Danish Researcher, Moses has actually existed. Moses was not a Hebrew, but an Egyptian. He was the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, i.e. Hatshepsut, and heir to the throne of the vast Egyptian kingdom. He was also identical with Senmut, the universal genius, a person, who is well documented by ancient Egyptian sources. And he was born on Tuesday, February 8, 1534 B.C. (!)
          In short, this is what OvS states in his two books with the common headline "Assassinating Moses". Three additional books, also about Moses, are planned to be published within the next couple of years (all published 1999-2005, ed. note). In other words, something like a modern version of the five Books of Pentateuch.

          An outsider's decision on the above, mutually incompatible research results may be difficult. Then, how can the learned people be so disagreeing? Is Moses a literary fiction or an Egyptian crown prince of the 16th-15th century B.C.?
          What at all makes it defendable to spend time on OvS's highly spectacular statements is the fact, that nobody in Denmark either in history or at present has ever studied Moses, the phenomenon, as thoroughly as OvS. Also internationally, one has to look for a long time - a very long time - to find a researcher, who has written five books on Moses. More than anything, OvS deserves, thus, a lot of attention due to the voluminous scope of his research.

          In "The Suppressed Record", his first of these books, OvS starts out relevantly by explaining, why parts of modern research understand Moses as a mythical, traditional figure. He believes to be able to blame it on Karl Lepsius, the German Researcher, who approx. 150 years ago (1840ties) maintained that Moses and Ramses II were contemporaries in 1500. Later, however, Ramses II was proved to have been dated approx. 300 years too early. Nevertheless, the comprehension had been established that Moses had been living at the same time as Ramses II. So when the Egyptian Pharaoh was removed up till 1200 in the historical chronology, Moses was automatically and uncritically removed as well.
          This was to prove fatal. When research began seeking for Moses in that era - in reports from his times, or in archaeological excavations, and by ancient writers - Moses could not be found. The conclusion made by part of present researchers was obvious: Moses has never existed.
          According to OvS, he has been looked for in the wrong century. Very untraditionally, OvS points to Isaac Abrabanel (1437-1508), the Spanish Rabbi, who reports an old Jewish tradition about an astronomical event, a very rare grand conjunction in a certain aerea in the sky in 1537 B.C., a gathering of celestial bodies, understood as an astrological omen three years prior to the birth of Moses.
          This isolated tradition is not sensational, but it becomes so, when compared with modern, computer-based, astronomical dating, today considered the most reliable method of dating at all, thus also more reliable than C-14. Based on modern computation it appears that the said grand conjunction actually happened at a certain new moon in February/March 1537 B.C.
          And it is even to become more interesting. Based on the Hebrew, biblical description of Moses as "the son of pharaoh's daughter", OvS includes also rabbinical, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, and Latin writers' information on Moses, and he makes geographical-historical reconstructions as well as linguistic and religion-phenomenology analyses. These he compares with Egyptian inscriptions of 1500-1400.
          As being pulled towards a black hole in the Universe, the widespread information gravitates towards the well-documented crownprincess Hatshepsut, who probably lived in the second part of 1500 and the beginning of 1400. She was the woman who on February 8, 1534 B.C. gave birth to a son, a situation that OvS establishes based on an ocean of indications. Because of his richly facetted abilities and great enterprises this son achieved a brilliant fame and appeared as the heir to the throne. At the age of 40, however, he is becoming the victim of a ritual of fake execution and is being exiled from the court as a result of fights for power, and this demolishes his name. And by this he disappears from official history writing.
          Hatshepsut's son, the son of pharaoh's daughter, was Moses himself - according to OvS. Of course the question is if OvS convincingly is able to make probable his spectacular thesis.

          In "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter", OvS's second book of this series, he elaborates on his argumentation. With the accuracy of a treatise he chooses to focus on one single fact, i.e. Senmut, the Minister and Vizier of Hatshepsut.
          This man was unusual in every way. According to Egyptian sources, he is described as an outstanding architect and innovating builder, a successful head of the army - and foreign minister, finance minister, vizier, governor, Hatshepsut's deputy, etc, etc. And he was also famous for his great wisdom and initiation in esoteric matters. He possessed 20 of the most superior positions and bore more than 80 titles. In many matters he was very close to Hatshepsut. Senmut also had a mausoleum built, in which he installed a star map, moreover it is the hitherto oldest documented star map. On this is found a very rare grand conjunction, which has only taken place four times between 2200 B.C. and 200 A.D. - and among these: in 1534 B.C.
          With detailed reference to the Rabbinical Writings and ancient writers, OvS points to many direct or indirect similarities between Senmut - and Moses. For instance also that Senmut in 1494-1493 at the age of 40 years, suddenly had to escape from Egypt in dramatic circumstances, after which all traces of him disappear in Egyptian history.
          The conclusion by itself forces this appearance: Senmut was Moses. According to OvS it is unlikely that the many specific similarities should not point to one and same person. Such similarities cannot be found in any other circumstances in other periods of ancient history of the Middle East.

          Due to lack of necessary special scientific insight in the various circumstances included by OvS in his monumental synthesis, the writer of this article must emphasize of not being in a position to make an actual evaluation. However, what makes OvS's research interesting is his talent for finding new ways, focusing right new light on old circumstances/conditions, all in a time now often claiming - with unbecoming arrogance - to possess the firm answers. And by and large, nothing that happened 3-4000 years ago can we designate as being definitely sure of. This, of course, applies too for the OvS reconstructions.
          There is hardly any doubt that the Moses-image presented by the modern research has to be re-considered after OvS's books. It is much too vulgarized. It is based on a non-selection of a huge number of ancient information on Moses, or it is simply unfortunate lack of knowledge.
The reason for this has often been the argument that ancient Jewish, Greek, and Latin writers' information on Moses are "legend based" and being from a era, which in any case is long time after that Moses perhaps, perhaps not, has existed. And this has been found "satisfactory" - which of course is also the easiest.
          But, as OvS so convincingly says, You don't escape it that easy. It IS striking that ancient literature has immense sources about Moses - often fitting like a glove concerning the conditions in Egypt in 1500-1400. It IS striking that today's astronomical dating confirms old traditions, even disturbingly precisely. It IS striking that no researchers have previously been attentive about these circumstances, which obviously deserves the attention of the broad public.
          Has modern research only for too long been sleeping the magic sleep? Do we have to re-evaluate dramatically our image of Moses and of sources, which for a long time have been ignored or neglected? The writer of this article is not going to participate in the conclusion. Truly, OvS dares one eye - the way a real researcher is supposed to do - unless he will be satisfied with being an bookkeeper. Also the research of OvS is based on a lot of uncertainties, not always on thoroughly documented statements, or on comparisons of fields of knowledge, separated today, which no modern researcher can comprehend in the light of the widespread specialising and hyper-specialising. Neither can OvS.
          A stated fact, however, is that OvS has thrown down an impressive, inter-disciplinary gauntlet, impossible to disregard. A gauntlet that the specialist researcher, the Egyptologist, the philologist, the researcher of the Old Testament, the religion historian, the Judaist, the astronomer, etc, ought to pick up and give an unprejudiced, specialist analysis.
It is well deserved.

J.-A.P.H.

Jens-André P. Herbener, M.A. of Comparative Religion and Semitic Philology. - Oriental and Judaist Department, The Royal National Library of Denmark; - he is the Project leader of the new scholarly translation into Danish of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

A series of books - in every way unusual - have come to stay. We might as well take an immediate position on the contents, in which an extensive collection of sources in itself discloses many of the landmines which actually are to be found under several recent theological theories. This being of great immediate interest in the discussions about our understanding of history and its influence on our comprehension and version of our time.
          With this I am referring to the new books of new information, "The Surpressed Report", and the most recent, "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter", presented by the researcher Ove von Spaeth (and published by C.A. Reitzel Publishers). Especially the latter book is very topical due to several circomstances within the latest textual research and the many new archaeological discoveries in the Middle East.
          Initially, let me stress that this is not a review (I may, however, let the readers know that the books extend to 238 pages and cost DKK 248,-). On the contrary, this is a annotating meta-comment of a disclosure of new matters of extremely rich perspectives connecting with the early culturally very influential Moses figure.


New-Orientating

Ove von Spaeth, the Writer of the series about Moses, reasoning intriguingly from the very beginning endeavour to show - for instance by using astronomically based re-dating of the chronology - that Moses, the Founder of Jewish Monoteism, is not a mythical figure as often so believed. On the contrary, he was a historical person of flesh and blood and, at a certain time, an important figure inside Egyptian history.
          Also, if the reader is interested in mysterious-historical riddles, these books can not avoid arousing curiosity. If not in any other way, then because they make the reader want to see how the writer will manage to get unhurt though the attempt of putting such a thorny and intractable subject on a formula reasonably free of self-contradictions. So far nobody has succeeded in this without severely cutting off uncomfortable heels and toes.
          No matter how the result will be considered, the reading of von Spaeth's books - with the collective title "Assassinating Moses" - will revive a huge amount of material. However, I do also believe that even interested readers at an almost specialist level will have to get a grip on themselves, if they should like to make an immediate decision on all elements of such a huge amount of material as this one, which forms the basis of the books on Moses.
          On the other hand, the strong point of these books is exactely the fact that so many things neglected in research have now been included to form a comprehensive completeness. The re-examined, historical relations, already presented by the books on this background, ought to inspire the involved academic professions or lines to further research - and this most immediately. Nevertheless, the discussions aroused following the publication of the first volume of the book-series on Moses point to the fact that among certain different opinions even the title of the book(series) is seen being understood as provocative.


A Peculiar Self-Confidence

Many reviews express an honest pleasure with the books; nevertheless, many critics with a positive attitude are also often (still not all of them) concluding by claiming that they have no overmastering authority in many of the subjects, and are thus taking shelter behind a modification of the praises by saying that "von Spaeth's reasoning is in any case very convincing and impressive taking into account that he is a non-professional".
          On this background it is interesting that such exact reservations do not characterise the negative critics, who invoke the authority their own if not of others.
          By this we are in the peculiar situation that the positively recommendatory critics, among whom we see a great deal of illustrious capacities in other fields than theology and to a certain extent Egyptology, nevertheless are modestly hesitant, while the negative critics claiming to have professional insight either as theologians or Egyptologists appear with a 100 per cent self-confidence of their cause.


The Existence of Moses

Quite a number of the many who have worked with the historical basis of the Bible through times, have - like von Spaeth - noted that there seems really not to be found a proper place for Moses, and even not for the Jews (the Israelites), within Egyptian history. A history that we believe we are so well acquainted with and which is, thus, considered to be inconsistent with the place that Moses and the Israelites have in the Old Testament. Namely where the Books of the Pentateuch tell the absorbing narrative - although by some reflection not quite without self-contradictions, which were already noted by a thinker like Spinoza - the story about a little boy in a wickerwork container floating on the Nile, and who is recovered by the daughter of Pharaoh and brought up by her in the royal palace. Such an education worth the son of a princess.
          Although throughout times this narrative has also been interpreted more or less sarcastic - as we know from Anatole France for instance - nobody is finding faults with the story as such. But the fact that such a picked up child is later going to become the liberator from the oppressors of this people (the Israelites) is hardly a myth. History shows us that in principle this has taken place very often through times in different ways depending on time and place.
          We have another of the examples from the Bible, where David himself, who is considered a great king, who was to become a unifying power in Israel, was partly of foreign descent, i.e. from a line of the Moabites - so often abominated by the Israelites.


Respect to the Facts

Actually, the only "bad" thing about the old narrative about Moses is of course not the possible veracity, its structural logic, but the fact that it does not seem to fit into Egyptian history. And it is so much worse, because we know Egyptian history of that time rather well, where - according to biblical interpreters - and with them many researchers - we believe that Moses should belong. However, we are without major leads in Egypt of the emigrating Israelites at the time of Ramses II in 1200 B.C.
          Ove von Spaeth takes an opposite approach. We do not find Moses, because he is not placed correctly in time. A partly similar principle is known from the explanation by D.D. professor Sven Holm-Nielsen, namely that the entire conception is wrong concerning Israel as a definite people - something not really in existence is being dated at a place and time selected by us, and that is why we can not make it fit in.
          Ove von Spaeth is making, thus, the proposal - in several ways very reasonable - that the reason for the lack of Moses and the lack of Israelites is here due to the fact that we have dated him too late in history. However, if we go back approx. 200 years, i.e. till 15-1400 B.C., everything will look differently.
          In addition, the writer presents quite a number of indications, which in themselves may very well mean that Moses is the genuine son of the daughter of Pharaoh. And she is later historically personified to be Queen Hatshepsut, a queen, who most unusually became a Pharaoh herself, and whose famous temple we find close to the entrance road of the Valley of Kings.
          Von Spaeth presents us even a beautiful and intriguing jigsaw puzzle. However, the critics have been suspicious about the fact that, for once, the pieces seem to fit in quite handsomely - the logical plain solution, simply, is not allowed to exist Several theologically oriented reviewers can here be seen to use quite irrelevant arguments in their zeal to invent a basis for defaming the research presented by the writer. This is no news, neither that the respect for facts ought to be greater, also among academics.


Astronomy Makes Precise Dating

In "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter", the second volume of the series about Moses, the basis of the chosen dating is being elaborated by means of a newly established concretizing of the precision of time - hitherto it was only relative. Ove von Spaeth is the first person to make an astronomical-scientific dating of the oldest star chart in the world. This Egyptian chart was placed and signed by Queen Hatshepsut's vizier in his secret tomb beneath the mentioned temple and is dating back to ca. 1490 B.C. - it was only discovered 70 years ago.
          The writer's paper on this important dating was published in the international science magazine, the "Centaurus International Magazine of the History of Mathematics, Science, and Astronomy" (vol 42, Aug. 2000, pp 159-179). Further, Sir Dr. Patrick Moore, the British Astronomer, - known from his numerous works and as astronomy commentator on the BBC for 47 years - and who has himself translated writings about Egyptian astronomy, thus knowing the problems - has now described this discovery as "a major advance".
          Along with other exact indications as new information about the position and time of Moses, an edition of the star chart - adapted for the readers - has been included in the current volume 2 of the books of the book-series on Moses. From this the different interpolations done by von Spaeth are being stretched very reasonably and taking into consideration that this is a case about so distant events - partly enveloped in mist. For instance, we know that after the death of Hatshepsut a strong counter-action took place against her and her reforms. Still, we find the violent traces of the next sovereign, who to a great extent deleted her relics from history.
          And - this not being the hypothetical conclusion of von Spaeth, but of my own - it is not unlikely that Moses - being a victim of such a removal - would have taken the lead of a rebellious group of people.


Tracing the Israelites

Also, concerning the ethnically very mixed up group of Israelites in Egypt, it can be said that - so far - not many recognizable, exact traces have been left. This, however, may be easily explained, when taking into account the stormy and confusing events of the period. Such as those pointed out e.g. by Professor Sven Holm-Nielsen.
          To this can be added that it is amazing how many traces the Egyptians have left with the Israelites and thus with the Jews. Actually, we see something by a corresponding princible today with the American Jews of Eastern European descend. They have brought a tremendous number of Russian words into the USA, while on the contrary in Russia, where the Jews have actually been living for almost a millennium, remarkably few traces have been left compared to for instance those of the Vikings, the Mongols, and the Arabs.
          Such historical-cultural traces of all kinds - from biblical relations in Antiquity to contemporary emigrant customs - make the history of our own times so extremely interesting and give it further depth. We see it everywhere, from fragments of the history of Moses - still to be found in a part of our everyday phrases - to the Hollywood "merchandises" disseminated together with "Prince of Egypt", the Moses movie.
          That is also the reason for the major importance that such a thorough work as the present about Moses is now being published. And the discussions that followed the publication of Ove von Spaeth's first book (cf. for instance www.moses-egypt.net) should favourably be extended upon the publication of "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter", the second book from this writer. To the readers I would like to say, "Enjoy! An exact, exciting voyage of discoveries is ahead of you!"

J.M.

Ove von Spaeth: "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter", 238 pages, illustr., DKK 248,-,  C.A. Reitzel Publishers, 2000.

(The essayist/reviewer, Jurij Moskvitin, is a philosopher, mathematician, concert pianist, film music compositor, and author (Jurij Moskvitin's "Essay on the Origin of Thought", Ohio University Press, 1974, was soon established as a true classic); he has formerly been a reviewer for the Copenhagen newspaper "Politiken" and occasionally for the Danish national television).

(Jurij Moskvitin has, 30.Aug.2001, given OvS. permission to free use of this article)

This book is important! It is the volume two of Ove von Spaeth's five volume (life) work about Moses. As early as in the late 1970's and the early 1980's readers were able to get acquainted with Ove von Spaeth's epoch-making research (via a considerable collection of articles), which has now resulted in the publishing of the second volume of the series "Assassinating Moses".
          This is an exciting, provocative, and also incredibly well documented book trying to identify the identity and life of the true Moses through a considerable number of demonstrations. According to Ove von Spaeth's scientific research it is possible to prove that Moses was the son of the Egyptian princess (and later pharaoh), Hatshepsut - and therefore identical with Senmut, the Learned in astronomy and Egyptian Architect. In the book the life of Moses is described in details - almost like a reconstructed historic biography based on well documented and exploring research.
          By itself the description of the life of Moses and his importance for his time in Egyptian history is an exciting, scientific crime story. All known ingredients are present: secret children and marriages, fights for power, intrigues, assassinations, coups, and a secret execution.
          What is especially interesting to astronomy/astrology fans is the way in which Ove von Spaeth is using the astronomy/astrology for time determination of the oldest existing Egyptian star map. It contributes to that result that Moses was born much earlier than assumed so far.

          In appendix 2 of the book you can read one of Ove von Spaeth's scientific articles published in the highly estimated magazine, the "Centaurus International Magazine of the History of Mathematics, Science, and Technology" (Vol. 42/III, 2000). His paper in question describes in details how Senmut's star map was astronomically dated. Ove von Spaeth's statistical and astronomical arguments for dating the star map's depiction to the year 1534 B.C. is intriguing astronomic reading, and apparently the arguments are irrefutable.
          This very star map is among the material for determination of the merging of time of Moses and Senmut explaining the years of the lives of Moses/Senmut not available from the usual sources, and thanks to the cogent academic argumentation in favour of the theories of the book, entirely new and provocative ideas of ancient Egypt are brought about. As far as my information goes this book of the series - and the one preceding it - have caused a lot of turmoil within scientific circles.
          Previously Ove von Spaeth has caught attention in scientific circles as a learned in astronomy/astrology, e.g. in Peter Zeeberg's "Tycho Brahes Urania Titani - Et digt om Sophie Brahe ("The Urania Titani of Tycho Brahe - A Poem about Sophie Brahe"), Museum Tusculanum Publishers, from which the symbolic language of the poetry of Tycho Brahe made him able to determine the horoscopes of Sophie Brahe and Erik Lange. And "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter" establishes the success of Ove von Spaeth.

          In this kind of review it is impossible to dig deep into all the academic questions no doubt being caused by this book, and I am not in a position professionally to evaluate the conclusions about ancient Egypt, but convincingly Ove von Spaeth's arguments and research are impeccable. The very comprehensive biography amounts to 40 pages! And the very fact that the first volume of the book created so much turmoil vouches for the quality of this important work. This book is hereby warmly recommended to everybody.
          The book is an exciting historical Egyptology crime story, and also a serious, scientific treatise with a rare depth and numerous interesting references to sources. At first I read the book as a crime novel about the search for the true identity of Moses, and that was an intriguing experience.
          This book has aroused my interest in a closer and deeper knowledge of this period of time. As a crime novel the book is easy to read, and after the reading the inclination is to start all over again and study the book as a scientific treatise, which is equally exciting. See more at the homepage: www.moses-egypt.net.

          C.B.

Ove von Spaeth: "The Enigmatic Son of Pharaoh's Daughter". - Assassinating Moses, 2, C.A. Reitzel Publisher, 2000, 239 pages, illustrated, DKK 248.

(With written permission of 18th July, 2001, from Christian Borup for free use by OvS)