New discoveries with interesting finds concering the enigma of Moses are
re-establishing important historical coherence - now being presented in the book-series 'Assassinating Moses'. In these books a unique
historic material is
vitalising the both fantastic and dramatic background for Moses in Egypt.
Moses belongs to the most well-informed and spiritual personalities of our
early history.
The vast amount of new, exciting information about the fate and mystery
of Moses were found after thorough investigations lasting many years. The great uncovering was
executed by tracking down the many, often repressed sources and relate them
to the recent conquests of research.
Since the publication
of the first book of the five volume-series many inquiries have been
received as to the creation of the books and the procedures used by the
writer. The present article will inform about relevant features of a
sequence of events lasting several years, with special detours and important
milestones - a personal introduction to the writer's reasons for being
occupied with the subject, and about the objective of the unusual project.
The Eternal Question
The fact that Cosmos, the
huge space with stars and planets and the sun, our eternal vigorous source,
is of so decisive importance for each of us as individuals, irrespective of
our different ways of living, - is being valid also if we live in places where the sky can rarely be seen, and even whether we are conscious at all
of the existence of these circumstances. These celestial conditions have
become so natural to us that they are often receding into the background now
for the benefit of things of more relevance usually occupying our attention.
Much from all
this I realised at a rather early stage, but the space with its oceans of
stars remained more often in my consciousness than the daily events of the
neighbourhood. I started to read about other peoples' understanding of these
conditions through times and also about our historical relations to
astronomy and the influence of this on our religions and the ways of
thinking. In other words, the mystery of existence in a cosmic perspective
relating to our ways of beliefs in western religions - would it be possible
to combine these elements at all?
"Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself" - the biblical Commandment so well known, is
by many people related to the learning of Jesus. But Jesus was quoting
Moses! (from Leviticus 19;18). This very commandment has been considerably
influential through times. So, who was this Moses, who lived almost 1,500
years prior to Jesus?
Moses was the
earliest known historical person who initiated a religion. A religion which
became a deep inspiration to the three main religions, i.e. Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. And simultaneously a religion which for posterity
based itself in its own special book, the Bible, the world's most
wide-spread and read book, the oldest parts of which especially Moses has
written, according to the tradition.
In several
parts of the Bible can be found a number of serene rules of conduct and
ethical claims, but also - according to modern times concepts - robust and
cruel features. How can this be compatible - did the same person write both
parts?
And almost
3,500 years after the works of Moses - how could it be meaningful at the
present that some groups are trying to live according to the most severe,
literal "understanding" of these texts? Especially when such disputed ways
of understanding also can be experienced so destructively used in connection
with huge, political and ethnic-religious problems of our era?
Since then and along the way - could something have happened to the texts
late after they were created? Many questions like these had been "aroused"
in me, when I, independently, started a number of special studies.
The World's Oldest Star Map
Through my early founded interest on history and astronomy -
many years before
my first book on Moses was published - I got acquainted with the world's
oldest star map. It is a beautifully made, ancient Egyptian survey of the
sky designed in a special form, much different from our way of doing these
things. The map was made by the most gifted person of that time, Senmut (or
Senenmut), minister-in-office of Queen Hatshepsut. After having studied,
independently, several subject lines like history, religion-traditions,
astronomy, old star lore, the myths of Antiquity, etc, I gradually realised,
that this star map dates from the epoch specific of Moses. The map proved to
describe a certain constellation in the sky in 1534 BC.
The relation
was supported, furthermore, by indications from the historians of Antiquity
concerning the chronology connecting to Moses. However, by closer
investigating the historical events of Moses, I soon discovered that within
existing research there is a lot of internal confusion about this important
figure.
Without having
been first introduced to theological hypotheses about Moses - capable of
drawing investigations in a certain direction - I tried from the very
beginning to maintain a broad view all around. But also without an idea
about the extensiveness of the subject, I worked methodically uncovering
everything relevant, i.e. often rare material about Moses and chronology.
This was to last for many years.
It was during these investigations that the star map was dated. In July-August
2000 the result was published as a scientific treatise in the "Centaurus
International Magazine of the History of Mathematics, Science, and
Astronomy" (Vol. 42). Prior to this I was fortunate enough to have my discoveries about the historical Moses accepted by C.A. Reitzel Publishers,
Copenhagen, a tradition-ridden publishing house for the universities, and I
was also comfortable with the fact that this was the original publishing
house of Soeren Kierkegaard and H.C. Andersen.
The
huge material
turned into becoming the book-series, "Assassinating Moses"; and here in the
second volume
an edition of the star map treatise was included. Also, I had the pleasure
of being a referee/reviewer with the "Isis Journal of the History of
Science", the world's biggest and oldest international science-history
magazine.
During these long-lasting studies the
enormous
Moses bibliography was established (also reproduced in the books). And
it was encouraging too that for instance the Jewish National and University
Library in Jerusalem had started to buy this (Danish) series of books.
Bound To the Mysterious Traces of Moses
Without realising it from the beginning I had started a completely new
project only by originally wanting to write a by-line to a picture of the
star map. All of a sudden the text took up one whole page. And very soon
also a complete article. Based on many years of intensive work with the
relevant historic and spiritual subjects, it proved that actually I knew a
lot, which I had not realised at that time. This knowledge and connection
were within me, but at a kind of stage like the toy of a transparent glass
ball with shakeable snowfall. Where was I to start and to end?
The fortunate
decoding of a certain date of the star map proved to be the very first exact
dating of this map. When this also appeared to be a tool in determining the
time of Moses, all the pieces found their right place. The positive
consequence of this was that here - exactly on the right track - the
material itself could easily show the way. Now the text became a complete book.
And quickly two
books. Soon also three. Extending gradually even to five books - at one
point, even six - so I disciplined myself very much to getting this truly
incredible and lively material into a more limited scale - preferably
without loosing anything. The entire work took almost twenty years, besides
some years of preliminary studies which were then crystallizing.
One fine day I
discovered that in reality I was on a mission. Like in the old days when
captains were sent out on dangerous and strange expeditions with sealed
orders to be disclosed at the open sea only, i.e. after a long time without
landfall, and being unable to reach land for instance by fleeting using a
row boat. No escape possibilities. The way out is the way through - and here
- to bring back the existence of Moses into the consciousness of history.
Very many
essential circumstances of the antiquity becoming of importance even in our
culture today stem from Moses and his time. To incorporate innumerable pieces
of the wide-spread material of sources appeared to be an incredibly hard and
lengthy work. Being so immensely fascinated, and despite of all the external
problems and an even tough, hostile opposition, and also deep personal
privations, I discovered to be simply bound to do this, no matter what.
Working with
this huge writing the strangest things happened - several peculiar
inconveniences got in the way together with strange and positive events. For
instance - often "in the last minute" - I had inestimable help from experts
in Egyptology, Hebrew, Ancient Greek, etc. This was often only shortly prior
to the passing away of several of these personalities after long lives of
research and experience. Also in the fortunate period prior to the
rebuilding of the Royal Danish National Library, I was able to use its old and
immensely abundant reference library, a most paradisiacal reading room
which, furthermore, for a long time was in reality the only open
inter-disciplinary forum (now expired) in Denmark.
For several years at that place - and also from foreign libraries - I borrowed and copied
more than a thousand very important books, which had been out of print for a
long time, besides articles and documents,
exactly those I should use, until the introduction of taxes or fees - all
straining for independent researchers - on foreign book lending and copies.
And later even normal help from specialist librarians closed down together
with other specialist library services (thus for instance hampering
source-searching concerning old works not registered electronically) - in
reality it would have made it nearly impossible to continue the unusual
extent of research which was being conditioned by the creation of the
book-series on Moses.
Facing the Wide-Spread Wrong Dating
How do we know that Moses is not a myth figure, and if the Exodus, when
Moses and the Israelites left Egypt, did at all take place? Continuously -
and from the very beginning of the work - such questions are being asked
about the main subjects. Often this wondering proves to be influenced by the
spread of several theological (and other) schools' doubts as to the
existence of Moses as a historical person.
The
theological hypotheses concerned seem to stem from for instance the fact,
that the research on Moses has often been done on the basis of a wrong
dating placing him approx. 250 years too late in history - at around 1200 BC instead of at 1500-1400 BC. Consequently no traces have been found either of
Moses or of the Israelite Exodus. On this inadequate basis it is often
claimed today that the biblical Moses narrative is a nationalistic-romantic
myth created by inventive priests approx. 2300 years ago in order to provide
the Jews with a glorious pre-history.
However,
especially Egyptian and Jewish sources relating to Moses provide a
considerable number of evident, historical traces. To a wide extent these
have been ignored, often due to a rigid insistence on the much too late dating - and on the myth hypothesis, as mentioned, which reduce this the
most important personality behind the origin of biblical culture and of the
Jewish self-understanding to be only a fictional figure. This is not
acceptable, because the allegation of Moses being a myth proves to be an
impossible historical construction, likewise it already would be a complete absurdity for Jews of the past.
It is an
object of continued wondering why traditional, academic research does not to
a wider degree use the latest 120 years' (forward to the new millennium) of
numerous, although wide-spread, archaeological and textual references to
events of the times of Moses.
Already when
the first volume of my Moses-series was published, some indignant university people started to
use less polite measures. One lecturer became angry in particular because
I quoted his attacks correctly and word by word. In the media some of his
colleagues said: that they (quote:) "will fight with these books for many
years". Many readers saw this as a compliment - i.e. that the books appeared
with a certain class by "being able to have shaken the academic officials".
But some from these groups found it to be desirable to categorise the
discoveries like in books of adventurers and dreamers, which made other
academics outside the research lines in question, and even without having
read the books, to use the same designations.
Yet our
knowledge of the past is much more abundant and also more accessible than
usually assumed. Ironically enough, so many data about what we call myths
can be found at libraries and museums around the world collecting dust,
almost without being known or studied.
A considerable amount of the exactly in reality existing and relevant, historic sources
about Moses is included in the books. Most of them for the first time
related to modern archaeology and astronomical dating. The extremely
considerable material about Moses makes it pointless to claim that he should
be a mythical figure - on the contrary, historical and biblical information
about Moses as an exact figure is emphasised thoroughly and substantially.
Exciting Finds Re-Considered
An unrealised problem is the fact that
biblical text research started before
archaeology was scientifically established. Along the way from the many
seminal text discoveries, and soon more firm conclusions from mid-1800 and
up till present (around year 2000) research, hypotheses appeared about the
possible and non-possible relations of these findings - in attempts to
understand the history behind the Bible.
Thus,
hypotheses were constructed especially about "Moses as a myth". And
later in many
cases, they had got established a huge, surrounding literary devise.
Consequently, later generations are being confronted with a still
up-generated system of comments' comments. In this way new students are
often uncritically given the impression that the hypotheses are mostly to be
considered the authoritative truth.
Therefore, in
the actual analysis work, which is the foundation of the Moses book-series,
it was necessary for me in many cases to go all the way back to sources of
previous generations of researchers. I did so in order to get the best
possible direct knowledge (even also from excavation reports, for instance)
about the findings as well as the way the results of research had been
obtained. So instead of only taking for granted the later further extension,
it was often decisive to have the very starting point analysed in relation
to later findings and discoveries.
The synthesis
of material of the books - not seen previously to this extent in the Moses
research - implied that this inter-disciplinary work would hardly have been
produced without the help of many competent and interested researchers. Also
other capable helpers deserve my sincere thanks.
Novels or Facts?
During times several researchers have had inquiries about delivering
novel writing, - from their readers who would like to have a look into the
exciting information, however, preferably via fiction as being the well functioning
way of communicating. To some people source references are a pleasant
confirmation of quality of information or an interesting extra information
along the way - others, however, understandably, see this as too many
traffic lights, hampering the reading velocity a little too often. Many
scientists have used the novel version, when they wanted to launch or try
out new ideas - all of which, for general reading, is a handy but also more
responsibility-free communication.
A project like this about
a new understanding of the special background of Moses has not previously
been carried out - and might easily be understood as less usable in practise
as well as in serious consideration, if the discoveries presented had been
described in such a way that they would be less accessible for control.
Therefore - no novel, but some given subjects of the most important
relevance and also being able to engaging by virtues of their own. By themselves they
even contain further perspectives - which also concern new thinking which,
in the not so long-term, will be necessary within the actual religions.
The Spiritual Dimension
In these books about the rediscovered background of Moses, the very history
concept is in practise being extended to the effect that also a number of
magical and spiritual conditions are mentioned equally with other historical
events. The history of Moses and Egypt can not possibly be understood if
these elements - when really belonging to history - are without being shown
attention.
Also on this
background, the books therefore brings to light for instance the mystery
plays of ancient Egypt, 'masonic'like rituals, magic, ritual healing,
astrology, religious royal power. And for instance also inscriptions about
the magic used by ancient kings and generals. In addition, oracles, divine
conception, star knowledge mythology, and cosmology. Sublime impressions
from a culture comprising penetrating spirit - thus having here found its
expression in spiritual architecture and art, surpassing most of what is
known from any known civilisation. When we meet it now, several thousand
years later, it still affects us.
In the books,
among some of the information - also with new angles to mysteries and
ancient initiations cultures - several readers have recognised masonic and
similar groups' early-history circumstances. This is where these books have
tried to pass on some fundamental, often forgotten features still bearing
exact resemblance with historical events known from the world of Antiquity.
Not least the Egyptian inspiration is supplementing and putting into
perspective the subject and our understanding. And in this context the
books are focussing on these spiritually founded conditions in the Egyptian
past and from there bringing to light several, also general traces behind
present culture and history.
A reviewer
expressed his understanding of the books like this, "Moses was born to
become a pharaoh in what was at that time the mighty Egypt, and was
initiated in the ancient, esoteric wisdom - and concerning intelligence he
was by far surpassing his contemporaries. Obviously, he was a highly
advanced soul meant to lead human beings one step further into evolution".
On the
Internet it is now possible to read more about some of the many discoveries
and about their inspiring reception via the presentation in the books. And
also about the critic necessary to all new research - together with an
occasional, peculiar resistance - to put it mildly. Essential to a colourful
beginning. See, for instance, information about the books on their own
homepage,
www.moses-egypt.net
The Repressed Information
The Bible, as
well as the ancient Rabbinical Writings, and many of the ancient, learned
writers mention that Moses was known as the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter. My book-series about the historical Moses was given the unusual title
"Assassinating Moses" on the background that three times in history it was
attempted to destroy Moses: - First, by the Egyptians, attacking him as
their heir to the throne and already in his time removing his names and
other memories about him, in order to make him non-existent. - Later, by the
priestly editors of the Bible, such as Ezra in ca. 350 BC who reduced the
Egyptian background and status of Moses. - And finally, many present
theological schools reject the existence of Moses and designates him as an
imaginary, mythical figure. Consequently, in some circles the books are
considered strongly controversial, even heretic.
By means of reconsidering the identity and background of Moses, his fate and mystery, the books are bringing to light the replaced and repressed historic
existence of this personality of early history, who to us represents the
great man straddling the dividing line between history and prehistory and
who even created this line himself. By this context the first volume of the
series - commencing publication in 1999 - was named "The Suppressed Record"
(C.A. Reitzel Publisher and Bookseller, Ltd., Copenhagen). Each of the five
books of the series is an independent volume and can be read individually.
All of these books of my Moses-series represent a new-orientation also with
perspectives for research so far done in these fields - now being on its way
into transformation. And in our religious learning and comprehension for the
present, a cosmological insight will have to be included again. Together with
his advanced initiation and education in Egypt many indications show that
Moses carrying with him religious 'secrets' at the Israelite's Exodus from
Egypt. Apparently, now is the time for many of the exciting questions in this
relation to be solved and several enigmas will face their solution.
Ove von Spaeth, Writer, Researcher
Copyright 2002 -
www.moses-egypt.net
Dansk
tekst
/text
in Danish: "På sporet af Moses' arv fra Egypten"
