Moses and Akhenaten: The Secret History of Egypt at the Time of the Exodus

A reinterpretation of biblical and Egyptian history that shows Moses and the Pharaoh Akhenaten to be one and the same. • Provides dramatic evidence from both archaeological and documentary sources. • A radical challenge to long-established beliefs on the origin of Semitic religion. During his reign, the Pharaoh Akhenaten was able to abolish the complex pantheon of the ancient Egyptian religion and replace it with a single god, the Aten, who had no image or form. Seizing on the striking similarities between the religious vision of this “heretic” pharaoh and the teachings of Moses, Sigmund Freud was the first to argue that Moses was in fact an Egyptian. Now Ahmed Osman, using recent archaeological discoveries and historical documents, contends that Akhenaten and Moses were one and the same man. In a stunning retelling of the Exodus story, Osman details the events of Moses/Akhenaten's life: how he was brought up by Israelite relatives, ruled Egypt for seventeen years, angered many of his subjects by replacing the traditional Egyptian pantheon with worship of the Aten, and was forced to abdicate the throne. Retreating to the Sinai with his Egyptian and Israelite supporters, he died out of the sight of his followers, presumably at the hands of Seti I, after an unsuccessful attempt to regain his throne. Osman reveals the Egyptian components in the monotheism preached by Moses as well as his use of Egyptian royal ritual and Egyptian religious expression. He shows that even the Ten Commandments betray the direct influence of Spell 125 in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Moses and Akhenaten provides a radical challenge to long-standing beliefs concerning the origin of Semitic religion and the puzzle of Akhenaten's deviation from ancient Egyptian tradition. In fact, if Osman's contentions are correct, many major Old Testament figures would be of Egyptian origin.

Table of Contents:
Moses and Akhenaten: The Secret History of Egypt at the Time of the Exodus Foreword Introduction Chronology of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties 1 Bricks Without Straw 2 Was Moses a King? 3 The Israel Stela 4 Rebellion in Sinai 5 Sojourn?and the Mother of Moses 6 The Rightful Son and Heir 7 The Coregency Debate (I) 8 The Coregency Debate (II) 9 The Reign of Horemheb 10 A Chronology of Kings 11 The Birthplace of Akhenaten 12 Akhenaten: The Early Years 13 Horizon of the Aten 14 The Tomb of Akhenaten 15 The Fallen One of Amarna 16 Corridors of Power 17 The First Monotheist 18 The 'Magic' Rod of Moses 19 Who Was Who? ? and the Death of Moses Epilogue Appendices A The Shasu Wars B The Amarna Rock Tombs of Huya and Meryre II C The Mos Case D Pi-Ramses and Zarw E The Body in Tomb No. 55 F Some Further Evidence of Survival G The Hebrews Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Ahmed Osman was born in Cairo in 1934, where he studied law. He is also the author of Stranger in the Valley of Kings, Out of Egypt, and The House of the Messiah. He has lived in England since 1964.

Review :
"The classic work which redefines the timeframe of the Exodus and places it firmly in the age of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. Essential reading for all Bible historians." "His study makes for an interesting alternative perspective."