Summary of "Tomb of the Exodus Pharaoh: What Was Found & Why You Don't Know About It!"

Scientific Concepts, Discoveries, and Natural Phenomena Presented

Excavation of Tomb KV35 (Tomb of Amenhotep II)
- Excavated in 1898 by French archaeologist Victor Loret.
- Located in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.
- Entrance marked by chisel marks and a funerary statuette naming Amenhotep II.
- Tomb had been looted previously, a common fate for tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
- Discovery included:
  - A deep shaft inside the tomb requiring ladders to descend.
  - A two-pillared room with a mummy lying in a coffin (blackened and grim).
  - A six-pillared room decorated with life-size paintings of a king with deities.
  - A royal sarcophagus with its lid removed, containing a coffin with the mummy of Amenhotep II.
  - Funerary statuettes bearing the name Amenhotep II and one bearing the name of Prince Webensenu.
  - A chamber with three corpses, including a young boy (likely Webensenu) with a distinctive "prince’s lock" hairstyle.
  - Canopic jar fragments inscribed with the name Webensenu, confirming his burial in the tomb.
  - Nine coffins in a separate chamber containing other royal mummies moved for protection during ancient tomb looting, including Thutmose IV (Amenhotep II’s father and successor).
Mummification and Canopic Jars
- Canopic jars were used in the mummification process to store removed organs.
- Jars often bore inscriptions identifying the deceased.
- The presence of Webensenu’s name on jars confirms his identity and burial in the tomb.
Unique Pathology of Amenhotep II’s Mummy
- Examined by G. Elliot Smith, who noted unusual boil-like sores (tubercles) covering the mummy.
- These sores are unique among royal mummies found in the Valley of the Kings.
- Possible correlation with the biblical plague of boils described in Exodus.
Biblical Correlation and Chronology
- Biblical account (Exodus) mentions the death of Pharaoh’s firstborn during the plagues.
- Webensenu, the son of Amenhotep II, died young and was buried in his father’s tomb, matching the biblical narrative.
- Amenhotep II’s father, Thutmose IV, reigned for 54 years, fitting the biblical timeline where Moses fled Egypt for 40 years before returning under a new Pharaoh.
- The biblical date for the Exodus is approximately 1446 BC, aligning with the 18th Dynasty reigns.
- The Exodus Pharaoh is most likely Amenhotep II based on archaeological and biblical evidence.
- The biblical text does not explicitly say the Pharaoh drowned during the crossing of the Red Sea, which explains why his mummy might still exist.
Historical and Archaeological Methodology
- Translation and analysis of Victor Loret’s excavation reports.
- On-site exploration and negotiation for tomb access.
- Use of 3D reconstructions to visualize the tomb’s interior.
- Cross-referencing archaeological finds with biblical texts and Egyptian royal genealogies.
- Comparative study of mummified remains and historical records.

Key Points / Methodology Outlined

Translation and study of original excavation reports.
Field visit to the Valley of the Kings to verify and document the tomb.
Use of 3D modeling to recreate the tomb experience.
Identification of artifacts and inscriptions (statuettes, canopic jars) to confirm identities.
Physical examination of mummies and pathological features.
Correlation of archaeological data with biblical accounts and Egyptian chronologies.
Analysis of historical reign lengths to match biblical timelines.
Addressing common objections about the existence of the Pharaoh’s mummy post-Exodus.

Researchers and Sources Featured

Victor Loret (Laray) – French archaeologist who excavated the tomb in 1898.
G. Elliot Smith – Anatomist who studied the mummy of Amenhotep II.
Author/Narrator – Presenter who translated and analyzed the excavation report, visited the tomb, and created 3D reconstructions.
Sources Referenced
- The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (for genealogical data).
- Biblical texts: Exodus, Psalms, 1 Kings, Acts (for historical and chronological context).
- Egyptian Museum (location of Amenhotep II’s mummy).

This summary encapsulates the archaeological findings from the tomb of Amenhotep II, their potential connection to the biblical Exodus narrative, and the integration of historical, archaeological, and biblical scholarship to identify Amenhotep II as the likely Pharaoh of the Exodus.