03 Dark grey granite stele

Dark grey granite stela engraved on both sides. On the back face there is a long inscription wherein King Amenophis III recalls all he has done for the temple of Amun. The front face has been utilised by Meneptah, son of Ramesses II. After a poetic account of his victories over the Lybians, an allusion is made to the fall of Ascalon, of Gezer and of Yenoem in Palestine and the inscription continues: 'Israel is crushed, it has no more seed'. This is the sole mention of the Israelites in the Egyptian texts known up to the present day. Kom el-Hitan (Thebes), 18th - 19 dynasties