Archaeologists excavating at Tell Abu Saifi in Egypt have discovered a stone beam inscribed with the name of Ramses II, a pharaoh often associated with the biblical Exodus narrative. The find at the site, located 90 miles northeast of Cairo, offers potential new evidence for the identity of the lost city of Mesen, which scholars believe was situated along an ancient military road connected to the biblical story.

The 3,000-year-old inscribed beam, or lintel, was found broken into two pieces and bears hieroglyphics detailing the pharaoh's titles. It also references restoration work on a statue of Horus, described as 'Lord of the City of Mesen,' which provides significant support for the hypothesis that the excavation site is indeed the ancient settlement.

Mesen's potential connection to the Exodus narrative stems from its location along the Horus Military Road, a historic route linking Egypt with the Sinai Peninsula and Canaan. Some scholars suggest this route corresponds to the 'way of the land of the Philistines' mentioned in the Book of Exodus. However, the biblical text states that the Israelites were deliberately diverted from this road to avoid conflict.

Ramses II, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BCE, is frequently identified as the pharaoh of the Exodus due to Exodus 1:11, which mentions Hebrew slaves building the city of 'Raamses' (or Pi-Ramesses), a prominent city constructed by Ramses II. While the Bible does not explicitly name the pharaoh, the geographical link, combined with his long and powerful reign during the 19th Dynasty, makes him a compelling candidate for many.

Egyptian officials stated that the newly discovered inscription presents a strong archaeological and historical hypothesis linking the site to the ancient Egyptian city of Mesen. The excavations also revealed the remains of a fortified temple complex, enclosed by a mudbrick wall and gates, along with storage rooms and two stone roads leading into the temple. Fragments of falcon statues and other sculptures were also unearthed.

Remains of a fortified temple complex surrounded by a mudbrick wall and gates were also uncovered during excavations

Evidence of the settlement's long history and military significance was further highlighted by the recovery of sculptures, including a section of a schist statue from Egypt’s 26th Dynasty depicting an army scribe. The excavation leader, Mahmoud Galal, noted that the recovered objects reflect both the military and administrative activities that once occurred at the site. The settlement continued to be utilized long after Ramses II's reign, with parts later converted into Roman military barracks in the third century AD.

Inscribed stone fragments unearthed at Tell Abu Seifi could help confirm that the site was once the lost Egyptian city of Mesen

In a separate discovery in April, a team excavating at Tel Faraoun, also in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta, found part of an ancient statue depicting Ramses II. This seven-foot-tall fragment, weighing an estimated five to six tons, was discovered during ongoing excavations led by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. While damaged, archaeologists confirmed sufficient detail to link it to royal sculptures from Egypt's New Kingdom period. Early analysis suggests this statue may have been transported from Pi-Ramesses, Ramses II's grand royal city in the Nile Delta.

A range of artifacts was unearthed, including a 3,000-year-old stone naming King Ramses II, who is linked to Moses because Exodus says the enslaved Israelites built a city bearing his name

It is important to note that the discoveries do not definitively prove that Moses or the Israelites passed through Mesen, nor is the ancient city explicitly named in the Bible. Similarly, Ramses II is not explicitly identified as the pharaoh of the Exodus in the biblical text.