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“Herodotus reverts several time to the negroid character of the Egyptians and each time uses it as a fact of observation to argue more or less complex thesis. Thus to prove that the Greek oracle at Dodona in Epirus was of Egyptian origin, one of his arguments is the following: ‘… and when they add that the dove was black they give us to understand that the woman was Egyptian.’ The doves in question – actually there were two according to the text – symbolize two Egyptian women who are said to have been carried off from the Egyptian Thebes to found the oracles in Greece at Dodana and in Libya (Oasis of Jupiter Amon) respectively.” (p 37)
“Lycinus (describing a young Egyptian): ‘This boy is not merely black; he has thick lips and his legs are too thin… his hair worn in a plait behind shows that he is not a freeman…’ (p 37 – 38)
“(d) Apollodorus, first century before our era, Greek philosopher. ‘Aegyptos conquered the country of the black-footed ones and called it Egypt after himself.'” (p 38)
“(e) Aeschylus, 525(?) – 456, tragic poet and creator of Greek tragedy. In the Suppliants, Danaos, fleeing with his daughters, the Danaids, and pursued by his brother Aegyptos with his sons, the Aegyptiads, who seek to wed their cousins by force, climbs a hillock, looks out to the see and describes the Aegyptiads at the oars afar off in these terms: ‘I can see the crew with their black limbs and white tunics.'” (p 38)
The Significance of A Black Ancient Egypt
The evidence of a black ancient Egypt is directly tied to the physical appearance of Israel. In the Bible, there are three notable occasions when Israelites were mistaken for ancient Egyptians:
- Moses (Exodus 2:19)
- All of Israel (Genesis 50:11)
- Paul (Acts 21:38)
Understanding what the ancient Egyptians looked like at that time, may also help us understand why ancient Israelites were mistaken for ancient Egyptians.
Credits
Featured Image: From the tomb of Nebamun (c. 1350 BC) show the New Kingdom period accountant Nebamun hunting birds in the marshes of Egypt. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3029/egyptian-hunting-in-the-marshes/