ed in this article is at the village of ‘Ezbet Helmi, indicated by the red circle. When Jacob and his family first came to the town, called Rowa

ast of the royal compound was a military area, and to the southwest workshops and a residential area as revealed by the geomagnetic survey. Northeast of Palace F the survey detected enclosures and possibly a pier at the river shore. Unfortunately, this area is inaccessible for excavation due to the presence of the village of ‘Ezbet Helmi. The major Palace G, most likely the residence of Pharaoh himself, was constructed on a podium with an entrance ramp on the northeast side. Only the walls of the podium’s substructure are preserved, but they provide clues to palace plan. The exterior walls, designed to support a massive structure, were 14–15 ft (4.25–4.5 m) thick. The substructure was filled with earth except on the southeast where there were magazines and stairways leading to the upper story. At the base of the ramp, at ground level, was a bathing room with stone sinks, suggesting it was necessary to wash, and perhaps put on clean garments (see Gn 41:14), before ascending the ramp and entering the palace. At the southwest end of the southeast side of the foundation was a side entrance that led to a stairway to the private section of the palace. Here, just inside the door, was another bathroom, probably for the palace staff. According to the excavators, “It is apparent that each entrance to the palace passes a bathroom. A full bath must have been obligatory prior to entering the building” (Bietak and Forstner-Müller 2005: 73). Plan and reconstruction of Palace G. The throne room is probably where Moses and Aaron met with Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go’” (Ex 5:1). (From Bietak 2005: 15; reprinted by permission of the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Austria.) Fifteenth century BC plumbing fit for the king’s servants! This limestone tub and drainage basin were in the ground-floor bathroom at the south entrance to Palace G which led to Pharaoh’s private quarters above. The tub was evidently used for bathing by Pharaoh’s servants prior to entering the palace. (From Bietak and Foster-Müller 2005: 74; reprinted by permission of the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Austria.). Small Palace J was oriented at a right angle to Palace G and separated from it by a narrow street. The plan was similar to that of Palace G, but much simpler. A square courtyard, with a columned porch at its rear and an adjoining colonnade, led to a vestibule with the foundations of a row of columns, and, behind that, the throne room with two rows of columns. At both sides the plan shows corridors, one probably a stairway, the other leading to the private part of the building. This consisted of a reception room, a bedroom and a bathroom. At the southeastern end was an open-air porch with a portico and terrace in front. Palace F differed from the other two palaces in that it had no private quarters. Evidently, it was used for ceremonial purposes only. Reconstruction of the bull-leaping scene from Palace F. Bull-leaping, a common theme in Minoan art,



Evidently was a popular sport in the Minoan culture.
From Bietak 2005: 16; reprinted by permission of the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, Austria.) A great pile of fragments of Minoan7 frescoes were found at the base of the Palace F ramp. They were painted on highly polished lime plaster and date to the early 18th Dynasty. Motifs such as largesized griffins and lions no doubt flanked the throne on the rear wall of the throne room in Palace F in a similar fashion as at Knossos in Crete. Floor paintings with a maze pattern probably also came from the throne room, as well as bullleaping scenes, hunting scenes and scenes of lions and leopards chasing hoofed animals. Reliefs of bulls probably came from the colonnades of the central courtyard. Throne room at Knossos, Crete. The wall is decorated with a fresco depicting griffins, fabled monsters having the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. Against the wall is an alabaster throne. The throne room in Palace F may have been decorated in a similar fashion. Palace G also had Minoan frescoes, as well as paintings on mud plaster in the Egyptian style which also showed a Minoan influence. At the entrance through the enclosure wall which led to the base of the ramp of Palace G, fragments of a life-sized representation of a woman in a flounced skirt were found. A female mother-goddess with a flounced skirt is commonly depicted in Minoan art. Did Moses use this jug? This attractive bichrome vessel imported from Cyprus was found in the visitor’s bathroom at the base of the entry ramp of Palace G. It would have been used by visiting dignitaries and others who had official business in the palace as they prepared themselves to enter the presence of Pharaoh. (From Bietak and Foster-Müller 2005: 79; reprinted by permission of the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, vienna, Austria.). The reason why this strategic center in the eastern delta was abandoned is a mystery to the excavators. There is nothing recorded in Egyptian history to explain it. The excavators state: The palace districtlearn english