Latest news with #Olette-Pelletier
New York Post
21-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Expert identifies ancient ‘propaganda' praising an infamous pharaoh who may have challenged Moses
Ancient 'propaganda' that was used to support the Egyptian pharaoh who is believed to be a major character of the Old Testament has been spotted in Paris, according to an expert. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist from Paris-Sorbonne University and Institut Catholique de Paris, recently spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings, which are set to be published in the coming months. The expert found the propaganda, which is supportive of Ramesses II, on the 3,300-year-old obelisk that sits in Paris' Place de la Concorde. Olette-Pelletier saw the obelisk up close in 2021 after receiving permission to climb scaffolding to conduct research. Ramesses II, who was born in 1303 B.C. and died in 1213 B.C., is considered one of the most influential and powerful Egyptian rulers of the New Kingdom. The Egyptian monarch is often cited as the most likely candidate for the pharaoh mentioned in Exodus, though an explicit name was never given in the Old Testament. The pharaoh is said to have retaliated against Moses and refused his requests in Exodus — resulting in a series of plagues. Olette-Pelletier called the pro-Ramesses hieroglyphs 'propaganda.' 3 The Luxor obelisk on the Place de la Concorde in Paris seen on May 15, 2025. AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard He identified seven cryptographies, or codes, which assert Ramesses II's authority from 1280 B.C. on. 'It was a message from Ramesses II to the nobility,' the expert said, noting the Egyptian nobility were able to read the codes. Olette-Pelletier said Ramesses II was born before his father Seti I became pharaoh – and therefore was not conceived by the gods. Not being of divine essence could have hampered his legitimacy to the throne. 'The nobility, able to read cryptographies, might be tempted by an overthrow of power since Ramesses II was not born of theogamy and therefore not divine by birth,' Olette-Pelletier said. 3 Egyptian hieroglyphs seen on the side of the Luxor obelisk. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier The expert added, '[Ramesses II] spent the first two years of his reign emphasizing his divinity with his wife Nefertari by paying homage at Egypt's great shrines, and by buying priests.' 'In the process, he changed his name from Usermaatra to Usermaatra Setepenra, [which means] 'chosen of Ra.'' The obelisk has four sides, and Olette-Pelletier noted that the side that faces the Seine (and was intended to face the Nile) shows Ramesses II 'wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.' The expert also said that Ramesses II 'underlined his divine knowledge' by using codes to convey the swaying messages. 3 According to French Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, the obelisk has ancient propaganda in support of Ramesses II is written on the side. AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard 'The obelisk also contains hidden texts that show the nobility that he is a legitimate and divine king, thus averting a possible coup d'état,' Olette-Pelletier said. 'So, indeed, these are propaganda texts.' The cryptographies also claim that Ramesses II was the 'provider of the Nile flood and thus of the country's wealth,' according to Olette-Pelletier. The discovery is one of many finds related to Ramesses II that have been uncovered in the past year. In September, an ancient sword belonging to Ramesses' military was unearthed in Housh Eissa, a city in Egypt's Beheira Governorate. In January, Egyptian officials announced they would begin to restore Ramesses II's temple in the Luxor Governorate, the Ramesseum.
The Independent
02-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Secret messages engraved on 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk in Paris finally decoded
Hieroglyphics carved on the famous ancient Egyptian Obelisk in Paris could be propaganda praising pharaoh Ramesses II as ordained by the gods. The obelisk was apparently commissioned by Ramesses II, who ruled Egypt from 1279BC to 1213 BC, and installed in Luxor. It was given to France by the sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1830. The landmark is marked by a series of secret inscriptions. Some of these carvings were first identified in December 2021 when the obelisk was surrounded by renovation scaffolding. At the time, Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier was permitted to document some of the highest inscriptions near its golden pyramid top. The secret inscriptions on the 3,300-year-old monument were meant only for the eyes of Egyptian nobility under specific circumstances, Dr Olette-Pelletier argues in a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study. He theorises that the obelisk's western side originally faced the Nile, putting the inscriptions near the top in good view of people travelling on the river by boat. The inscriptions, the study suggests, declare that Ramesses II "had been chosen by the gods, that he was of divine essence and therefore entitled to rule Egypt'. Imagery on this section of the structure, which is 23m tall, depicts Ramesses II making offerings to the god Amun. 'These messages are a form of propaganda in favour of the builder of the site, Pharaoh Ramses II,' Dr Olette-Pelletier says. 'People hadn't noticed that under the god Amun, there is an offering table. This allows us to discover a sentence where no element is missing: an offering that the king gives to the god Amun.' The Egyptologist says that he deciphered a total of seven secret messages carved on the monument by walking around it. He says the findings shed further light on a coding method called three-dimensional cryptography in which messages can only be seen from a specific angle. The obelisk contains two rows of hieroglyphs that could give different messages depending on the direction in which they are read. By way of example, Dr Olette-Pelletier says one engraving spells out the full throne name of Ramesses II when read in one direction and declares that he had eternal life when read in another. His findings await publication in the journal Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne, Dr Olette-Pelletier says. Some researchers not involved in the study urge caution in interpreting the inscriptions this way until the research is published. It remains to be studied if the engravings and art depictions on top of the obelisk would have been visible to anyone travelling by boat on the Nile due to the distance.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hidden messages found on 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk in Paris
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The famous ancient Egyptian obelisk in Paris may contain a series of hieroglyphic messages aimed at Egypt's nobility that praise the pharaoh Ramesses II and say he was divinely chosen by the gods, an Egyptologist claims. However, scholars who were not involved with the research expressed caution about this interpretation. The approximately 3,300-year-old obelisk was built at Luxor Temple on orders of Ramesses II (who reigned circa 1279 to 1213 B.C.) at the beginning of his rule. In 1830, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Egypt at the time, gifted it to France. It was moved to Paris, where it now sits in a plaza known as the Place de la Concorde. Previous studies revealed that hieroglyphics on the obelisk discuss Ramesses II. They also discuss the god Amun (also referred to as Amun-Ra) who was the chief god of Thebes (now known as Luxor), and Horus, who was the son of the god Osiris and goddess Isis. The newfound messages, however, would have been understood only by those who had a high level of literacy, particularly the nobility, Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist from the Institut Catholique de Paris, told Live Science in an email. During restoration work on the obelisk and surrounding area carried out in 2021, Olette-Pelletier was given permission to climb scaffolding erected around the obelisk and study the granite artifact in greater detail than can be seen from the ground. During his study, Olette-Pelletier found what he believes are messages that would have been noticed only by certain people under certain circumstances. For instance, he noted that when the obelisk was built, its western side faced the Nile River and those traveling on the river by boat would have had a good view of a series of inscriptions and imagery located near the top of the 75-foot-tall (23 meters) obelisk. These inscriptions say Ramesses II "had been chosen by the gods, that he was of divine essence and therefore entitled to rule Egypt," Olette-Pelletier said. It also shows a scene of Ramesses II making offerings to the god Amun. He noted that the Opet festival, an annual event that honored Amun, prompted the nobility to arrive at Luxor by boat. These travelers would have had a good view of these inscriptions, helping to reinforce the pharaoh's political power. "It was propaganda aimed at the very high intellectual elite," Olette-Pelletier said. Olette-Pelletier thinks he's found other hidden messages on the obelisk. For instance, he noted that there are two rows of hieroglyphs that, depending on the direction in which they are read, could give different messages — such as spelling out the full throne name of Ramesses II or saying he had eternal life. RELATED STORIES —Ramesses II's sarcophagus finally identified thanks to overlooked hieroglyphics —Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II's 'handsome' face revealed in striking reconstruction —Archaeologists find top half of giant Ramesses II statue, completing a century-long puzzle Olette-Pelletier is preparing a report of his findings that will be published (in French) in the journal Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne (also known as ENiM). Scholars who were not involved with the research urged caution in interpreting the findings; they said that, until the research is published, they will not be able to review it in depth. Filip Taterka, an Egyptology professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences, told Live Science that he doesn't think the inscriptions and imagery near the top of the obelisk would have been visible to a noble person traveling by boat on the Nile because of the distance.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Researcher Found Hidden Messages on an Obelisk. They Weren't Meant for Ordinary Eyes.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A researcher discovered hidden messages called hieroglyphic cryptographies on the Luxor Obelisk in France. Some of the hidden messages were propaganda asserting Ramses II's power. Messages on one side of the obelisk would have only been read by wealthy nobles approaching by boat. Ramses II—also known as Ramses the Great—ruled Egypt for 66 years, and his reign is considered to be the epitome of power and glory in Egypt. Despite his military shortcomings, Ramses II leaned into an exhaustive public relations campaign, erecting more monuments (and siring more children) than any other pharaoh. And he is still influencing history to this day—a researcher just discovered several hidden messages inscribed on one of the obelisks he commissioned. The monument in question is the Concorde (or Luxor) Obelisk, now located in Place de la Concorde, Paris, France. It originally stood outside the Luxor Temple in Upper Egypt, alongside a twin obelisk, and both pillars were built around the 13th century B.C. Experts can date the engravings back to Ramses II, as they included both names he went by during his reign. Both monuments were later gifted to France by Pasha Muhammed Ali, but because of transportation costs, only one tower was relocated in 1833. Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, the epigraphist who discovered the hidden messages, did so by accident—he was merely on his daily stroll. 'I would walk to [the obelisk] and read the hieroglyphs on its faces to relax,' Olette-Pelletier told Sciences et Avenir. 'At one point, I realized something unusual: the direction of the hieroglyphs indicated a direction, that of the entrance to the portico of the Luxor Temple. But that was only the beginning.' Olette-Pelletier explained that he realized there was no literature discussing the different scenes, so he began studying the images from afar. He eventually realized that the obelisk contained hieroglyphic cryptographies, or hidden messages. These encrypted messages are often secret texts inserted into hieroglyphs or hidden in 3D carvings. While some Egyptians would have been able to read hieroglyphs, only the elite would be able to decipher these hidden messages, Olette-Pelletier explained. Interestingly, the hidden messages on the 'Seine side' (once the Nile side) of the obelisk could only be read at a 45° angle. 'When I calculated where to stand at the time to be able to admire this part of the obelisk, I ended up right in the middle of the Nile,' Olette-Pelletier said. 'And then I understood: it was only intended to be seen by the nobles arriving by boat at the temple of Luxor during the annual Opet festival, celebrating the return of the life forces of the god Amun.' Olette-Pelletier said the hieroglyphic cryptographies were a 'true propaganda message' to remind other powerful nobles of Ramses II's mighty sovereignty. The researcher also discovered hidden bull horns on Ramses II's headdress in one scene, which he said meant 'ka' or 'vital force of the divinity.' A rectangle meaning 'to appease' was also present. Olette-Pelletier explains that, when put together, the phrase would read 'Appease the ka-force of Amun,' reminding people to make offerings to the gods. After intense study, the epigraphist identified a total of seven sets of crypto-hieroglyphics on the obelisk. His findings will soon be published in the journal ENIM. 'In our written language, we can now clearly distinguish the text from the image,' Olette-Pelletier said. 'These new discoveries remind us that among the Egyptians, they were one.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Scientist discovers 7 secret messages hidden on Paris' Egyptian Obelisk
For nearly 200 years, the centre of Paris has hosted a priceless artefact from Egyptian history, a stunning spectacle for all to behold. Located at Place de la Concorde in the city's eighth arrondissement, the Luxor Obelisk was made by the Egyptians more than 3,000 years ago. Carved from red granite, it was created under Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II (c. 1250 BC) and given to France in the 19th century. Until now, academics thought they had deciphered the hieroglyphs running the length of the monument, which is topped by gold-leafed pyramid cap added by the French in the 1990s. But according to an academic, the structure is still yielding Egyptian secrets. Dr Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier, an Egyptologist at Paris-Sorbonne University, claims to have found seven secret messages on the obelisk. One offers a cryptic phrase 'Appease the ka-force of Amun' in reference to the ancient Egyptian god of the air. 'This phrase is there to remind us that men must constantly make offerings to the divinities in order to appease their sometimes destructive vital force,' said the expert. The obelisk in Paris is actually one of two known as the Obélisques de Louxor, each carved from a single piece of red granite over 3,000 years ago. While one remains in position outside of Egypt's Luxor Temple, the other was transported to Paris aboard a custom-built ship in the early 1830s. In 1836, it was erected by by King Louis-Phillipe in the centre of Place de la Concorde – the public square that hosted executions during the French Revolution in the 18th century. Both of the Luxor Obelisks feature hieroglyphic text carved in sunken relief on all four sides, spanning their impressive height. In the 19th century, French Egyptologist François Chabas produced a full translation of the Paris obelisk, which can be read here. But new analysis by Dr Olette-Pelletier reveals seven hidden messages never before discerned by modern scholars. During Covid lockdowns, he became the first specialist to access the top of the Paris obelisk since its installation at Place de la Concorde in 1836. He was also authorized to make use of scaffolding across the length of the structure that was put up for renovations prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both feature hieroglyphic text carved in sunken relief on all four sides, spanning their impressive height. Pictured, the Paris obelisk What are the Luxor Obelisks? The Luxor Obelisks are two monuments from ancient Egypt separated by the Mediterranean. One remains in position outside of Egypt's Luxor Temple, while the other was transported to Paris aboard a custom-built ship in the early 1830s. Both feature hieroglyphic text carved in sunken relief on all four sides. Over several days, he was able to take measurements and make detailed analyses about the profound artistic patterns. Dr Olette-Pelletier is one of only six people worldwide who is able to read 'crypto-hieroglyphs'. These are secret texts inserted into the hieroglyphic inscriptions themselves – historically making them visible to a select group of people. 'I understood that the obelisk contained multiple hieroglyphic cryptography,' he told popular French magazine Sciences et Avenir. 'While some Egyptians could read hieroglyphs, only a certain elite were capable of understanding the hidden messages they could contain, considered a language of the gods.' The west face of the obelisk was designed to be seen only by nobles who were arriving by boats on the Nile when it was originally in Egypt. One scene depicting Ramses making an offering to the god Amun represents 'a true propaganda message of Ramses' absolute sovereignty'. Meanwhile, the east face – which was originally turned towards the desert – has subtle bull horns inside a headdress worn by Ramses II. 'From a hieroglyphic point of view, the bull horns form the word 'ka', which designates the vital force of the divinity,' the expert said. What the expert has discerned was 'beyond the grasp of any Egyptologist who knew how to read hieroglyphs', Sciences et Avenir reports. Excitingly, the twin monument in Egypt is not quite identical, so could similarly reveal hidden messages along its slightly taller height. It's unclear whether Dr Olette-Pelletier's analysis has included this obelisk too; MailOnline has contacted the academic for more information. All seven messages on the Paris obelisk will soon be revealed in a paper to be detailed in the Montpellier Egyptology journal ENIM. WHO WAS RAMSES II? Ramses II lived from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. The pharaoh was known to Egyptians as Userma'atre'setepenre, meaning 'keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, Elect of Ra', according to the Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ramses II was the 19th Dynasty's third pharaoh, who reportedly declared a decisive victory at The Battle of Kadesh over the Hittites. Ramses II supposedly flaunted the result of this battle to elevate his reputation. However, the battle ended in somewhat of a tie, and was not exactly a win for either party. In fact, it resulted in the earliest known peace treaty, composed in 1258 BCE. Ramses II is commonly linked to the pharaoh depicted in the book of Exodus in the Bible. But there is no archaeological or historical evidence associating the two figures.
