Latest news with #Paris-SorbonneUniversity
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.
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Dark underworld of 'Europe's Maldives' where Mafia 'run resorts' with 77p pints
The Albanian Riviera boasts stunning sights, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, but experts are warning that many of the resorts where Brits are flocking are funded by 'dirty money' It's hailed as 'Europe's Maldives' – a stunning Balkan gem with turquoise waters, stunning mountains, and bargain prices. But behind the beauty of Albania's glittering coastline lies a darker, deadlier truth. The small nation is fast becoming a top holiday hotspot, with over 120,000 Brits heading there each year to soak up the sun on the now-famous Albanian Riviera, with some places just a cheap, three-hour flight away. The country is also known for having very affordable beer prices, with some as little as 77p a pint. But while tourists flock to idyllic coastal destinations like Ksamil and Vlore, mafia gangs are allegedly laundering millions through the very resorts they're staying in. Experts are warning holidaymakers that luxury hotels, bars and beach clubs may be fronts for Albania's booming organised crime industry. According to a 2023 report by the Global Organised Crime Index, Albania is a transit country for heroin trafficked from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to Europe. It's also a transit hub for cocaine smuggled from Latin America into Europe and the UK, the report says. Over the years, heroin and cocaine processing labs have been discovered in cities like Elbasan, Fier and Tirana. Meanwhile, Italian authorities estimated in 2016 that Albania's cannabis production alone was worth as much as €4.5 billion (£3.85 billion). Besides drug trafficking, the report says the main criminal activities attributed to Albanian mafia groups – both domestically and internationally – are human smuggling and trafficking, as well as money laundering. Albania's mafia is now in control of most of Europe's trafficking network. Of the 45,000 migrants who crossed illegally into England in 2022, 12,000 were Albanians. And last year, a leaked Home Office legal document described Albanian criminal gangs as an 'acute threat' to the UK and 'highly prevalent across serious and organised crime' in Britain, including several murders. Albanian gangs are believed to dominate the UK's illicit cocaine trade, said to be worth £5bn a year. Criminologist Professor Xavier Raufer of Paris-Sorbonne University, who has studied the mafia for decades, says these are not just typical crime rings: "In the whole of Albania, there are maybe 30 big mafia families, with some of their traditions dating back to the Middle Ages. This makes them more dangerous as they operate with very strict rules and secretly." He added: 'You'll find these families all over Albania – of course, the most powerful being the one along the sea because it's better for trafficking.' Last year, Albania saw 39 killings, with most attributed to mafia-style assassinations. The country's strategic position has made it ideal for smugglers, and tourism, it seems, is now part of that equation. "People involved in real estate and tourism are increasingly linked to organised crime," says the country's crime index report. Professor Raufer said, "No tourist will ever see it. If you go there, you are not even able to guess it because it's a secret." Former Albanian MP Rudina Hajdari blames the issue on state corruption: "Corruption has gotten higher and higher," she said. "There have been allegations that many of these hotels in southern Albania were funded by drug traffickers." She explained how they set up bank accounts through friends or relatives, gradually investing in real estate to launder money. "The government clearly allows that – whether they think it's a good idea to invest in tourism, infrastructure or just keep them in power. There's a lot of money going into Albania that is primarily dirty." According to reports, customs officials in the key port of Durres have allegedly been discouraged from checking certain vehicles, allowing drugs to be smuggled in cars, buses and trucks. In the southern seaside town of Himare, the mayor was arrested last year on corruption charges, accused of forging documents to seize government land for a private resort. Despite it all, Albania's image abroad continues to shine. In 2024, it saw 11.7 million tourists, almost doubling its pre-pandemic figure, with an 8% year-on-year rise in visitor numbers. And now, even Jared Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, is seeing the potential for profit. He has put forward plans to Sazan Island, an uninhabited island which was once a military base, into a luxury resort. His plans to turn the island into a holiday resort are estimated to cost €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion), and says it will create 1,000 tourism jobs. Still, Hajdari insists the problem doesn't lie with ordinary people. She says: "This does not in any way reflect Albanian people – Albanians are just the most generous, welcoming, nicest people when people come and travel." "Albania's lack of opportunities and high corruption have created the ground for these illegal activities to flourish."
CairoScene
24-04-2025
- Science
- CairoScene
Secret Hieroglyphs Discovered on Ancient Egyptian Obelisk in Paris
The findings were made during the first full expert examination of the Luxor Obelisk's upper sections since 1836. Apr 24, 2025 Seven previously unknown messages have been identified on the 3,000-year-old Luxor Obelisk in Paris, long believed to be fully deciphered. The 75-foot granite monument, carved during the reign of Ramses II and gifted to France in the 19th century, stands at Place de la Concorde. During recent access enabled by Olympic renovation scaffolding, Egyptologist Dr Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier of Paris-Sorbonne University found the encrypted texts using his expertise in crypto-hieroglyphs. Among the inscriptions is a phrase invoking the 'ka-force of Amun,' suggesting symbolic appeals to divine power. The findings, made during the first full expert examination of the obelisk's upper sections since its 1836 installation, will be published in the Montpellier-based Egyptology journal ENIM . Only one of two Luxor Obelisks, its twin remains in Luxor, Egypt and may hold additional undiscovered texts.
CairoScene
24-04-2025
- Science
- CairoScene
Hidden Hieroglyphs Discovered on Ancient Egyptian Obelisk in Paris
The findings were made during the first full expert examination of the Luxor Obelisk's upper sections since 1836. Apr 24, 2025 Seven previously unknown messages have been identified on the 3,000-year-old Luxor Obelisk in Paris, long believed to be fully deciphered. The 75-foot granite monument, carved during the reign of Ramses II and gifted to France in the 19th century, stands at Place de la Concorde. During recent access enabled by Olympic renovation scaffolding, Egyptologist Dr Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier of Paris-Sorbonne University found the encrypted texts using his expertise in crypto-hieroglyphs. Among the inscriptions is a phrase invoking the 'ka-force of Amun,' suggesting symbolic appeals to divine power. The findings, made during the first full expert examination of the obelisk's upper sections since its 1836 installation, will be published in the Montpellier-based Egyptology journal ENIM . Only one of two Luxor Obelisks, its twin remains in Luxor, Egypt and may hold additional undiscovered texts.
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.
