Letters, Jun. 19, 1995

SECRETS OF THE LOST TOMB

"What will archaeologists in the year A.D. 5000 uncover when all that is known about us is stored on a microscopic computer chip?" Walter C. Strickland Cerro Gordo, North Carolina

The story on the discovery of a burial place that may hold 50 sons of Egypt's powerful pharaoh Ramesses II [COVER STORY, May 29] was comprehensive and well illustrated. Whether Ramesses was "Moses' nemesis,'' however, is still widely debated, and it is misleading to accept this as fact. The problem with dating and therefore identifying the several pharaohs during the rise of the Hebrew people in Egypt and their subsequent bondage and exodus lies not with the Egyptian records but with those from Palestine. Regardless of whether it is supported by tangible evidence, the Israelite exodus from Egypt was undoubtedly the beginning of liberation of political thought. And whether it occurred in the time of Ramesses, Egypt was still its birthplace, and mankind has yet to witness its death.

Ramesses earned his modern title "the Great.'' His accomplishments are consistent with the biblical record. But only recent, rather glamorous discoveries about him encourage Ramesses' supporters to claim for him all the glorious histories of his ancestors, as Ramesses widely appropriated their temples and statues by merely putting his name in place of theirs. CLAUDE THOMPSON Dallas

The condition in which the tomb of the sons of Ramesses II was found is typical of the vandalism inflicted on Egyptian antiquities not only by local grave robbers but also by the early English and French plunderers who called themselves archaeologists. Don't look for the face missing from the statue of Osiris in the rubble of the room where the statue stands. It was probably stolen a hundred years ago. CHARLES E. HOGAN Hazelwood, Missouri

What will archaeologists in the year A.D. 5000 uncover when all that is known about us is stored on a microscopic computer chip? You noted that the Egyptian records don't even mention the empire's dealings with the Israelites. One reference was written in the fifth year of the reign of Merneptah, Ramesses II's son and successor, commemorating his victory over the Libyans. It confirms the crossing of the paths of the Israelites and the Egyptians. Perhaps if archaeologists dig a little deeper, they will find Moses' swaddling clothes, and the historical debates will finally end. WALTER C. STRICKLAND Cerro Gordo, North Carolina

The prospect of more, revealing information to come out of the lower reaches of Tomb 5, where the new discoveries have been made, is no doubt very exciting, but one cannot help wondering whether this will merely add to our already considerable store of facts about ancient Egyptian life or will finally lead to a better understanding of the chronology of events in that ancient past. DICK GAGEL Peterculter, Scotland

We too often tolerate breaches of the past that are disguised as accumulating knowledge. Remains of yesterday stand as unique testimonies to times gone by. Our purpose should be to preserve, hold sacred and respect what is left of the past while letting it fascinate us and excite our imagination. M. MCDOWELL Edinburgh

VELVETEEN RABBIT OF CITYDOM