A pair of graffiti texts defending and then attacking the use of magic. These texts are in a variant of Minoan Linear A which was probably taught to these caravanners by the Minoans.
For translation methodology see: How to Translate Alphabetic Akkadian Texts
(Jan 15, 2023) This is the first translation of the two graffiti texts found at the exit of Wadi el-Ḥôl ("Wadi of Terror") in the Qena bend area of Egypt. These texts were found by John and Deborah Darnell during their 1993-94 excavation season (Darnell, and all 2005). Their location was the first night’s camping spot on a caravan route out of Luxor, the longtime Egyptian capital in the center of the country. At the time Luxor was re-establishing its power and would soon become the capital of a newly reunited Egypt in 1550 BCE. Its 18th dynasty rulers (1550-1295 BCE) would soon reunite Egypt by throwing out the Akkadian speaking rulers from the Levant known as the Hyksos (c. 1640-1550 BC). Based upon later Minoan buildings found in the Hyksos capital of Avaris, the Luxor Egyptians seem to formed an alliance with the Minoans who taught their writing to the Akkadian speakers of the Levant (the Israelites).
(October 3, 2023, updated February 27, 2025) The shapes of these signs are intermediate between the signs of the Phaistos Disk and Linear A dating it to about 1500 BCE.
Comment: The Revealer is the revealer of fate which is the underworld goddess Kate/Hekate. She is a life power who must be energized and get involved with the motion powers.
(May 30, 2023, updated February 27, 2025) The large Egyptian Ankh life sign (head, outstretched arms, body) indicates the text is about life powers. The text is blaming astrology magic for interfering with the life powers.
The shapes of these signs are intermediate between the signs of the Phaistos Disk and Linear A dating it to about 1500 BCE.
(August 1, 2022) The Merneptah Stele is an inscription by Commisioned by Egyptian Pharaoh Merneptah (1213–1203 BCE). It was discovered by Flinders Petrie at Thebes in 1896 and it is now housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The stele is mostly a description of his successful war against the Libyans but Merneptah also went against their Libyan's allies up the coast in the Levant. The traditional translation (not done to any standard so accuracy uncertain) of its last three lines divided into sentences is:
The traditional translation of line 9 is wrong given that "Israel" is an Akkadian word. The sound of its Egyptian hieroglyphic is:
ysr[?] or isr[?]
While the sound of the first part is suggestive of the word "Israel" the sound of the last part of the word is uncertain because the images which represent it are seemingly unknown from other texts. Most Egyptian translators think is a word suffix is Egyptian meaning "people" but that is just a guess. If so the word would mix Akkadian with Egyptian which is unlikely.
In any case the traditional translation of the sentence is wrong as shown below:
isr[ ] fk.t bn pr.t =f
Israel waste [negation] seed/grain his/its
It should be (assuming isr[ ] means Israel :
Israel has not wasted its seed.
A negation is always applied to the verb ahead of it. This correct translation shows that Israel was not an enemy but was an ally of Egypt which Egypt is helping to defend.
