Egyptologist and biblical scholar to speak

RELEASED: September 20, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Dr. James K. Hoffmeier, a leading Egyptologist and biblical scholar, will speak at Centre College on Sept. 24.

In 1991 the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt urged archaeologists to address the need for immediate research in the area of North Sinai. Because of the increasing threat of development and the As-salam agricultural project, this little-explored area was in danger of being lost to archaeologists forever.

Hoffmeier has been involved in ongoing efforts in the region since that time and has used his archaeological findings to shed new light on the route of the exodus from Egypt, as well as the location of Mount Sinai.

His talk, "The Exodus in Light of Recent Archaeological Excavations in Sinai," will shed light on aspects of Egypt's eastern defense system referred to the book of Exodus.

"As the director of numerous archaeological surveys in North Sinai and current excavations at Tell el-Borg, James Hoffmeier is one of the world's foremost authorities on Egypt's northern border defenses during the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 B. C.)," says E. Morris of the University of Wales Swansea. "His information will interest Egyptologists and biblical scholars alike."

Hoffmeier will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Weisiger Theatre on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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