"A tablet of dark brown clay, much injured, dating from the 8th or 7th century B.C. The two large concentric circles indicate the ocean, or, as it is called in the cuneiform writing between the circles, the 'Briny Flood.' Beyond the ocean are seven successive projections of land, represented by triangles. Perhaps they refer to the countries existing beyond the Black Sea and the Red Sea. The two parallel lines within the inner circle represent the Euphrates. The little rings stand for the Babylonian cities in this region."—Webster, 1913

A Babylonian Map of the World

"A tablet of dark brown clay, much injured, dating from the 8th or 7th century B.C. The two large concentric…

The felucca is a sailing vessel used to protect the Red Sea and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Felucca

The felucca is a sailing vessel used to protect the Red Sea and the eastern part of the Mediterranean…

The French developer of the Suez Canal, which joined the Mediterranean and the Red Seas in 1869.

Count Ferdinand de Lesseps

The French developer of the Suez Canal, which joined the Mediterranean and the Red Seas in 1869.

"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. And he took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea." Exodus 14:21-27
<p>The Israelites stand on dry land with their children and possessions as the sea swallows the Egyptian army. Moses stands in the middle holding his staff out toward the sea. The pillar of cloud separates the Israelites from the Egpytians.

Pharaoh's Host Destroyed

"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east…

"And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them." Exodus 14:27-28 ASV
<p>Pharaoh and his armies are destroyed by the returning water of the Red Sea. Men, chariots, weapons, and horses are tossed by waves. Moses and the Israelites stand on dry land in the background. Moses has his staff raised over the waters. A single strike of lightning streaks the sky.

The Red Sea Swallows Pharaoh and His Army

"And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning…