History WesternAnimation / ThePrinceOfEgypt

* DoesNotLikeShoes: Tzipporah and her sisters are always barefoot. Probably by choice rather than status or poverty, since their father is the High Priest of Median.

* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: Moses's basket and the plague of frogs, among other things, have much more dimension than the rest of the animation. According to the commentary, [[IntendedAudienceReaction this was intentional]].

** The historical Rameses II had ''seven wives'', three or four of whom were his own daughters, with whom he produced something like ''one hundred children''. In the film, this is pared down to just one wife and one son. And while not quite as prolific as his son, Seti I also produced several children that are not included in the movie. All seven of rameses' wives were Great Royal Wife at some point, the film just seems to be depicting the then Great Royal Wife.
** rameses II owned a lion as a pet who even fought alongside him at Kadesh. No such animal appears, indeed there is a strange lacking of felines in the film considering how Egyptians thought them sacred.

** The film is supposed to take place during the reigns of Seti I (1290 - 1279 BCE) and rameses II (1279 - 1213 BCE), yet in the wall murals shown during Seti's lifetime, the cartouches don't bear [[https://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Photo-Sep-12-2016-230-PM.jpg his names]], but rather [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wX0ryj-RWpw/SUdDoduvsOI/AAAAAAAABmA/GFuTQFhTPJU/s320/image002.jpg those of Akhenaten]] (1353 - 1336 BCE). Due to his [[UsefulNotes/{{Akhenaten}} monumental shake-up of the cultural/religious establishment during his reign]], Akhenaten and his successors (Smenkhara, Tutankhamun, and Ay) were systematically erased from the official records, and their monuments either destroyed or usurped by later kings. Come Act 2, however, the cartouches correctly contain [[https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4e39_eb6ee22ddcd4404595aa58f7588c3236~mv2.gif rameses II's names]].

** In [[https://www.cornel1801.com/animated/Prince-of-Egypt-1998/All-I-Ever-Wanted/4.jpg one frame]] during "All I Ever Wanted," we see a zebra skin on the floor in Moses' room. Zebras ''did'' live in Egypt during the last Ice Age, but as the Sahara dried out, they went regionally extinct, and wouldn't be seen in Egypt again until after it had become part of the Roman Empire (over 1,200 years after rameses II died).

** "All I ever wanted." These words frame the character arc of Moses, as he initially believes that "all I ever wanted" was to rule wisely and well as the Prince of Egypt. But as he learns who he is, Moses wistfully reflects that this isn't really what he wants. Also, Moses' inner thoughts during the Plagues are that "even now, I wish that God had chose another", since he still feels affection for rameses.
** "The weak link in the chain." These words frame the character arc of rameses, as he constantly feels like [[WellDoneSonGuy he has to live up to the same reputation of his father]]. rameses insists that he will not be the "weak link", and he digs in his heels while letting his pride and vengeance consume him out of a misguided desire to not look weak.

** The Bible never identifies Pharaoh by name, but the film goes with Seti I as the Pharaoh who ordered the purge, and rameses II as the Pharaoh at the time of the Plagues. This is one possibility, but not one considered very likely by most scholars, mostly because Egypt thrived under rameses II and Canaan was part of the Egyptian Empire during his time. Most scholars today think the Exodus story never happened, certainly not exactly as described in the Bible, although the Plagues may have happened as legitimate scientific phenomena. In fact, the term "Pharaoh" wasn't even used until after rameses died, so clearly it was written down later.
** rameses is portrayed as having been a small child when his father Seti I ordered the execution of the firstborn Hebrew children. Historically, rameses was thirteen when Seti became Pharaoh; he would have been a small child during the reign of Horemheb (1320-- 1292 BCE), his grandfather's predecessor.
** Similar to the above, rameses' firstborn son, Amun-her-khepeshef, is portrayed as having been a child when he died. rameses' thirteenth son and ultimate successor, Merneptah, was nineteen when Amun-her-khepeshef died.

** We have a three-fer in Moses and rameses being shown knocking off the nose of Art/TheSphinx[[note]]It's actually a colossus of Seti[[/note]] while it's still under construction. First, the ancient monuments for which Egypt is so famous were built by paid laborers, not slaves. Second, the Sphinx itself was already ancient by the time of rameses ''or'' the Hebrew Slaves, at least by this film's time placement of them. Third, the nose of the structure would not come off until several thousands of years after the events of this film (a 14th century Muslim fanatic is thought to be responsible). And finally, the Sphinx is located on the Giza Plateau; the temple complex through which Moses and rameses race is, by appearances, located in Memphis (the legislative capital of Egypt during the 19th dynasty), about 10 miles away.

** In Exodus, Moses and Aaron are 80 and 83 years old, respectively, at the time of the plagues. While Moses is shown to have spent at least several years as a shepherd, he is still very much a young man when he confronts rameses here, while in Exodus, he spent 40 years as a shepherd.[[note]]This change is probably due to the shorter lifespans on the Pharaohs' part--an 80-year old Moses would've been very unlikely to have confronted the same prince he grew up with. That said, the Pharaoh of the film is clearly meant to be rameses the Great, who lived to be 90.[[/note]]

** rameses II ''survives'' the parting of the Red Sea, while in the original story the Pharaoh either drowned or survived and became a wandering storyteller. This is another common change in adaptations of Exodus. [[note]]As the above note mentions, the real rameses II lived to be 90 and died of natural causes.[[/note]]

** "The Plagues" is half QuarrelingSong and half one of these delivered from the point of view of ''God'', promising to [[GoodIsNotSoft utterly destroy Egypt without discrimination or mercy if rameses does not set His chosen people free.]]

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Moses and rameses are associated with red and blue respectively.

* DatedHistory: In 1994, rameses was discovered to be a redhead and in 2016 he was discovered to be fair-skinned meaning the black-haired, brown-skinned depiction in this film has actually become dated. Given how genetics work, the appearance of Seti and Tuya also fall under this trope as do all the Egyptians as they were historically quite diverse due to Egypt having always been a melting pot and crossroads meaning there has always been Egyptians of every hair and skin color.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: For Seti and later rameses. Seti has his queen, as well as Rameses and Moses until Moses learns of his true heritage. Rameses has his queen (though we barely see her) as well as his son in the latter half of the film [[spoiler:until he's killed in the final plague]].

* HeroVsVillainDuet: "The Plagues" is sung between Moses and rameses as the titular plagues ravage Egypt, with the former begging the latter to stop being so stubborn so he can stop making innocents suffer, which the latter declares to the former that he isn't giving up no matter what. Interestingly, unlike most Hero vs. Villain Duets, this song is rather somber and rather then coming off as triumphant for both sides, it instead displays just how poorly both brothers are taking having [[FormerlyFriendlyFamily to fight each other over what they believe is right]].

* MementoMacguffin: rameses gives Moses a scarab ring to mark his promotion to chief architect. Later, as Moses starts his self-imposed exile, he discards all of the princely trappings from his wardrobe, but can't manage to throw away the ring. He keeps it until he returns to Egypt, then gives it back to rameses as a symbol that he has returned as an enemy, not a brother.

** The back-and-forth in "The Plagues" casts diametric opposites Moses in orange and rameses in blue.

* OrphanedEtymology: Seti warns rameses, "One weak link can break the chain of a mighty dynasty." Moses' time, however, is generally placed between 1400 - 1200 BCE. Metal chains constructed in the sense that Seti's talking about weren't around until at least 255 BCE. So this is either taking liberties with history or linguistics. The figurative phrase "weakest link" wasn't even established ''until the 18th Century''. Could also be a rough translation of a then-current phrase that means essentially the same thing - especially since modern English itself wouldn't actually exist for almost 2,500 years.

* ThePardon: After Moses returns to Egypt, rameses pardons him of his manslaughter of the Egyptian foreman.
* PartingTheSea: While God keeps rameses and his army at bay (with a pillar of fire), Moses uses his staff to part the Red Sea to give him and the Hebrews an exit. While passing through it, some of the undersea creatures are seen through the wall. For a bit of drama, Moses has to race to the other side when the water starts to recede. He makes it, but rameses army isn't so lucky.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Four years prior to this movie's release, it was discovered that rameses II was a fair-skinned ''[[EvilRedhead ginger]]''. The reason he's depicted as tan, bald, and swarthy is likely because audiences would have wondered why they made the Egyptian Pharaoh look like an Irish man, amusing given Goidel Glas, the mythological father of the Gaels, was a grandson of the Pharaoh of the Exodus. Given how genetics work, Seti and Tuya's appearance likewise fall under this trope.

** There actually was an important priest during the reign of rameses II named Huy, with his specific position being High Priest of Ptah. There was also another important figure named Huy during rameses' reign, in this case the Viceroy of Kush.

** In the ''Literature/BookOfExodus'', the Pharaoh drowned when the Red Sea crashed underneath him and his army once Moses and the Hebrews reached the other side of the sea. Here, rameses survived the crashing waves washing away him and his soldiers as the torrent throws him back to his side of the sea. Justified, since the real UsefulNotes/ramesesII is known to have lived to old age and died of natural causes.

** The historical Ramses II had ''seven wives'', three or four of whom were his own daughters, with whom he produced something like ''one hundred children''. In the film, this is pared down to just one wife and one son. And while not quite as prolific as his son, Seti I also produced several children that are not included in the movie. All seven of Ramses' wives were Great Royal Wife at some point, the film just seems to be depicting the then Great Royal Wife.
** Ramses II owned a lion as a pet who even fought alongside him at Kadesh. No such animal appears, indeed there is a strange lacking of felines in the film considering how Egyptians thought them sacred.

** The film is supposed to take place during the reigns of Seti I (1290 - 1279 BCE) and Ramses II (1279 - 1213 BCE), yet in the wall murals shown during Seti's lifetime, the cartouches don't bear [[https://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Photo-Sep-12-2016-230-PM.jpg his names]], but rather [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wX0ryj-RWpw/SUdDoduvsOI/AAAAAAAABmA/GFuTQFhTPJU/s320/image002.jpg those of Akhenaten]] (1353 - 1336 BCE). Due to his [[UsefulNotes/{{Akhenaten}} monumental shake-up of the cultural/religious establishment during his reign]], Akhenaten and his successors (Smenkhara, Tutankhamun, and Ay) were systematically erased from the official records, and their monuments either destroyed or usurped by later kings. Come Act 2, however, the cartouches correctly contain [[https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4e39_eb6ee22ddcd4404595aa58f7588c3236~mv2.gif Ramses II's names]].

** In [[https://www.cornel1801.com/animated/Prince-of-Egypt-1998/All-I-Ever-Wanted/4.jpg one frame]] during "All I Ever Wanted," we see a zebra skin on the floor in Moses' room. Zebras ''did'' live in Egypt during the last Ice Age, but as the Sahara dried out, they went regionally extinct, and wouldn't be seen in Egypt again until after it had become part of the Roman Empire (over 1,200 years after Ramses II died).

** "All I ever wanted." These words frame the character arc of Moses, as he initially believes that "all I ever wanted" was to rule wisely and well as the Prince of Egypt. But as he learns who he is, Moses wistfully reflects that this isn't really what he wants. Also, Moses' inner thoughts during the Plagues are that "even now, I wish that God had chose another", since he still feels affection for Ramses.
** "The weak link in the chain." These words frame the character arc of Ramses, as he constantly feels like [[WellDoneSonGuy he has to live up to the same reputation of his father]]. Ramses insists that he will not be the "weak link", and he digs in his heels while letting his pride and vengeance consume him out of a misguided desire to not look weak.

** The Bible never identifies Pharaoh by name, but the film goes with Seti I as the Pharaoh who ordered the purge, and Ramses II as the Pharaoh at the time of the Plagues. This is one possibility, but not one considered very likely by most scholars, mostly because Egypt thrived under Ramses II and Canaan was part of the Egyptian Empire during his time. Most scholars today think the Exodus story never happened, certainly not exactly as described in the Bible, although the Plagues may have happened as legitimate scientific phenomena. In fact, the term "Pharaoh" wasn't even used until after Ramses died, so clearly it was written down later.
** Ramses is portrayed as having been a small child when his father Seti I ordered the execution of the firstborn Hebrew children. Historically, Ramses was thirteen when Seti became Pharaoh; he would have been a small child during the reign of Horemheb (1320-- 1292 BCE), his grandfather's predecessor.
** Similar to the above, Ramses' firstborn son, Amun-her-khepeshef, is portrayed as having been a child when he died. Ramses' thirteenth son and ultimate successor, Merneptah, was nineteen when Amun-her-khepeshef died.

** We have a three-fer in Moses and Ramses being shown knocking off the nose of Art/TheSphinx[[note]]It's actually a colossus of Seti[[/note]] while it's still under construction. First, the ancient monuments for which Egypt is so famous were built by paid laborers, not slaves. Second, the Sphinx itself was already ancient by the time of Ramses ''or'' the Hebrew Slaves, at least by this film's time placement of them. Third, the nose of the structure would not come off until several thousands of years after the events of this film (a 14th century Muslim fanatic is thought to be responsible). And finally, the Sphinx is located on the Giza Plateau; the temple complex through which Moses and Ramses race is, by appearances, located in Memphis (the legislative capital of Egypt during the 19th dynasty), about 10 miles away.

** In Exodus, Moses and Aaron are 80 and 83 years old, respectively, at the time of the plagues. While Moses is shown to have spent at least several years as a shepherd, he is still very much a young man when he confronts Ramesses here, while in Exodus, he spent 40 years as a shepherd.[[note]]This change is probably due to the shorter lifespans on the Pharaohs' part--an 80-year old Moses would've been very unlikely to have confronted the same prince he grew up with. That said, the Pharaoh of the film is clearly meant to be Ramesses the Great, who lived to be 90.[[/note]]

** Ramesses II ''survives'' the parting of the Red Sea, while in the original story the Pharaoh either drowned or survived and became a wandering storyteller. This is another common change in adaptations of Exodus. [[note]]As the above note mentions, the real Ramesses II lived to be 90 and died of natural causes.[[/note]]

** "The Plagues" is half QuarrelingSong and half one of these delivered from the point of view of ''God'', promising to [[GoodIsNotSoft utterly destroy Egypt without discrimination or mercy if Ramses does not set His chosen people free.]]

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Moses and Ramses are associated with red and blue respectively.

* DatedHistory: In 1994, Ramses was discovered to be a redhead and in 2016 he was discovered to be fair-skinned meaning the black-haired, brown-skinned depiction in this film has actually become dated. Given how genetics work, the appearance of Seti and Tuya also fall under this trope as do all the Egyptians as they were historically quite diverse due to Egypt having always been a melting pot and crossroads meaning there has always been Egyptians of every hair and skin color.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: For Seti and later Ramses. Seti has his queen, as well as Rameses and Moses until Moses learns of his true heritage. Rameses has his queen (though we barely see her) as well as his son in the latter half of the film [[spoiler:until he's killed in the final plague]].

* HeroVsVillainDuet: "The Plagues" is sung between Moses and Ramses as the titular plagues ravage Egypt, with the former begging the latter to stop being so stubborn so he can stop making innocents suffer, which the latter declares to the former that he isn't giving up no matter what. Interestingly, unlike most Hero vs. Villain Duets, this song is rather somber and rather then coming off as triumphant for both sides, it instead displays just how poorly both brothers are taking having [[FormerlyFriendlyFamily to fight each other over what they believe is right]].

* MementoMacguffin: Ramses gives Moses a scarab ring to mark his promotion to chief architect. Later, as Moses starts his self-imposed exile, he discards all of the princely trappings from his wardrobe, but can't manage to throw away the ring. He keeps it until he returns to Egypt, then gives it back to Ramses as a symbol that he has returned as an enemy, not a brother.

** The back-and-forth in "The Plagues" casts diametric opposites Moses in orange and Ramses in blue.

* OrphanedEtymology: Seti warns Ramses, "One weak link can break the chain of a mighty dynasty." Moses' time, however, is generally placed between 1400 - 1200 BCE. Metal chains constructed in the sense that Seti's talking about weren't around until at least 255 BCE. So this is either taking liberties with history or linguistics. The figurative phrase "weakest link" wasn't even established ''until the 18th Century''. Could also be a rough translation of a then-current phrase that means essentially the same thing - especially since modern English itself wouldn't actually exist for almost 2,500 years.

* ThePardon: After Moses returns to Egypt, Ramses pardons him of his manslaughter of the Egyptian foreman.
* PartingTheSea: While God keeps Ramses and his army at bay (with a pillar of fire), Moses uses his staff to part the Red Sea to give him and the Hebrews an exit. While passing through it, some of the undersea creatures are seen through the wall. For a bit of drama, Moses has to race to the other side when the water starts to recede. He makes it, but Ramses army isn't so lucky.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Four years prior to this movie's release, it was discovered that Ramses II was a fair-skinned ''[[EvilRedhead ginger]]''. The reason he's depicted as tan, bald, and swarthy is likely because audiences would have wondered why they made the Egyptian Pharaoh look like an Irish man, amusing given Goidel Glas, the mythological father of the Gaels, was a grandson of the Pharaoh of the Exodus. Given how genetics work, Seti and Tuya's appearance likewise fall under this trope.

** There actually was an important priest during the reign of Ramesses II named Huy, with his specific position being High Priest of Ptah. There was also another important figure named Huy during Ramesses' reign, in this case the Viceroy of Kush.

** In the ''Literature/BookOfExodus'', the Pharaoh drowned when the Red Sea crashed underneath him and his army once Moses and the Hebrews reached the other side of the sea. Here, Ramses survived the crashing waves washing away him and his soldiers as the torrent throws him back to his side of the sea. Justified, since the real UsefulNotes/RamsesII is known to have lived to old age and died of natural causes.

** The Bible never identifies Pharaoh by name, but the film goes with Seti I as the Pharaoh who ordered the purge, and Ramses II as the Pharaoh at the time of the Plagues. This is one possibility, but not one considered very likely by most scholars, mostly because Egypt thrived under Ramses II and Canaan was part of the Egyptian Empire during his time. Most scholars today do not even think the Exodus story really happened in the specific manner described in the Bible, time-wise; the Plagues likely did happen as legitimate scientific phenomena, though. In fact, the term "Pharaoh" wasn't even used until after Ramses died, so clearly it was written down later.

''The Prince of Egypt'' is a [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation 1998]] animated film based on the [[Literature/{{bibl|e}}ical Literature/BookOfExodus, as well as the very first 2D animated film made by Creator/DreamWorksAnimation. Until ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'' came out in 2007, it was the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time not to be released by Disney.

''The Prince of Egypt'' is a [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation 1998]] animated film based on the [[Literature/TheBible biblical]] [[Literature/BookOfExodus book of Exodus]], as well as the very first 2D animated film made by Creator/DreamWorksAnimation. Until ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'' came out in 2007, it was the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time not to be released by Disney.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion:
** [[https://imgur.com/e4pqpdX The disclaimer at the opening of the film is open and straightforward about this]]. Some changes are made from the original Exodus story for the sake of drama.

--> '''Rameses:''' I am Egypt, the morning and evening star.

** In Exodus Moses actually had Aaron speak to Pharaoh on his behalf and also perform most of the miracles, as Moses was a poor orator. This is the [[AdaptationalContextChange original context]] in which Moses objects to being chosen as God's spokesman which provokes God's heated response "Who made man's mouth?". In this film Moses speaks to Pharaoh himself, which is common in adaptations of Exodus.

** God did ‘’’not’’’ harden Rameses' heart in in the movie; instead it was Rameses' hubris alone that results in Egypt's suffering.

** God did not harden Rameses' heart in in the movie; instead it was Rameses' hubris alone that results in Egypt's suffering.

* GenreThrowback: To [[EpicMovie biblical and historical epics]] of the [[The50s 50’s]]/[[The60s early 60’s]], especially [[Film/TheTenCommandments(1956) The Ten Commandments]] and [[Film/LawrenceofArabia Lawrence of Arabia]].

* GenreThrowback: To [[EpicMovie biblical and historical epics]] of the [[The50s 50’s]]/[[the60s early 60’s]], especially [[Film/TheTenCommandments The Ten Commandments]] and [[Film/LawrenceofArabia Lawrence of Arabia]].

* The production team behind the film consulted with Jewish, Biblical, Muslim and Arabic scholars for cultural accuracy.

** There actually was an important priest during the reign of Ramesses II named Huy, with his specific position being High Priest of Ptah.

* SexySilhouette: Subverted. After Moses has Tziporrah sent to his chambers by Rameses, he sees a shadowy figure sitting on his bed behind a curtain, looking as if it is her sitting there with her arms crossed defiantly. He laughs awkwardly before pulling the curtain back to reveal that it is the servant who had escorted her there all tied up. He then realizes that his dogs are tied up as well and there is a BedsheetLadder going out his window.

* BonfireDance: Moses, after fleeing from Egypt into the desert, is taken in by Jethro's tribe and lives with them. During his stay, at night, Tzipporah, Jethro's daughter, is dancing near a bonfire and invites Moses to join the tribe in a communal dance around it.

** Hotep and Hui have one in "Playing With the Big Boys Now", even if in the end they couldn't back it up:

'''Hui''': Well, forgive us these smiles on our faces, you'll know what power is when we are done...\\

* MisplacedWildlife: One shot in "Deliver Us" shows several, presumably wild generic monkeys. Even though monkey-like primates (i.e. [[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeMammals ''Apidium'']]) have lived there for most of the Age of Mammals, it's unlikely that any native primates other than baboons and humans survived in Egypt after the drying out of the Sahara. Possibly [[JustifiedTrope justifiable]] if they were brought there from elsewhere in the Old World.