Located eastward from the base of Mount Sinai is what is commonly referred to as Aaron’s Altar or the Golden Calf Altar. The location is very interesting as it is located between Mount Sinai and the large 20,000 acre plain which is believed to be an encampment site of the Israelites. This is a great lesson for us to not copy the Israelites and put-up idols between us the Almighty. The remains of the structure are a gathering of very large boulders. These boulders were moved and piled together with a monumental effort. These boulders were placed to serve as the foundation of an altar and a worship site. The altar would have been built on top of these large stones.

On these boulders are some significant findings that match the Biblical story of the Golden Calf. Exodus chapter 32:5-6 “Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to YHVH.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Located on various places throughout the boulders can be seen petroglyphs of Egyptian style bulls. Accompanying these bulls are people in the positions of worship the same position which can be found in Egypt for the worshipers of gods Apis and Hathor.

There is even one petroglyph depicting an acrobat flipping onto the back of the bull. This depiction is a match of a hieroglyph in Goshen in the land of Egypt. This activity is thought to have later gone on to become bull riding, bull running and bull fighting. On the Boulders today it still can be found some paintings of large Egyptian style bulls. These paintings were done in red paint. Early explorers’ detail there was more of these paintings when first discovered. Wind weathering has removed many petroglyphs from this structure. The original state of these boulders would have been completely covered in bull carvings and bull paintings. These depictions indicate a clear focus and intentionally to glorify the bull which is in step with biblical description of the golden calf worship.

On top of these boulders, two indentations can be seen. One of them clearly has a chiseled line leading to the edge. Some have speculated that it could be a melting place for Aaron’s to form the golden calf. As we see in Exodus 32:2-4 “And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.” The other indentation is rather large and some have speculated that perhaps Moses might have grounded down the golden calf to a power in that location. As described in Exodus 32:20 “Then he (Moses) took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it.” The location and the remains that match the Biblical stories and its proximity to Mount Sinai makes this location quite compelling.