A FALCON FROM PITHOM. Two sites have been proposed as the location of Biblical Pithom—Maskhuta and Retabeh. But Maskhuta was not inhabited in the Ramesside period, even though this Ramesside falcon was found there. Author Hoffmeier argues that it was brought from nearby Retabeh and moved to Maskhuta in the seventh century B.C. when Retabeh (Biblical Pithom) was destroyed. Pithom in the Bible is therefore to be identified with Retabeh.