Final answer:
Robert Moses can refer to either the influential public official known for urban development in New York City or the biblical figure depicted by Michelangelo. In this context, the focus is on Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses, which represents the biblical prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Moses is a significant figure in history, who holds prominence for different reasons depending on the context of the discussion. If the discussion is about urban planning and development, Robert Moses (1888–1981) was an influential public official in New York. He was known for shaping the urban landscape of New York City through his control of numerous public works projects from the 1920s to the 1960s, including bridges, parks, highways, and housing. However, in the context of this question, Robert Moses refers to the biblical figure depicted in Michelangelo's sculpture, focused on the religious and historical significance of Moses as per the Old Testament and its related artworks.
Michelangelo's Moses, located in San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome, is a marble sculpture created around 1515. It represents the imposing figure of Moses who, in the book of Exodus, leads the Israelites out of Egypt and to the base of Mt. Sinai where he receives the Ten Commandments from God. The sculpture captures a moment of intense anger and betrayal felt by Moses upon his return from Mt. Sinai, finding the Israelites worshipping a golden calf, thus breaking their covenant with God.
By contrast, references to Moses as an American figure such as in discussions about the Civil War and abolitionists like Harriet Tubman, draw upon the symbolic role of Moses leading his people to freedom. In this metaphorical sense, Tubman was dubbed the 'Moses of Her People' for her tireless work in helping hundreds of enslaved individuals gain freedom through the Underground Railroad.