09 - History of Egypt by Frederick C. H. Wendel

fifty BC. With this dynasty closes the period called the New Empire and begins the period of Decline. The epoch known as the New Empire had begun auspiciously, and for several centuries the pharans of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties had succeeded in making and keeping Egypt the first power of the then known world. At the close of each dynasty, there had occurred periods of anarchy, which were, however, of

short duration and entailed no serious consequences. The kings had nevertheless made a number of serious blunders, and the effects of these blunders began to show themselves in this period. The first of these was the great power which had been given to the priests of amon Ra after the suppression of the reform movement. We have seen how the bootsy won in the Asiatic Wars poured chiefly into the

coffers of amun Rah. The money is paid into his treasury, where managed by the priesthood, a fact that is very significant. This priesthood was responsible apparently only to itself, and consequently vastly enriched itself. Add to the power of great wealth, the control of vass estates and consequently an immense patronage, and the enormous influence the priesthood generally has over the masses, and you can readily see that sooner or later this

priesthood must become very dangerous to the state. In this dynasty. There must be added yet another factor, the vast influence the clergy gained over the weak and incompetent kings that ruled after Ramses the third. It is no wonder then that they should finally succeed in snatching the scepter from the weak hands of the lost Rmses. The second Sirgus plunder was their Libyan policy, which we have outlined in

Chapter six section three. Sat Nagt ruled only a very short while, but he appointed his son Ramses Co regent shortly before he died. Ramses the third eleven eighty to eleven forty eight b C. The Rhumsges of the classical authors ascended the throne about eleven eighty b C. This pharaoh anxiously imitated roma Um their second, even giving his sons the same names as those borne by the sons of his great predecessor, and appointing them to the same

offices the latter had held. He was, not, however, the equal of Roums's the Second in war, though he almost excelled him in Paradostiu. The lists of conquered lands are just as untrustworthy as those of Rumses the Second, and must be entirely disregarded in writing the history of this period. The only authentic sources are the accounts of specific campaigns, and on these alone is based the following account of

his wars. The early part of this reign seems to have been taken up by cares of state the land had, it is true, been pacified by a sad nact, but still the reorganization of the state was by no means compelled when Romses came to the throne. In one of his edicts, this pharaoh gives orders to cleanse the temples of Upper Egypt of all that the God's hate, to restore the truth that is Orthodox faith, and to destroy

the lie that is Orthodoxy. It was owing to this unsettled state of the country that he could not undertake his first campaign, which was an extremely important and absolutely necessary one, before his fifth year. Meanwhile, matters looked bad in the Delta. Libyan hordes under their princess Dedi, Mashakin Tamar and Jadmar had and the Delta, possibly during the period of Anarchi which followed on the death of Setti the second, and had penetrated to the main stream of

the Nile. Here they occupied the banks of the river from Carbana to Memphis. In the fifth year of his reign, Roms's at laws had sufficiently settled the eternal affairs of his kingdom to allow of his turning his attention to foreign affairs, and he accordingly marched against the Libyans. After some hard fighting, he succeeded in driving them out of

the country. Some three years later, the pharaoh was involved in a more serious war the peoples of the sea, the Shardana, to RuSHA and Shakarusha, who in all probability dwelt on the north coast of Africa and seem to have been great pirates. United with there Zakari, Prousta, Danauna and Washiwash four other seafaring peoples in a grand raid on the Asiatic coast. They advanced down the coast by land and water, bringing with them their women and children

and all their possessions on courts drawn by Oxen. All the Syrian people, the Sheeta, the Kidi, Karamish, Arradus, and Aresa, were subdued, and then the mighty stream poured into Palestine, which was mercilessly devastated. Up to this time, Rams's had been looking on an unconcerned spectator, rather rejoiced than otherwise at the downfall of Egypt's old enemies. But as soon

as Palestine was invaded, matters assumed a different aspect. Palestine was an Egyptian province and could not be sacrificed accordingly. In the eighth year of his reign, Ramses proceeded against the pirates with a large army and a great fleet. The decisive battle was fought on the coast of Syria, both on land and on sea, and the enemy was utterly routed and almost annihilated. Vast numbers of prisoners were taken.

The people concerned in this attack were all seafaring The Shardana to Russia and Shaikarusha we have met before as allies of the Libyan tribes that attacked Egypt in the times of Marine Petah. They dwelt most probably on the north coast of Africa. That these tribes here appeared together with tribes coming most probably from Greece and Asia Minor is no argument against this, for these tribes were bold pirates,

ready to join in any enterprise that promised booty. Though we can state with a considerable degree of certainty that the other four tribes came from Greece and Asia Minor, we cannot assign to each one its proper home. That Greek tribes took part in this expedition is made extremely probable when we remember that the Odyssey mentions raids of this character made by Greek pirates on the Egyptian coast. The threatened invasion was thus happily averted, and the Egyptian

domination over Palestine, Phoenician and Southern Syria considerably strengthened. In these countries, the kings of the preceding dynasty had a req and garrisoned forts in order to keep the inhabitants under control. Ramses the third went one step further. He tried to force the Egyptian religion, or rather the religion of Almunrah on the Asiatics. A great temple was erected in this region to Almunrah, to which, in the language of the official record, all the peoples of shel Syria

bring their tribute. Incidentally, an expedition against the shehzou pduins of sir Adom is mentioned. Three years after the great victory over the Pirates, the king was again compelled to march against the Libyans. The Mashawasha, under their chief Mahshah Shar, united with the Tamhu and Libu and invaded the western Delta. The Pharaoh easily defeated them in a great battle fought on the frontier. Large numbers of the enemy were killed,

numerous prisoners were taken, and which booty was one. These four wars seemed to have been all that Romss was engaged in. We see that they were all defensive wars, and this is quite a change from the aggressive policy pursued by the kings of dynasties twenty eight and nineteen. After the close of the Second Libyan War, the kingdom was at peace with the world, and Thebia and Nubia

remained tranquil. The trade with Peawnd was reopened, and a fleet scent there returned, laden with the products of its tropical coasts, and brought back with it ambassadors from the various rulers of the region. The copper and malachite mines of the Sinai were operated. The land seemed to have arrived at the highest point of tranquility and prosperity. Thus, at least the official inscriptions and Papyrus Harris the First the official record of this reign, would have us believe.

In reality, matters were not so pleasant. In the immediate vicinity of the Faires capital, in the necropolis of Thebes, there was almost constant trouble with the laborers. These men were in the government service and where to receive regular monthly rations, but the payment was far from regular, and very often they had to strike for them. Thus we know of one gang of laborers that struck for their pay three times inside of half a year in the

twenty ninth year of this reign. On these occasions, they would lead the necropolis in a body with their wives and children, and would not return until their demands had been ascended to. The first strike lasted five days, and at one stage of the proceedings matters assumed so serious an aspect that the military had to be called out. The men finally received their dues and returned to work.

On the second strike, which occurred a month later, the men marched to the gates of the city, where the governor of thebes met them and, after some discussion, paid them half of their dues, whereupon they returned to the necropolis. Two months later they struck again, but were soon pacified. This record, which no doubt represents the experience of these unfortunates not only during this half a year but during the entire reign, stands in strange contrast to the accounts

given by the official documents. From another source, too, we learned something more of the real condition of affairs. This is a papyrus giving the minutes of a criminal procedure against several members of the royal family, and several high civil and military officers for high treason. Several ladies belonging to the Royal Harim, headed by Queen Tay, who had a son called Pentower, as the minutes hint he wore another name, probably he was a son of the king,

formed a conspiracy against the Pharaoh. In all probability, the conspiracy had for ultimate object the placing of disprince on the throne after his father had been murdered. Most of the Harem officials were implicated. The head overseer of the Harem, even conducting the the correspondence for Tay, the commander of the troops stationed in Ethiopia, whose sister was in the Royal Harem, was won over an order to revolt against the Pharaoh and invade Egypt. Many other officials and army

officers were implicated. The conspiracy was, however, betrayed, and the conspirators were arrested. A special commission of eleven, vested with extraordinary powers and even permitted to pause sentence of death, was appointed to try this conspiracy case. The commission began its labors, but soon it was found that three of its members had been corrupted, having attended a banquet given them by some of the accused ladies. They were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to have their ears and noses

cut off. After this unas pleasant interlude, the commission succeeded in accomplishing its labors without further interruption. The conspirators were found guilty and sentenced to death, the nobles being permitted to commit suicide and the others being executed. In this reign, the power of the priesthood greatly increased. We have already touched on the causes of this, But there was no pharaoh who did more for the priests and their temples

than did Romsus the Third. The larger part of the great Papyrus Harris the first is taken up with lists of presents given the various temples. The temples of Amundrah, of course, received the line's share of these rich gifts, and attained to an unheard of wealth proportionately with the wealth of their temple. The wealth and influence of the priests increased. This was the great mistake of this reign. But we must say in palliation that Ramses was but

carrying out the policy of his forefathers. Ramses was a great builder. In all parts of Egypt we find his name connected with the temples and other monuments. His chief attention was directed to Thieves and the Delta. At Thieves, he made additions to the great temple of Almundra and restored some of the temples of the Necropolis. Following the example of his great namesake, Ramses the Second, he built in the Necropolis a temple dedicated to Almundra and commemorative

of his victories. Behind this temple where the Vosse treasury vaults, in which were stored up the great masses of gold, silver, precious stones, copper, et cetera, dedicated to Amundra, and on the walls are inscribed records of the immense wealth here deposited. It is probable that these treasures represent the state treasury placed under the protection of the God, rather than the

presence made him. Before the gates of the temple stood a two story house, probably destined to be the residence of the Pharaoh and his attendants on his visits to this city of the dead. At Talulihuda in the Delta, he built a temple of limestone, albast and granite. Many of the other temples were repaired by him, and it seems to have required no small amount of labor to keep the temples of Kemet in constant repair. The king died in the thirty second year of his reign, shortly

after having proclaimed his son Ramses the four regent. The successors of Ramses the Third eleven forty eight ten fifty pc. The late king had managed to keep Egypt on much the same level as it had occupied under Ramses the Second, but under his successors the prestige of the once all but a mighty ruler of the world rapidly declined. The following pharaohs were all weaklings who could scarcely hold their own at home and dared not to interfere in the

foreign affairs. Under them, the priesthood that had been greatly favored by Ramses the Third rose to a commanding position, and the lost kings of this line were mere puppets in the hands of the Theepan high priests. These rulers cover about a century, but all this time we have but few monuments of historic value, and to two of the most important documents we possess of this time show it

in no pleasant light. Ramses the Fourth the sixth the seventh and the eighth, where brothers Ramses the fifth was a usurper. The very fact that a usurper could ascend the throne after the son of Ramses the third shows that there was something wrong somewhere. It is true that we possess a steely on which Ramses the fourth eleven forty eight to eleven thirty seven BC mentions the fact that the Syrian rn to broad tribute, but this is not significant, for Southern Syria had been for some time

an intergo part of the kingdom. Ramses the fourth sent a great expedition to the Wadi Hammamed quarries in the third year of his reign, to quarries to one for temple. He also worked the Sinai copper mines of his buildings, but little remains. He seems to have been a man of promise, but like most men of his character, he did not keep his promises, and appears as one of the weakest monarchs of his line. He died or was

disthroned after a reign of only eleven years. Ramses the fifth eleven thirty six two eleven thirty two BC, though strong enough to wrest the crown from its legitimate holder was not able long to retain the position he owned to himself alone, for he reigned but four years in about eleven thirty one b. C. Ramses the sixth, one of the legitiment heirs of Ramses the third, succeeded in outset the usurper, but he was otherwise of little account. We do not even know how long he reigned. Ramses

the seventh and the eighth, where alike unimportant. Of the latter, We know only that he reigned about seven years. Of the former we know nothing. Romses the ninth holds a rather unenviable prominence among these rulers. To Papyrae have come down to us that show how utterly weak and corrupt the government of Egypt was in those days. The first of these contains the minutes of a criminal procedure against a desperate band of robberers that invested the Necropolis of thieves,

dated from the nineteenth year of this reign. Some knowledge of the robberies in the Necropolis having come to the ears of the governor of things, he immediately with a view to injuring his enemy. The governor of the Necropolis reported the case to the vizier. This official appointed a

commission to investigate the charges. This commission made an investigation and reported that of ten royal pyramids examined, only one had been entered and robbed, while all the private tombs had been broken into and stripped of everything that had any value. During the investigation, one of the witnesses, a fellow that poor a desperate character, confessed that he had robbed the tomb of one of the wives of Ramses the second, and the investigation proved the truth of his story.

Eight robbers were tried and found guilty. Great was the joy of the commissioners, who immediately made public the results of their investigation. The governor of the city, however, whose vague charges had in no way been substantiated, was not satisfied, but openly declared the entire investigation of fraud and threatened to bring the matter before the Pharaoh. After as judicial hearing, the matter was hushed, both sides evidently fearing an official

investigation into the conduct of their offices. There was evidently a good deal of crookedness. The governor of the necropolis was undoubtedly guilty at least of criminal negligence, and the commission did their work pretty carelessly, evidently not caring to expose their friend too much. The second of the above mentioned papyri is the journal of a gang of laborers

employed in the Theepan necropolis. We learn from this document that these men were paid in wais of fish, pulse, grain, beer, fat, and fuel, but these provisions were rarely issued on time and sometimes were not paid at all. In the latter case, the men struck, or as the Egyptian phrase goes, lay at home. The journal of this party contains the record of two strikes. The first was peaceable. On the second they marched two theebs in a body and laid their

complaints before the authorities. Their request for pay was granted, and they returned to work. These strikes give proof of the corruption that was rife in the government. The men's rations were withheld not because the state could not pay, but because the officials charged with the distribution chose to let the rations disappear. The pharaoh died after a reign of a little more than its seen in years, shortly

after proclaiming his son Ramses, the tenth co regent. The last three kings of this line are very unimportant in the early part of the reign of Ramses the Tenth sixty thieves, among them a number of minor government officials and priests of lower grades were arrested and punished for disigrations and depredations committed in the Necropolis. But even the most stringent measures proved of no avail. The great symmetry had grown so enormously that the proper policing of this

district was out of the question. And besides, it would seem that the governor of the Necropolis and the chief of this police had a finger in the pie and were not over vigilant. Ramses the Tenth ruled eight years and was succeeded by Ramses the Eleventh, of whom we know nothing. Ramses their twelves was the last king of this house. Of him we know little more than that he ruled about twenty seven years. In his reign there lived a high Priest of Ammon and general of the army,

hera Ho, who became the successor of Ramses. The king was a mere puppet in the hands of the al mighty High Priest, and it is not to be wondered at that herah Ho finally seized the crown. One of these kings, which one we do not know, was the contemporary of the mighty Assyrian king Tiglath Pieser the first and sent him tribute about eleven ten BC. A fact that it is characteristic of the weakness of these kings. The twenty first Dynash the priest Kings ten fifty two

nine hundred and fifty BC. We have here again a period that is very obscure. There is some disagreement among the historians about the order of succession of the priest kings, and the fact that Manethou states that the dynasty originated from Tennis has induced some scholars to assume that a Tenetic king had opposed Harraho, the founder of the dynasty. Such an assumption we consider utterly unwarranted, as it is

not constant with the facts of the case. As represented on the monuments, Harraho and all his descendants were high priests of al Mundrah in Thebes, and a long line of Haraho's ancestors occupied the same position. We can trace on the monuments the gradual rise of the high priests of Amundra. We find the high priests Rua, Amnana and Rams's net mentioned, together with the kings on the walls of the Temple of Karnak, a distinction enjoyed in the

older times only by the co regent. Under Ramses the ninth, the power of these priests seems to have been still greater. Evidently, the king was a mere puppet in the hands of Rams's nexts son and successor, the high priest Amenhautop. This dignitary no longer inscribed his name was the name of the Pharaoh, but declares in the inscriptions that he erected this or that building in the name of the Pharaoh.

He rose to the high position of manager of the temple states, thus holding in his hand all the wealth and influence of the great temples of Amunrah sah ahman Herahom ten fifty two ten thirty four b C. Took the deciding step about ten fifty b C. He had held high offices of trust and honor under Rams's the twelfth being to mention only his most exalted offices high priests of Amundra, chief architect to the Pharaoh, general of

the army, and head of Upper and Lower Egypt. We see this man thus combined the highest religious, military, and civil offices of the land, and was virtually the ruler. No wonder then, that, on Rams's death he pushed aside that king's legitimate heir and placed the double crown on his own head. It would seem, however, that Egypt gained but little by the change rulers. The new king could do no more than preserve the then boundaries of his kingdom.

And when we read in his inscriptions that he repulsed the enemies, we must take this to refer to minor compacts with Perouins, who were connstly prowling about the borders. This pharaoh built chiefly in Karnak, restoring the temple of Chensu, the son of Ahmunrah, and decorating its walls with long religious inscriptions. In one of these inscriptions, he had depicted his entire family, consisting of his wife, Queen Nejimate, his

nineteen sons and grandsons, and five daughters. The government seems to have remained quite as weak and corrupt as it had been under the lost Rameses sides, and no wonder, for Haraho was a descendant of the high priest who so long had governed the land. In fact, and he himself had actually ruled the country long before he seized the scepter, so that it was but natural that the

old state of affairs continued. Thus the old debridations in the necropolis, and instead of seizing or becoming less, became worse and more desperate than ever. The police of the necropolis, where it is true not quite efficient, but might have kept the desparatus in some check, have bade themselves not been implicated. Accordingly, Heraho bethought himself of some means of

protecting the mummies of his predecessors. The mummis of King razakyunin Ahmus, the first a Manhatov, the first to Hotmust, the first to Hotmust, the second to Houtmost, the third Ramses the first Seti the first, and Rams's the second, where for a while moved about from place to place, and finally were hid in a shaft at Der el Bahari, where they could be better guarded. This shaft was opened in eighteen eighty one by Mespiro and brush Bay, and

in it where discovered. Besides the mummis already mentioned those of the early kings and queens of this dynasty, the mummy of this pharaoh was not found here either, because it never was deposited here, or because, like many other objects found in the shaft, it is still in the hands of the Arabs who discovered and to some extent blundered this improvised tomb before the discovery was brought to

the attention of the government. The mummy of Queen Negimate, cased in a beautiful saragophagus of guilt wood, was however, found here. Whether or not this king is identical with a king raanatur Chopper set up a Ahmen mari Aman sa Aman, whose name has hitherto been found only in the Delta, is one of the vexed questions regarding this dynasty.

It may be that Heraho used the title of High Priests of Amen as coronation name in Theeves only, while he adopted another coronation name for use in Lower Egypt. But such a course would seem void of sense. Still, we have no cause to assume that two kings, one of Upper and one of Lower Egypt, ruled at the same time. The whole matter must be laid over until further monuments are discovered in proof of one or the

other hypothesis. Harahou ruled about sixteen years. Herahu's successors ten thirty three two nine hundred and forty five b C. Benetajim the first, the grandson of Heraho, ascended the throne about ten thirty three b C. Pianchi, the father of this pharaoh, had been high priest of Amunrah, but he seems to have died before Heraho, so that his ride

to the throne passed to his son. This king had two wives, Queen hat hour hend Taui and Queen Makara, of which latter lady an inscription distinctly says that Amundra had given her the kingdom. It would seem from this that Makara was a Ramsa's side princess whom Heraho hadet compelled to add his grandson in order to legalize his usurpation, a very common measure of Egyptian usurpers at all events.

It is a very curious fact that, while the names of both queens are always enclosed in kartouches, that of pinat Jem is without the kartoush in several inscriptions. Again, there appears in a number of inscriptions the name of a king, cheaper cha Ra pinat Jem, whose wife was Queen hat hoor Hand Taui that Pinetjem, the High Priest of Amen, and this king are one and the same person. There can be no doubt the mummy of Queen Makara was like his mummy and that of hat hoor hand Taui.

Found at Der el Bahri. At the feet of Makara was found the mummy of a very young infant, designated as the Princess, the wife of the Pharaoh, the lady of both lands, Madame heat. It would seem from this that the infant had been declared the legitimate wife of its father immediately after its birth. This precaution was taken to preclude the chance that any usurper could pays claims to the throne on a marriage with this infant. The child and its mother died, however, long before any such

eventuality could arise. Pinejim reigned twenty five years ten thirty three two one thousand and eight BC. Ra Chapper set up a Amen passip Chano, the first the successor of Pinadjim, has left us but few monuments, but from these we see that, like his predecessors, he was both High Priest of Amundra and King of Egypt. One of his sons named Pinatjim, was high priest of Amundra under King Ahmun am Abit men Chaparrah is another priest, king of whom we know nothing. The same is true of King Ahmen

am Abit. Passib Chanu the second has but little significance beyond the fact that his daughter Makara became the wife of Usarkin the First, the son of Shashenki the first, thus legalizing the usurpation of that monarch. Passib Chanu has also some interest for the Biblical student. It was in all probability this king who came into connection with King Solomon. He gave Solomon his daughter in marriage and as a dowry captured for the Jewish king the city of Ghaza.

There was instituted at this time also a commercial intercourse between Egypt and Israel, the latter state facilitating the trade in horses and wagons between the Egyptians and the Hathiths and Aramians. The twenty second dynasty the Libyan kings nine hundred and forty five to eight hundred BC. The reader will no doubt remember what was said on a former page concerning the Libyan wars of Seti the First and Ramses the second and concerning the ingress of Libyan mercenaries.

In these reigns, these mercenaries were called Ma, an abbreviation of the name of Mashahwasha tribe, and their leaders bore the titles of Or and Ma. There is Duke of the Ma and our a m Ma Grand Duke of the Ma. They seemed to have settled in great numbers

in the western part of the Delta. The family of one of these leaders that lived in Buddhapest rose to great power, and finally one of its members, Shashinki the first, succeeded in resting the scepter from the weak hands of Passip Shanu the second, the lost of the priest kings. The first member of this family who migrated from Libya to Egypt was the Dehn Libyan Biwawa. He came in about the time of hera Ho. His son Mausen already had the title of Grand Duke of the Ma in

this position. His son Nebnesha and his grandson Petut succeeded him. Patut's son Shakshinki, was married to Princess mahatim Oret and their son Nambrod married ten Tispah. This latter couple lived about the time of King pine Jim. Their son was Shashinki, the First, who, on the death of Nemart, succeeded him in the offices of Grand Duke of the Ma and commander in chief of the army. Shashinki the first nine

hundred forty five to nine hundred twenty four BC. The Shi Shakh of the Bible, an inscription in Abby shows how highly King Basib Shanu esteemed Shashinki and his family, for it tells us this monarch kept in repair the tomb of the late Grand Duke Nomart and prayed to

Amunra for the success of Shishanki's arms. Holding the entire power of the land the army in his grasp, Shashenki was the real ruler of Egypt, and it was not at all unnatural that he, at length about nine hundred and forty five PC, either deposed King Basib Shanno or took advantage of that king's death to become king in name as well as in fact. Makara, the daughter of the late king, was compelled to marry the crown Prince Usarkin, so that he might have a legitiment claim to the throne.

That Egypt gained by this change of rulers is an undeniable fact. Immediately after ascending the throne, the new pharaoh issued a stringent edict against all debrigations on the property of the dead. The tombs and states set aside for payment of sacrificial offers were considered the property of the dead by priests or other persons. This edict proved that he was determined not to tolerate the state of affairs

that had existed in the necropolis under his predecessors. The edict in question prescribes the funeral sacrifices for his father. The king expressly states that he had punished those priests that had stolen from the funeral state. This was, no doubt a warning to all inclined to go and do likewise, and seems to have no doubt, backed by an effective police, had the desired effect, for we hear of no further robberies in the Theban Necropolis in this and the following reigns.

Early in this reign, Jeroboim had fled to his court. He returned to Israel only after the death of Solomon to become king of the Ten Tribes. It may be that Shashinki assisted him to return and gain the throne, as he had married the pharaoh's sister in la Anu. The most important event of Shashinki's reign was his Asiatic campaign. He invaded Palestine, and after overrunning and plundering the country and taking its chief towns, he finally invested and captured

the city of Jerusalem. In the fifth year of King Rihoboam's reign, the Egyptians sacked the town and and carried off, among other things, that treasure Solomon had deposited in the temple. The city is designated as yet Haamlik, the Royal Jewish City in the Egyptian inscription treating of this raid, the king appointed his son Abbut, high Priest of a Munrah, the fattest office in his gift, thus uniting in his family the highest civil, military, and religious powers of the realm.

This pharaoh built chiefly in Thebes. At Karnak, he began the so called whole of the Buba sides, which was completed by his successors. He died after a reign of about twenty one years, and Usarkin, his son by Queen Kurama, succeeded him. Shashinki's successors. Usarkin the first Osarkin ascended the throne about nine hundred twenty three b c. He was

an unimportant ruler. All we know of him is that he continued the work begun by his father at Karnak, and that his wife Makara, conveyed all her rights and domains to her family, that is, her husband and his sons. In consideration of this, her son Shashinki was proclaimed co regent and appointed governor of the South, But he never ascended the throne, having, in all probability died before Usarkin.

How long this pharaoh ruled we do not know. On his death, take Lot, the first, son of Queen Tamah Shansu, ascended the throne. Of him. We know only that he was married to Queen Capps, and that his son by this lady, Usarkin, succeeded him. Usarkin the second ruled twenty three years and built at Karnak, Buddhabest, and other places. The following king, take Lot the second, was a little more important. In his reign occurred two rebellions, which are

unfortunately not described in detail. In the eleventh year of his reign, a rebellion broke out where he does not tell Us in his inscription, which was subdued four years afterward. Another text states that children of the rebels attacked Egypt from the north and from the south, but were repulsed after a long struggle, whereupon they fell into internal dissensions. Unfortunately, these texts do not inform us who these rebels and

children of the rebels were. Possibly, we find in these rebellions the beginning of the disintegration of Egypt, which was completed at the time the Ethiobian king Pianchi invaded the country. Techlot seems to have been strong enough, however, to keep the land together. In the course of the latter text, there is a notice that on a certain date the sky had become unrecognizable and the moon had assumed a

terrible aspect. After a reign of over fifteen years, the king died, and his son Sheshinki the third succeeded him. This pharaoh was the last of this line, whose name appears in the inscriptions of Karnak. It would seem that either he or his next successor had been driven out of the capital. He reigned fifty two years. The last kings of this dynasty, Pimai Shashinki, the fourth and Usarkin the Third were in all probability confined to the Delta

at the time of Pianchi's invasion. Usarkin the third was King of Buddhapest merely or perhaps divided the Delta with abbut king of Klisma end of chapter seven.