Africa by Élisée Reclus/Volume 1/Appendix 3

by Élisée Reclus

 

APPENDIX III.

I. — The Egyptian Dynasties.

The subjoined table gives the date of the beginning of each of the old Egyptian dynasties as preserved in Manetho's Chronology, according to the interpretations of M. Mariette, Professor Lepsius, and Sir Gardner Wilkinson.

		Marlette.		Lepsius.	Wilkinson.
Dynasties.		b.c.		b.c.	b.c.
I.		5004		3892	2700
II.		4751		3639	—
III.		4449		3338	—
IV.		4235		3124	2450
V.		3951		2840	—
VI.		3703		2740	2240
		3500		2592	—
		3400		2522	—
		3358		2674	—
		3249		2565	—
XI.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	3064	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	2423	—
XII.				2380	2080
		2851		2136	—
		2398		2167	—
XV.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	2214	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	2101	—
XVI.				1842	—
XVII.				1684	—
XVIII.		1703		1591	1520
XIX.		1462		1443	1310
XX.		1288		1269	1200
XXI.		1110		1091	1085
XXII.		980		961	990
XXIII.		810		787	818
XXIV.		721		729	—
XXV.		716		716	714
XXVI.		665		685	664
XXVII.		627		625	—
XXVIII.		406		426	—
XXIX.		399		399	399
XXX.		378		378	378
Second Persian Conquest.		340		340	340

APPENDIX in. 476

II. Summary of Ancient Egyptian History with Dates acoordino to thb Calculations of M. Mariettb and Dr. Bruuscii. AN'CIEKT EMPIRE. I. Dynatty : Thinite, bo called from its capital, Tins, or Tbhtu. M .♦ 6004. B.f 4400 B.C. Mexes (Mexa), founder of the city of Memphis and of the Egyptian monarchy. His name is mentioned by all the ancient writers who have dealt with the subject of Egyj^tian chronology, and their testimony is confirmed by the native documunts, in which Menes is always referred to as the founder of the empire. But no monument has been discovered which can be traced back to his reign. ToTA (Atuotuis), of whom there are no records. Uexephes I., to whom is attributed the step-pyramid of Saqqarah. II. Djfnashj : MEiTPniTE, so called from its capital Memphis. M. 4751, B. 4133, Kakau (Kaiechos), during whose reign the worship of Apis was established at Memphis, and that of Mnevis at On (Heliopolis ). B. 4100. III. Dynasty : Memphite. M. 4449, B. 3966. SxEFRU (Sexefru), the first king whose name appears inscribed on contemporaneous monuments, amongst which are the I'yramid of Meidum and a bas-relief of SenefrA discovered in the ^Vady Mugharah, Sinai Peninsula. These monuments already reveal a state of civilisation as completely developed as at the time of the Persian conquest, with thoroughly original features and all the marks of a long previous existence. The ox, dog, and other useful animals had already been domesticated, and the Egj'ptian language was completely formed and differentiated from the allied Ilamitic and more remotely connected Semitic tongues. B. 3766. IV. Dynasty : Mempuite. M. 4235, B. 3733. Suuru (KnuFu), that is Suphis, or Cheops, builder of the g^reat pyramid of Gizeh. M. 4235, B. 3733. Khafra (Kuephren), builder of the second pyramid of Oixeh. B. 3666. • M., Marielto. f B., Brugach. 476 APPENDIX HI. Mexkauba (Mycerktds), builder of the third pyramid of Gizeh. B. 3633. Daring this age history begins to assume shape. The three great pyramids are completed and numerous other monuments erected. Cheops was a war- like prince, whose triumphs over the Arab Bedouins of Sinai are recorded on the bas-reliefs of the Wady Magharah. This era marks the culminating point of primitive Egyptian culture. The country appears to have made great advances in material progress, and the limits of the monarchy were extended southwards to the Cataracts. But the capital was still at Memphis, in the neighbourhood of which was centred all the life and activity of the nation. V. Dynasty: Elephantine. M. 3951, B. 3566. Raenuser (RATnuREs), the first king whose name was inscribed with a double cartouche. B. 3433. Tatkara (Tankiieres), or Assa, to whose reign is referred the tomb of Tih at Saqqarah. B. 3366. Unas (Obnos), builder of the so-called Mastabat-el-Faraun, or great truncated pyramid of Saqqarah. B. 3333. VI. Dynasty : Memphite. M. 3703, B. 3300. Merira Pepi (Apappus), whose name occurs on many monuments throughout the whole of Egypt from San to Assuan, as well as in the Sinai Peninsula. He appears to have ruled over all the Lower Nile valley as far as Nubia, and is traditionally said to have reigned for a himdred years. B. 3233. VII. Dynasty : Seat of empire uncertain. M. 3500, B. 3100. No known records. No known records. No known records. VIII. Dynasty : Dates uncertain. IX. Dynasty: Herakleopolite. M. 3358. X. Dynasty : Hebakleopolite. M. 3249. No known records. APPENDIX III. 477 The somewhat legendary Queen Nitocris is supposed to have flourished in this obHC'ure pericKl, of which no moniunents are known to exist, and with which the AxciEXT Kmtikk is brought to a close. The first civil troubles begin during the sixth dynasty, when the usurper Akhthoc's raises the sttuidunl of revolt at HcrakleojMjlis in the I)elta, and fonns a scpamtH state by detuching several provinces from the empire. Quetm Nitocris, whose beauty and wisdom are praised by Manetho and Herodotus, endeavours in vain to stem the torrent of revolt which now spreads to the capital itseli. S1h> perislies in the attempt, and after her death Eg>'pt remains for upwards of three centuries divided into two kingdoms, one comprising the wliole of the Delta, the other the Nile Valley thence to Ethiopia. Accord- ing to some authorities the ninth and tenth dynasties ruled in the north, the eighth simultaneously in the south. The usurpation of Aklitho^'S was attended by a sudden and hitherto une.xplained eclipse in Egj'ptian culture, and for three centuries there is a complete blank in the native records and monuments. Egypt herself seems to have disappeared as an independent monarchy, and when she awakens again from this long sleep civilisation appears to resume its course almost without any traditions of the past. MIDI LE EMPIRE. XI. Dynmty : Tiiedax. M. 3064. ExEXTEF, MEXTrnoTEP, names apparently borne by several kings of this dynasty alter- nately. During their rule the seat of empire was removed from Lower to Upper Eg:y])t, where was now founded the great city of Thebes, capital of so many subsequent dynasties. Sakkuara, the first king who sent an expedition to the land of Ophir and Punt (either Somaliland or South Arabia), as recorded on an inscription in the Wady Hamniamat, on the route between Coptos and the Red Sea coast. B. 2400. The six kings of tliis dynasty, all of whom reigned at Thebes, had to struggle against the URur|)er8 in the Delta, and apparently against foreign conquerors. They seem t4j have succeeded in reducing the whole country; but for a long time their authority was restrictetl to the Thebais. They broke comjiletely with the traditions of the past, and began again to build up the fabric of Egj'ptian ctilture almost from its very foundations. Hence their monument^) are rude, primitive, sometimes even coarse. The effect they produce on the obser>-er is that of a country reverting to the low state of rude civilisation from which it had already emerged under the first three dynasties. XII. Dynasty : TiiEBAX. M. 3064, B. 2466. Ajienemiiat I., under whose rule Egypt again rose to a high degree of prosperity. M. 3064. B. 2466. OsoRTASEN I., by whom was erected the obelisk stiU standing at Heliojwlis. B. 2433. 478 APPENDIX IH. Amenemhat II., OsoRTASEN II., whose exploits are recorded in inscriptions in the tombs of Auieni and Knumhotep, at Beni- Hassan. OsoRTASEN III., who invaded Kush or the land of Ethiopia stretching south from Egypt. Monuments recording his victories are found at Semneh, beyond the second cataract of Wady Halfah. B. 2333. Amenemhat III., who constructed extensive canals, dykes, and reservoirs, by which the inundations of the Nile were regulated. Amongst these vast works was the famous Lake Moeris in the Fayum depression, where this king also laid out the no less famous labyrinth. Records of the periodical risings of the Nile during his reign occur at Semneh, where he established a Nilometer, by means of which regular observations were taken and published throughout Egj^pt. B. 2300. All the kings of this dynasty bore the name either of Osortasen or Amenemhat (Amenemheh). They reigned altogether 213 years, and their epoch was one of great prosperity, internal peace, and foreign conquest. They recovered Arabia Petreea, which had been lost during the civil wars, and permanently reduced the whole of Nubia as well as a part of Ethiopia. Their glory was perpetuated by monuments as prodigious and in some respects far more useful than those of the fourth dynasty. Such espe- cially was the vast Lake Moeris, constructed by Amenemhat III. for the purjwse of regulating the periodical inundations of the Nile. When the rise was insufficient the waters stored in this enormous reservoir served to irrigate the whole country along the left bank of the river as far as the sea. When the rise was excessive, the overflow from the lake was dis- charged through a system of sluices into the Birket-Karun. From the tombs of Beni-Hassan, dating from this epoch, a long inscrip- tion has been recovered relating the career and beneficent deeds of Ameni, a high official, who resumes his administration of the land in these words: " All the provinces were cultivated and sown from the north to the south. Nothing was pilfered from my workshops. No little child was ever hurt, no widow oppressed by me. I gave to widow and wedded wife alike, and in all the judgments pronounced by me no preference was shown to the great over the humblest subject of the king." XIII. Dynasty: Theban. M. 2851, B. 2233. Sebekhotep (Sevekhotep), Neferhotep. Names borne by nearly all the sixty Theban kings of this dynasty. The rise of the Nile in the third year of Sebekhotep III. is inscribed on the rocks at Semneh. Monuments of this epoch occur at San, Abydos, Siut, Thebes, the first cataract, Semneh, the island of Argo near Dongol^ and elsewhere throughout Egypt and Nubia. The empire thus appears to have been still held together. Nevertheless, almost immediately after the close of the twelfth dynasty the land was again distracted by internal dissensions. APPENDIX in. 479 XIV. Dynasty: XoiTB. (So named from Xoia in Lower Egypt, the native place of the reigning family.) M. 2398. No known records. The rule of these northern usurpers was followed by the most tremen- dous catastrophe recorded in tho Egyptian aunaU, a catastrophe which for a second time arrested the natural development of civilisation in the Nile Vall..y. Taking advantage of the rivalry between the royal house of Thebes and the Xoite rulers in the Delta, the nomad tribes of Arabia. 8yria, and Mesopotamia overran the whole country, and for a time reduced it under their jKiwer. This was the so-called invasion of the Hyksos, or " Shep- herds," who overthrew the Middle Empire and set up the three following dynasties. Their capital was tixe<l at Tunis, near the north-east frontier, where they have left monuments more beautiful and in better taste than those of the contemporaneous dynasties in Thebais. No known records. XV. Dynasty : Hyksos, or the Shepherds. M. 2214. XVI. Dynasty : IIyksos, or the Shepherds ? XVII. Dynasty : IIyksos, or the Shepherds. 13. 1750. Nub, or Nlbti, during whose reign Joseph, son of Jacob, is said to have arrived in Egjpt, where he rose to a high jxisition. Tlie seat of empire of these foreign Shepherd Kings was at San, in the extreme north-east. But contemjioraneously with their rule in Lower Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula the native Thebon kings appear to have continuod to govern in Upper Egj-pt as tributaries or vassals of the Hyksos. In the Sullier papyrus, now in the British Museum, occurs the name of Ro.sekenen, a governor of "the southern town " (probably Thebes). An inscription in a tomb at El Kab also ret^ords the capture of Avaris, a chief stronghold of the IIyksos, by Ahmes (.Vmosis), successor of Hasekenen, and Erst king of the next dynasty. KEW EMPIRE. XVIII. Dynastij : TiiebaX. M. 1703, B. 17C0. AnMES (Amosis), who overtlirew thn foreign Hyksos invaders, and agoin raised Egypt to g^eat jjower under a native djTiasty. M. 1703, B. 1700. Amexuotep or Amukopr I. (AifENopnis), who continued the victorious career of his predecessor, and extended the limits of the empire beyond the frontiers of Egypt proper. B. IGGG. TuoniMEs I. (TnoTHMosis). a famous conqueror, who overran S>Tia, and who appears to have first intro«luced the horse into Egy]>t. At least no representations of this animal orcur on any monuments before his reign. B. 1G33. 480 APPENDIX m. TnoTHMES II., reigned a short time jointly with his sister, Queen Hatasu. B. 1600. Hatasu (Hastop, Makara, AifENNXJiTET), Continued to reign alone after the death of her brother, Thothmes II. She sent a famous expedition to the land of Punt, as commemorated in the sculptures on the walls of Dair-el-Bahri, at Thebes. TuoTMES III., another brother of Hatasu, who reigned some time jointly with her, and for many years alone after her death. He was one of the most renowned of the Egyptian monarchs, who extended his conquests far into Western Asia, and foimded the stupendous temple of Kamak at Thebes, covering its walls with inscriptions commemorating his mighty deeds, and giving long lists of the lands and peoples overcome by him. No other name occurs so frequently on monuments and remains of every kind throughout Egypt. B. 1600. Amenhotep II. B. 1566. Thothmes IY. B. 1533. Amenhotep III. Another great conqueror, who appears to have advanced the frontiers of the empire far into Ethiopia towards the equatorial regions. His glory is perpetuated by many monimients of a sumptuous character, conspicuous amongst which are those of Luxor and Kamak, besides the famous colossi of Memnon, which bear his name. B. 1500. Amexhotep IV. (or Khuenaten ?) who under the influence of his mother, a foreigner o.f Semitic race, attempted to effect a religious revolution, substituting the Semitic divinity Aten (Hormakhu, or the Sun's Orb) for the Theban god Amen. He also removed the seat of government from Thebes to the city of Khuaten, founded by him, and now known by the name of Tell-el- Amarna. His religious system was. continued by a few of his successors, but finally abolished by HoKEMHEB (HoRUs), who restored the old national worship, and brought back the seat of government to Thebes, effacing as far as possible all traces of his innovating predecessors. The question has been asked whether the Hebrews, whose numbers had enormously increased during the nine or ten generations since their first arrival in Egypt, played any part in these religious troubles, and especially in the attempt made by Amenhotep IV. to introduce a mono- theistic systom. It is noteworthy that the beginning of the persecution of the Israelites, as related in the book of Exodus, coincides almost exactly with the restoration of the royal authority and the overthrow of the usurpers. Several incidental circixmstances make it highly probable that the Pharaoh " who knew not Joseph " was the undermentioned Sethi I. of the nineteenth dynasty. The cities of Pithom and Ramses, mentioned in the Bible as having been constructed by the children of Israel con- demned to forced labour, are also frequently alluded to in the Egyptian records, and by them referred to the time of Ramses II., successor of Sethi I. According to this view the persecution of the Hebrews i§ easily explained as the natural reaction of the native priesthood when restored to power against the foreign innovators. As might be expected, the theo- logical dissensions ended in the Exodus, that is, in the expulsion of the weaker faction from tlie land of Egypt. APPENDIX nL 481 XIX. Dynattij: Tqebait. M. 1462. B. 1400. Ramses I. (Hameses). M. 1462, B. 1400. Sethi or Meeptaii I. (Setiios), a warlike princo who overran a large part of Westorn Asia, and oonstrucUHl the first canal between the Red Sea and the River Nile. Numerous monuments dating from his reign still exist at Karnak. Kumeh, Abydos, and other places, while of all the rriyal tombs on the left bank of the river at Thebes that of Sethi is in every respect the most remarkable. B. 13G6. Ramses II., surnamed the Groat, the Sesostris of whom so many fabulous events are related by the Greek historians. His triumphs are recorded not only on innumerable monuments in Egypt itself, but also on others raised by him in the countries winch he overran. Such is the rock tablet at the mouth of the Nahr-el-Kelb, near Beyrut, in Syria. During his r<'ign of sixty- seven- years he erected many famous buildings in Egjpt, bchides appro- priating some of those built by his predecessors, which now bear his cartouche. B. 1333. The true character of Ramses II. is revealed in the numerous native documents of all kinds which survive from this period. Instead of extending the limits of the empire consolidated by Thothmes III., he scarcely succeeded in keeping it together. During his reigii the colossal power built up by tlio sovereigns of the eighteenth dynasty everywhere shows symptoms of approaching decay. South, north, and west all the nations reduced by the Thothmes and Amenhoteps break out in open revolt against their Egyptian masters. Nubia is ajfit^ited. and the walls of the temples are covered with representations of the many victories gain^nl by the viceroys of Ethiopia over the rebels in this region. At the same time the northern provinces are threateno 1 and sometimes hard pres.sed by the nomad Libyans from the west, and by other strangers with " blue eyes and liglit hair " descending on the African •x>ntinent from the i.slands of the Mediterranean. Tlio reaction against Egyptian supremacy also spreads to Asia, where the warlike Ilittites, who fight with chariots, form with many other nations a formidable alliance against Ramses. After eij^hteen years of inces-saut warfare Ramses is compelled to make a treaty with the allies, leaving them in jwssession of all their territories. The terms of the treaty, which is still extant, appear to bo much more favourable to the Ilittites than to the Egyptian monarch. The more his history becomes unravelled the less the kinj? shows him- self M'orthy of the si-rname of "Great" given to him by the early interjireters of the Egyptian records. Enough is already known of liis career to justify the conclusion of Lenormant thav ho was a commonplace individuality, an unbridled despot devoured by an overvaulting ambition, and carrying his vanity so far as, wherever possible, to efface from the monuments the names of their builders and substitute his own. During his whole reign he lived on the reputation gained by an exploit performe<l when about twenty years old. Towards the close of the Hittite wars, having fallen into an ambush, he succeeded in rescuing himself and his escort by cutting his way through the ranks of the enemy. This skirmish reapi>ears continually in all the large battle-pieces sculptured on the buildings erected by him. It also forms the subject of a poem, which is the only specimen of Egyptian epic poetry that has survived to our times. 81— AF. 482 APPENDIX IH. The Book of Exodus stigmatises Kamses as a tyrant in consequence of the persecutions which he inflicted on the Hebrews. But the same judgment will bo contirmed by history as soon as all the documents have been interpreted which throw light upon his reign. The Egyptians themselves were heavily oppressed by him, and some contemporary records depict the sufferings, especially of the rural populations, in vivid colours. Sethi (Mekexpiitaii, or Meneptah) II., son and successor of Ramses II., and identified by most Egyptologists with the Pharaoh of the Bible, in whose time the Israelites were led out of Egj-pt by Moses. His reig^ began with a formidable invasion of Libyans and their allies, the Achasans Tyrrhenians (Etruscans), Laconians. Sards, and other Mediterranean populations, who entered Egypt from the north-west, wasted a large portion of the Delta, and attempted to establish an independent state in that region. But they were completely defeated near Prosopis, and thenceforth Merenphtah reigned in peace. But after his death fresh complications arose, and were continued during the reigns of all his suc- cessors till the close of the nineteenth dynasty. The so-called Harris Papyrus, now in the British Museum, gives numerous details regarding these intestine and foreign troubles, which were not concluded till the accession of Eamses IIL XX. Dynady : Thebax. M. 1288, B. 1200. Ramses III. (the Ehampsinitus of Herodotus), last of the great Egj'ptian warrior kings, whose famous deeds are commemorated on the walls of the sumptuous edifice erected by him at Medinet-Abu, Thebes. But his own wars were mainly defensive, his efforts being directed against the flood of barbaric invasion dashing with ever-increasing fury against all the frontiers of the empire, and hastening its approaching ruin. The Hittites again succeed in forming a fresh confederation, including even the Teucrians of Troy, besides the Pelasgians of the islands, the Philistines of Cyprus, and the Western Libyans. The empire is now attacked simultaneously from the north, west, and east, the Libyans falling upon the Delta, the Hittites overrunning Syria, while the fleets of the Pelasgians and Teucrians ravage the coast of Palestine. Ramses triumphed by land and sea ; nevertheless numerous Libyan tribes secure a permanent footing in the Delta, while the Philistines settle in the districts of Gaza and Ascalon, where a hundred years later the Book of Judges described them as powerful enough to resist the Hebrews advancing from the Jordan. From the time of Ramses III. Eg^^i)tian chronology acquires a sort of mathematical certainty. An astronomical date recorded on a calendar engraved on the walls of Medinet-Abu, and calculated by Biot, fixes the accession of this king in the year 1212 B.C. For the subsequent reigns the inscriptions discovered by Mariette in the tomb of the sacred tuUs at Apis determine the number of years, months, and days during which each sovereign occupied the throne. All the remaining kings of this dynasty appear to have borne the name of Ramses. But with the exception of Ramses VI. and Ramses IX.. none i i I APPENDIX m. 488 of thom were distinguishwl in the art« of jwuce or «rnr, and during their rule Egyjit continuiHi Htfudily to dtH-line in jKJwt-r luid inlluenco. Within a period uf about ono hundrt>d and fifty years all the Astatic provinces of the empire fell off ono by one, and wore never afterwards recovered. At tliis time also the high priests of Ammon at Thebes gruduully usuqted the supreme authority, and ultimntfly st'ized the crow n itHelf, although their usurpation was not acknowledged throughout the whole of Kgypt. XXI. Dynasiy : Tanitk. M. 1110, B. 1100. HiBOX, a high priest of Ammon, was the rej>utod founder of this djniasty, under which the capital was agaiu shifted northwards to San. During this period the coimtry was for the first time invaded by the Assyrians under their king, Naromath (Nimrod). 13. 1100. XXII. Dynasty: Bubastite. M. 980, B. 966. SiiESUONK or Shashakk (Sesonchis) I. This is the Shishak of the Bible, son of Nimrod, who overthrew Boboam, king of Judah, captured and plundered Jerusalem, and ruled Egypt, removing the centre of authority to Bubastis in the Delta. His wars against the Jews are commemorated in an inscrip- tion on the walls of the great hall at Kamak, where a list is given of the towns and districts conquered or ravaged by him. B. 966. Most of the princes of this dynasty bear Assyrian names, such as Kimrod, Osorkou (Sargon), and Tukeloth (Tiglath). They do not ai>pear to have been independent sovereigns, but ratlier governors or satraps, appointed by the Assyrian monarchs, or {)os&ibly adventurers from the East. It is expressly stated that the father of the first t?heshonk was a captain of armed bands, who came fi"om S^'ria to seek his fortune in Egypt. After the overthrow of the priest kings, the jjreponderance of Thebea ceased for ever. Henceforth all the dynasties belong to Lower Eg}pt, ■where they fix their residence. They do not, however, form true dynasties of native princes, but rather a gf)vemment of Mameluks, like those who afterwards ruletl EpA'jtt during medi«?val and later times. The Bubastite dynasty rapidly lost all authority, and after it had ceased to reign, Egypt was for a time divided amongst u nmnber of petty military princes practically independent of the chief monarch. During this period the descendants of tlie Theban high priests withdrew to Ethiopia, where they established a {>owerful state and laid claim to the sovereignty of all Egypt. PiAXKm, one of these princes, even overran the oountr}*, and reduced it for a short time as far as the Mediterranean. XXIII. Dynasty. Ta>ite, M. 810, B. 766. 484 APPENDIX III. XXrV. Dynasty: Saite. M. 721, B. 733. These two dynasties were formed by five kings reigning first at Tanis (San), and afterwards at Sa (Sais). But they enjoyed little more than a nominal authority in the midst of a land torn by internal dissensions and the rivalries of obscure claimants to the sovereign power. The last of them was BoKETTEANEF (BoccHORis), the legislator who, according to Manetho, reigned six years and had his residence at Sa. It M'as probably during his reign that Piankhi overran the country, as recorded on a monument discovered at Jebel-Barkal, near Meroe, in Upper Nubia. Bokeuranef was finally overthrown and put to death in the year 725 B.C., during another Ethiopian invasion under Shabak, of the following, or XXV. Dynasty: Ethiopian. M. 715, B. 700. Shabak (Sabaco), who rules over the whole of Ethiopia and Egj'pt. B. 700. Shabatak, supposed to be the So mentioned in 2 Kings xvii. 4. Takaraka, or TiRtiAKAH, also mentioned in 2 Kings xix. 9, as " King of Ethiopia." He was expelled from Lower Egypt by the Assyrians under Esarhaddon, grandson of Sennacherib, as appears from some Cuneiform writings dis- covered at Nineveh. After Esarhaddon's death the kings set up by him in the north revolted and made common cause with Tirhakah against the Assyrians. This brought on a second invasion under Esarhaddon's son, Assurbanipal, by whom both Tirhakah and his successor Urdamaneh were conquered and Thebes captured and half ruined. During these disastrous wars Egj'pt is wasted by invading hosts from east and south, and after the overthrow of Urdamaneh the northern provinces remain subject to Assyrian rule, the southern to the Ethiopians. The Assyrian monarch, however, did not govern the country directly through provincial satraps, but divided the whole of Lower Egypt amongst twelve native princes, his vassals, who paid him tribute and wore over- awed by Assyrian garrisons maintained in the chief strongholds. It is this period of government by twelve tributary kinglets to which the Greek historians apply the term Dodecarchy. An oracle had foretold that the whole of Egypt would ultimately fall to the lot of whatever prince should offer libations to the god Phtah, tutelar deity of Memphis, in a brazen vessel. One day while the twelve vassals were sacrificing in the temple the high priest presented to them the golden vases which they were accustomed to employ on these occasions. But by an oversight he brought eleven only for the twelve princes. Thereupon Psammeticus, Prince of Sais, who had probably arranged the matter beforehand, took his brazen helmet and used it to pour out his libations. But for a time the jealousy of his rivals compelled him to withdraw to the swamps of the Delta. Then courting the assistance of Greek and Carian APPENDIX 111. 486 adventurers, hy their means ho reduced all the other kings of Ix>wer Ejjj'pt, Tanquishing them ut the dociHivu buttle of MomemjthiH. Ho followed up this success by throwing off the yoke of the AsHyriun monanhs, and after expelling the Ethiopians from the Thebais, once more established a united Egypt from the Mediterranean to the Nubian frontier. Thus was founded the XXVI. Dynasty: Satte. M. 665, B. 666. PsAMMETiCHUS (Psametik) I., undor whom the Greeks for the first time obtained a permanent footing in Lower Egypt, chiefly as mercenaries and traders in the Mediterranean seaports. 13. 666. He encouraged foreign trade, establisheil continuous relations with Greece and I'hoenicia, and thus broke away from the old traditions of isolation and sec^lusion which had formed the guiding principle in the policy of the native sovereigns for many generations. Necho (Neco), son of Psametik I., who equipped a fleet to circumnavigate Africa, and attempted to reopen Sethi's canal between the Nile and the Red Sea. He warred at first successfully against the Assyrians, overthrowing their ally Josiah, King of Judah, at the battle of Megiddo ; but was himself ultimately defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Kar-Khemish, in the Euphrates Valley. B. 612. But this check was compensated by a great increase of internal prosperity and the development of commercial relations with the surrounding nations. In his time the native arts and industries again experienced a short and last revival on the banks of the Nile. PSAMMETICHUS II. B. 596. HoPHEA (Uahbra), or Apries, son of Psammetichus II., during whose reign many Jews settled in Egypt. He went to the oid of Zetlekiah, who was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar ; but afterwards withdrew, allowing tlie Babylonians to capture the city and destroy the kingdom of Judah. His fleets gained some considerable triumphs in the Syrian waters ; but he was afterwards completely defeated in a war against the Greeks of Cyrene, who had already acquired great political power. Thereupon his army revolted, and proclaimed king his general Ahmes. Hophra was dethroned and put to death by the rebels in 671 B.C. Ahmes (Amasis), under whose long and flourishing reign Egypt recovered much of her former greatness. Amasis was a fortunate p.nd able rtder, who distin- guished himself in the arts of war and peace. He even extended the limits of the monarchy by the acquisition of the island of Cyprus, which had been successively subject to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. Of all the kings of this dynasty Ahmes most favoured the Greeks, and during his reign they were encouraged by man}' i>rivileges to settle in the country. In the Delta was now founde<l the Hellenic city of Naucratis, whose prosperity already foreshadowed that of the neighbouring Alexan- dria. Nevertheless this momentary revival of the ancient glories of the Egyptian empire could scarcely disguise the inherent weakness and decay of the national 486 APPE^^)IX III. institutions. Based exclusively on conservative principles and on the spirit of seclusion, the Egyptian civilisation could maintain its ground only by continuing changeless. As soon as it came in direct contact with the outer world, and especially with the spirit of progress as personified in the Hellenic race and culture, it was doomed to perish. The military caste having nearly all migrated southwards, the nation remained disarmed and at the mercy of foreign conquerors. Strangers detested by the people had been entrusted with the defence of the empire, and public discontent gradually broke into open revolt. A daring adventurer had already siezed the tlirone, establishing the twenty-sixth dynastj', and he had found the country so ripe for change that he showed himself even more favourably disposed than his predeces- sors to the foreigners. For a time this policy tended to enrich the nation by the development of its commercial relations with the neighbouring states. But it ended by exciting the cupidity of the foreign settlers and mercenaries. "When these turned their arms against their employers, Egypt had nothing to oppose to them except an unarmed midtitude unaccustomed to military service. Hence soon after the accession of PsAMMETiCHUS III., son of Ahmes, a single campaign sufficed to extinguish the political independence of Egypt. This sovereign was overthrown at Pelusium, on the north-east frontier, by Cambyses, King of Persia, who speedily reduced the whole country to the position of a Persian satrajiy, 528 B.C. XXYII. Dynasty: Peksi-aji. M. and B. 527. Cambyses. 527. Darius Hystaspes. 521. Xerxes I. 486. Artaxerxes Longimanus. 465. Darius Nothos. XXVin. Dynasty: Saite. M. and B. 406. Amyet^eus, who succeeded in expelling the Persians and restoring the ancient Egyptian monarchy, fixing his capital at Sa. Eeigned six years. XXIX. Dynasty: Mekdesian. M. and B. 399. Naifatjktjt (Nepherites) I. Hakok (Achoris). psemaut (psammuthis). Naifaijrut II. This short djmasty (399 — 378) maintained the national independence, and ruled the whole country from its capital, Mendes, in Lower Eg}-pt. APPENDIX m. 487 XXX. Dynatty: BKBBxmm. M. and B. 378. Nectanebo I. Defeated the Persians and ruled for eighteen years in peace. Taciios, who, aided by the Simrtans under AgesilauM, rfi>eUed the Persian invasion conducted by Artuxt-rxes Muemon. Nectanebo II., last native king of Eg^'pt, overthrown by Artaxerxes Ochus, who restored the Persian rule, reducing the country to a Persian satrapy. 8ince then Egypt never recovered hor political independence, and has been governed by foreigners or foreign dynasties. XXXI. Dynasty: Pebsiax. M. and B. 340. Artaxerxes Ochus. Darius III. ^Codomanus), overthrown by Alexander the Great XXXII. Dynasty : Macedoxiax. 332. Alexaxder, founded Alexandria. XXXIII. Dynasty : Greek or Ptolemaic. 305. Ptolemy Lagus or Soteu, natural son of Pliilip of Mocedon. and one of the best generals of Alexander, soon after whose death he founded the Lagide or Greek dynasty, which comprised the whole of Egj'pt, Libya, and part of Arabia. To these possessions after the death of Perdiccas were added Coele-Syria, I'hoonicia, Judsea, and the island of Cyprus. He made Alexandria the capital of his empire, and here he built the famous Pharos or lighthouse, one of the " seven wonders " of the ancient world. He was a grout patron of letters and founder of tlie academy and museum of Alexandria. Ptolemy Philadelphus, 286, son and successor of Ptolemy Soter, sumamed Philadel- phus, or " brother- loving," in irony from the circumstance that he put to death two of his brothers; developed commercial enterprise, encouraged literature, and caused the Hebrew Bible to be translated into Greek in the still extant version known as the Septuagint. Plotemy Eueroetes I., 247, son of Ptolemy Philadolphus, who in a war declared against Seleucus Callinicus, overran Syria and Cilicia. But his victorious career was arrested by a revolt of his Egyptian subjects, which, however, was soon suppressed. The title of Euergt-tcs, or " Benefactor," was earned by his prudent and beneticent administration. Ptolbut Philopator, 222, ironically named the •' father-loving," for his cruelty in putting to death his father, as well as his motlier, brother, sister, and uncle. He also at first jn^rsecuted the Jews, exposing tliem, as is said, to the fury of his elephants. But when these animals instead of do488 APPENDIX in. Btrojnng his intended victims turned upon his own subjects, he conceived a great respect for the Jewish i)eople, loading them with many favours. Ptolemy Epiphanes, 205, or the "Illustrious," succeeded his father, Philopator, at the age of fourteen, and during his minority was compelled to cede many of his possessions to the victorious Antiochus the Great, King of Syria. These, however, were afterwards restored as a dowry when Antiochus gave his daughter in marriage to Ptolemy. Ptolemy Piiilometor, 182, son of Ptolemy Epiphanes, who in a war with Antiochus Epiphanes was taken prisoner and held captive in Syria. Thereupon the Egyptians raised his brother Physcon to the throne ; but he was deposed and Philomctor restored by Antiochus. Ptolemy Physcon, 146, brother of Philometor, after whose death he again ascended the throne. He was a detestable tyrant, who on two occasions ordered a general massacre of the citizens of Alexandria, and put his own son Memphitis to death. Ptolemy Lathyrus, 117, so called from an excrescence on his nose resembling a pea, son of Ptolemy Physcon, who soon after his accession was banished to Cyprus by his mother Cleopatra. The crown was then bestowed on his brother Ptolemy Alexander, after whose death Lathyrus resumed the sceptre. lie invaded Judroa, and wasted the country with fire and sword. Ptolemy Auletes, 81, that is, the "flute-player," illegitimate son of Lathyrus, surrendered Cyprus to the Eomans, also agreeing to pay them a large tribute. This caused a revolt amongst his subjects, by whom his daughter Berenice was placed on the throne. But by the assistance of his allies Auletes recovered possession of his estates, and put Berenice to death. Ptolemy Bacchus, or Dioxysius, 51, son of Auletes, reigned jointly with his sister Cleopatra, whom he married in accordance with the will of his father. In his time Pompey, after the battle of Pharsalia, fled to Egypt, and was murdered on landing at Alexandria. In the war that ensued with the Eomans he was defeated and drowned in the Nile. Cleopatra was then reseated on the throne by Csesar, and reigned jointly wuth a younger brother, Ptolemy, whom, however, she afterwards poisoned. After the battle of Actium she avoided falling into the hands of Octavius by com- mitting suicide. "With her the dynasty of the Ptolemies ended, and Egypt became a Roman province under the Emperor Augustus. Since then the country has continued to be ruled by foreigners or by foreign dynasties. i