September 3, 2025 • 29 mins
Dive into the captivating history of Egypt, exploring its journey from ancient times to the moment of Alexander the Greats conquest. This engaging overview delves into the remarkable development of Egyptian civilization, touching on science, religion, art, language, and literature. Written for curious minds without any prior knowledge of Egypt, this book uses clear and relatable language to make the rich tapestry of Egypts past accessible to everyone. (Summary by Beth Thomas)
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter eight of History of Egypt. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. History
of Egypt by F. C. H. Wendel. Chapter eight, The
Ethiopians and Assyrians in Egypt Dynasties twenty three, twenty four
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and twenty five eight hundred to six forty five b c.
Section one Dynasty twenty three, the disintegration of Egypt and
the first Ethiopian invasion already under Sheshenk the Third. Thebes
seems to have been lost to the Libyan dynasty. The
last monument that mentions any king of the twenty second
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dynasty in Karnak is dated from the twenty ninth year
of Sheshenk's reign, and after the loss of Thebes, these
kings were confined to the Delta. Four kings are mentioned
in the inscription of King Piangki, but we know little
of any one of them. They are usu ar Ken
of Bubastis, probably the same man as usar Ken the third,
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the last of the Bibastides, a alpet of Klisma, Nemart
of Ramunu, Hermopolis and Pef dead Bast of Renensuten Heracleopolis.
Manitho states that Pef deed Bast, whom he calls Petubastis,
reigned forty years. A notice preserved by Amian to the
effect that in his time the Phoenicians had suddenly attacked
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and taken Thebes is probably a faint recollection of the
Ethiopian invasion. At all events, The inscription of Piangxi, which
mentions besides these four kings, sixteen rulers of smaller districts
amply proves that Egypt was at this time completely disintegrated.
The rise of Ethiopia we have seen that for many
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centuries Ethiopia was an Egyptian province, but it would seem
that at the close of the twenty first dynasty it
gradually emancipated itself from Egypt. In the times of the
twenty second dynast, Ethiopia was no longer under Egyptian rule.
Several historians have attempted to bring into connection the fall
of the twenty first dynasty and the establishment of the
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Ethiopian Kingdom by assuming that the heirs of Pasebranu had
fled before Sheshenk the first to that country early in
the tenth century, before the Common Era, and had founded
a theocratic government there. This hypothesis is in some measure
confirmed by the name of the first Ethiopian invader of Egypt, Pianchi,
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a name that occurs also in the times of the
priest kings. There is, not, however, sufficient proof to assert
this as an established fact. Be that as it may.
We find that about the time of the twenty second dynasty,
Ethiopia had become an independent kingdom. The capital was Napata,
at the foot of the Gebel Barkal, where Amenhotep the
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third had erected a temple to amun Rah. The centuries
of dependents had firmly established Egyptian civilization. In Ethiopia. The
religion was that of Amunrah, though it was carried out
to consequences unknown. In Egypt, the priests had an almost
absolute power in the name of Amon. The kings went
out on their wars. They were entirely dependent on his
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prophecies and oracles as interpreted by the priests. They strictly
observed the laws regarding cleanliness and all the minute details
of the ritual. Thus they put into practice what had
been mere theory. In Egypt, a long inscription relates how
the king was chosen directly through an oracle of Amunrah,
thus confirming the account given by Diodorus. The priests had
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moreover the right to command the king in the name
of Ahmon to commit suicide, a pernicious practice that her
Gamines in the third century v c. Put a stop to.
It is then not to be wondered at that the
Egyptian priests described Ethiopia to the Greek tourists as a
promised land. The titulature of the kings was modeled after
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that of the Pharaohs. The official language of the realm
the Egyptian, with some dialectic peculiarities, the script and the
older inscriptions as hieroglyphic. Gradually the language changed more and more,
becoming surcharged with Ethiopian elements, and at last it has
changed to such an extent as to be completely unintelligible.
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The script also changed. With time. A cursive form known
as the Meroitic demodic script arose, which no one has
yet succeeded in deciphering. In this script, most of the
Ethiopic inscriptions are written, and it is only after this
has been deciphered that we can gain a clear picture
of the history of the New Ethiopian Kingdom. Early in
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the eighth century BC, the new Kingdom was strong enough
to attack Egypt. The disintegration of Egypt offered the then
Ethiopian ruler Piangti a fine opportunity of subduing the country
that had so long held his native land in subjugation.
He invaded Egypt and seems to have found but little resistance.
The inscription which treats of his Egyptian campaign enumerates the
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twenty sovereigns who at that time ruled Egypt. One Hussar
Ken King of perbastt Bubastis in the Delta, two Alpet
King of ten Remu Klisma in the Delta. Three Nemart
King of Munu Hermopolis, Magna Ashmunain and Upper Egypt. Four
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Pef ded Bast, King of Renensuten Heracleopolis, Magna Ahnes in
Upper Egypt. Five Tefnacht, Prince of sah Sees and men
Nepher Memphis. Six Sheschenk, Chief of mercenaries in Perusiri Busiris
in the Delta. Seven ched Amon alf Ankh, Chief of
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Mercenaries in perbanebded Mendes in the Delta. Eight angh Hor,
chief of mercenaries in per upro heh Hermopolis. Nine Bekennef
Hereditary Prince ten Nessnaketi, chief of mercenaries in the city
of casset Coois in the Delta. Eleven Pedubast, Chief of
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mercenaries in hert heriab Athribis in the Delta, twelve Patentfh,
chief of mercenaries in Persult, capital of the twentieth Lower
Egyptian Nomes. Thirteen Pama, chief of mercenaries in pasasrek Busiris,
fourteen necht Hoor Nachenu, chief of mercenaries in per herrere Fegroriopolis.
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Fifteen Padu Horsan Tawi, Priest of Horace in sechem Cetapolis,
sixteen Herobusa, Prince of Saiut, Siut and Hesawi seventeen Chetria,
Prince of the city of Frentz Nefher eighteen Babas, Prince
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of Errao, Babylon and Perhapi Nilopolis, nineteen a chief of mercenaries,
and Tannis twenty a chief of mercenaries in Ostrassin. These
kings and princes seemed to have offered but little or
no resistance to the Ethiopian invader, and who have remained
tranquil under his control for some time. But the spirit
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of liberty was not dead in the land of Pemet.
In the twenty first year of Piangchi's reign, an attempt
was made by Tefnacht, Prince of Sais and Memphis, who
was by far the mightiest of these petty sovereigns, to
deliver Egypt from the Ethiopian domination. He succeeded in uniting
the many petty rulers of Lower and Middle Egypt under
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his leadership. Then he sailed up the Nile and everywhere
the cities opened their gates to him. At Renensuten, he
met with the first resistance. King Pefdedbast, seemed determined to
maintain his separate sovereignty under Piankhi's protection. The city was
besieged and taken, but Pefdedbast joined the alliance in only
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a half hearted manner. The allies now proceeded south and
at Hmunu were joined by King Nemmart, who became one
of the most useful members of the coalition. They then
went against thebes matters were now becoming serious, and Pianghi,
on hearing of what was going on, ordered poa Armah
and Ramersegni, his lord lieutenants in Upper Egypt, to oppose
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the progress of the rebellion. They immediately took active measures
and began the siege of Rmulu. To aid in their operations,
the Ethiopian king had sent an army north. As they
approached Thebes. On their fleet, they encountered Tefnacht's fleet. A
battle ensued in which the Egyptians were defeated, leaving Ramersegni
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and po Armah to take Mulu. The Ethiopians pursued the
leeing Egyptians northward. The Egyptians made a stand at Renensuten,
which city was the key of the Fayoum. Here, two
battles occurred on succeeding days. The first was fought on
the Nile, possibly the Egyptians sought to prevent the enemy
from landing. The second was fought on the river bank
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at Perpek, a town near Renensuten. In both these battles,
the patriots were defeated with heavy loss. Meanwhile, Khmunu had
fallen and Nemart, hearing of this determined to retake his capital.
Marching rapidly south, he laid siege to the town, and,
after defeating several sallies made by the Ethiopian garrison, recaptured it.
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Thus matters stood when Pianchi determined to come north and
conduct the campaign in person. Before he started, however, his
troops had gained some further advantages, taking several smaller fortresses,
of which the most important was Tatahen. This strong fort
was taken by storm after a most determined resistance. Among
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the slain was one of Tefnacht's sons. Finally, the king came.
After celebrating a religious festival at Thebes, he marched against Ramunu.
A regular siege was commenced, a high wall was built
around the town, and a shower of arrows and stones
was thrown into the city. Three days the town held out,
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but finally Nemart was compelled to surrender and pay tribute.
Pefted bast of Renensuten came up the stream and paid
homage to Pianghi, bringing him costly presents. His ready submission
proved that he had joined Tefnacht much against his will,
and inclined the king to be gracious Pianchi now sailed
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down stream to per Sergem reperat i Lahoun, a strong
fortress in the northern part of the Fayoum, which was
surrendered on the first summons. Just north of this lay
the stronghold of meritumbe Maydoum, which seemed inclined to hold out.
A peremptory summons, leaving the city the choice between immediate
surrender and a massacre of its garrison in case of
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a storm, however, brought the commandant to terms. At the
northern boundary of Upper Egypt, there was a strongly fortified
city which was also surrendered on Piangchi's approach. This left
the way open to Memphis. The city was very strongly fortified.
Tefnacht had laid in it a garrison of eight thousand
men and then gone north, probably to collect reinforcements. The
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Ethiopian monarch hesitated about storming the sacred city and summoned
it to surrender, offering to enter the city peaceably, as
his only desire in coming to Memphis was to pay
his homage to the gods. But Memphis was the key
of the delta, and the garrison was determined to hold
out besides, Tefnacht's reinforcements could be expected daily. The king
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therefore ordered his soldiers to storm the town. They effected
a landing in the harbor of Memphis, and scaling the walls,
were soon masters of the city. Many of the garrison
and of the citizens fell in the combat, and many
others were carried off as prisoners of war. The city
was plundered, but the temples were spared, a guard having
been set over them. Pianghi remained in Memphis several days,
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partly to take part in several religious festivals, and partly
to receive the tribute to several princes and grand dukes
of the Ma that came here to offer their submission.
He next advanced to ann Heliopolis, where he attended some
other religious festivals and received the submission of a number
of other princes, among them usar Ken, king of Eubastus.
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Then he went to hot hedy ab Arthrabis, where he
received the submission of the last remaining rebellious princes except Tefnacht.
This leader, deserted by all his allies, determined to make
a last stand for freedom, raising the walls and burning
down the treasury buildings of Sais. He retired to the
island city of Mess in the Nile and strongly entrenched himself.
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Prince Peptubast of Arthrabis was sent against him with strong detachment.
A battle ensued in which Tefnacht was defeated and his
army annihilated. Tefnacht now sent messengers to Pianchi, offering to surrender.
The king sent him two ambassadors, in whose presence he
swore the oath of allegiance. Two cities that had hitherto
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held out now also surrendered. The rebellion was crushed. After
holding a grand reception of the princes, Pianchi returned home,
his ships laden down with the tribute and booty won
in the war. Pianqui reigned in all forty years, but
he had no further occasion to interfere in Egypt. This
was owing to his wise policy. He left all of
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the old princes in possession of their lands, and thus
bound them to his person, as they owed their sovereignty
to his grace. Moreover, a disunited Egypt was no menace
to him, and the bickerings among the various petty kings
could at any time furnish him a pretext for invading
the country. That he was determined to prevent the union
of these princes was proved by the Great campaign against
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Tefnacht and his allies. He had no idea of holding
the country, but retired after having effectively choked Tefnacht's attempt
to unite the various petty states into a great kingdom.
Section two. The twenty fourth dynasty Seyetic b c. Seven
thirty four to seven twenty eight. Beckn Renf, the only
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king of this dynasty, seems to have succeeded in doing
what Tefnacht had attempted over nineteen years before. According to Diodorus,
who calls him Bochhoris, he was the son of t Nephathos,
who is no doubt identical with Tefnacht. For about six
years he ruled undisturbed by the Ethiopians. All we know
of him from the monuments is that he buried an
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APIs at Memphis in the sixth year of his reign.
In Ethiopia, Kashta had succeeded Pianghi. This monarch was married
to Shepinopet, a daughter of King usar Khin of Eubastus.
Their son Shabaka succeeded him and immediately determined to conquer Egypt.
He could lay a certain claim to the Egyptian throne,
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as his mother was a daughter of the last Bubastide king.
In invading the country, he defeated Becken Renf Manitho states
that he burned him alive and compelled the various petty
kings to acknowledge his sovereignty. Section three The twenty fifth
Dynasty Ethiopians the Assyrian Invasions seven twenty eight to six
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forty five b C. Shabaka the Sabakon of the Greeks,
Saw of the Bible, and shabe of the Assyrians seven
twenty eight to seven twenty six b C. Herododus relates
that Sabakon the Ethiopian had conquered Egypt and had left
it after a race of fifty years in consequence of
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a dream. Diodorus comes nearer the truth when he states
that four Ethiopian kings ruled Egypt for thirty six years.
Shabaka took the title of king of Upper and Lower Egypt,
but appointed his sister Amanerdas, who was married to a
man named Piangi, regent of the country. The Greek authors
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praise this ruler highly. He is reputed to have abolished
capital punishment, substituting hard labor for it. This pharaoh became
mixed up in Asiatic affairs. King Hosea of Israel had
joined other Syrian monarchs in a rebellion against Salmanasser, the
fourth King of Assyria, and the allies had sent to
Shabaka asking his assistance. The plot was discovered, Hosea was
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called to Assyria and thrown into prison. Salmanasser invested Samaria
about seven twenty five b C, but died before the
city fell. His successor, Shahrukinu Sargon the second, continued the
siege and took the city in seven twenty two b C.
Shortly after a new coalition was formed, at the head
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of which stood King Ilubid of Hamath. This coalition embraced
besides Hamath, Arpad, Semaira, Damascus, Gaza, and Egypt. Sargon, however,
was too quick for the Allies. Before Shabaka could join them,
Sargon met and routed their forces at Kharkar. He now
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moved southward and met Shabaka, who had meanwhile been joined
by King Hanno of Gaza at Rafia. The Allies were
badly defeated and Hanno was taken prisoner seven twenty b C.
Sargon could not follow up his victory and invade Egypt,
as events had meanwhile occurred in the North, which called
him to the new seat of war, but he had
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gained his purpose. Shabaka was badly crippled and even sent tribute.
This pharaoh died died about seven sixteen b C. Shabataka
seven point fifteen to seven O three b C, the
successor of Shabaka, is a king of whom we do
not know much. Despite the fact that he reigned twelve years,
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he seems to have done little in Asia. He did
not interfere. Probably the defeat of Shabaka at Rafia had
been so complete as either to cripple Egypt for years,
or at least to discourage her rulers from attacking Assyria again.
Taharka seven O two to six sixty two b C.
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This king was, in all probability not of royal parentage,
but came to the throne by marrying Shabataka's widow. He
was twenty years of age when he ascended the throne.
Young and active, he was willing to restore to Egypt
its former prestige. Meanwhile, Sargon had been assassinated and his
son seen Ahi Edib Sanharib had ascended the Assyrian throne
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seven O five b C. Immediately, a new coalition was
formed against Assyria. Elulius of Tire, Hezekiah of Judah, and
Zidka of Ascalon formed a league and called upon Taharka
for assistance. Marduk Baladin, the Chaldean ruler of Babylon, was
also drawn into the league and conducted negotiations with Hezekiah.
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King Padi of Akaron, who had refused to join the rebels,
was deposed and turned over to Hezekiah. This mighty coalition,
if properly handled, would have been a match for the Assyrians,
but Sanheib was too quick for them. In seven O
one b C. He entered Syria and subdued Alilius. Then,
going south, he took Ascalon and Akoron. At Altacou, he
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met and defeated Taharka, who had attempted to check him.
After taking Altaku and some other towns, Sanharib marched on Jerusalem.
Hezekiah submitted, and Badhi was restored to his kingdom. The
rebellion was not however, crushed. As yet, Hezekiah continued his
negotiations with Taharka, who had returned to Egypt to collect
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a new army. Sanhib, hearing of this, accused the Jewish
king of treason and threatened him with destruction. Relying on
Jehovah and the King of Egypt, Hezekiah boldly held out
Jerusalem was besieged. Meanwhile, Taharka was coming to the aid
of his ally with a new army. Sanhib advanced to
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meet him, but his army was so reduced by pestilence
that he had to retire without giving battle. The story
of the Bible is well known. The Angel of the
Lord smote the Assyrian army in the night, and one
hundred and eighty five thousand men died, whereupon Sanharib had
to retire. Herodotus has a somewhat different version of the affair.
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He relates that after the Ethiopian Sabakon, a pious priest
of tah named Cephos ruled in Egypt. He denied his
soldiers certain privileges and thus gained their enmity. When Sanacharib,
king of the Arabians and Assyrians, marched against Egypt, they
refused to fight, and Sethos was placed in a sad predicament.
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He prayed to the gods for aid, and they sent
out mice that ate up the bows and belts of
the Assyrian army encamped about Pelusium during the night, so
that the Egyptian merchants and mechanics could easily defeat them
next day. The first Assyrian invasion. Sanharib never returned to Palestine.
He was assassinated in sixt eighty one b S and
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his son Assar Haddon Ashur Ahiden ascended the throne. Trouble
between him and Taharka began in six seventy two b
C when King Baal of Tire, relying on promises of
assistance from Taharka, rebelled against Assyria. Assar Haddan, now determined
to put an end to Egyptian interference, a detachment of
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his army besieged Tire, while the main body marched against Egypt.
The prince of the Bedouins, dwelling on the Egyptian border,
gladly furnished camels and water, and thus the difficult march
from Raffia to Pelusium was accomplished without serious loss. Taharka
seems to have offered but little resistance, for the Assyrian
army entered Memphis, and soon after Thebes also was taken
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and sacked. Taharka fled to Ethiopia. After these victories, Asserhaddan
styled himself King of Mussur Lower Egypt, Patrus Upper Egypt,
and Kush Ethiopia. The land itself was left under the
control of twenty independent petty sovereigns as follows. One Niku
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Nekao of Mimbi, Memphis and Sai Sayus. Two Sharru Ladari
of Tirnu, three Pisanhu of Nathu Natho, four Pacruru of
Bishoptu persopt the capital of the Normos Arabia, the twentieth
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Lower Egyptian Nome. Five puc Nannipi Bekenneph of Hathhiribe hatheriab Athrabis,
six Nahki Aghenenchi Renensuten, seven Pitubisti Pedubast of Zaunu Thanas
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eight Unamunu of Natu, nine Horsiaishu of Tamuti, chebnuter Sebenethos,
ten Puama Pimai of Bindidi Perbanebdad equals Mendes eleven, Sudzinku
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Sheshenk of Pusiri Perusiri Busyris, twelve, tap Nochti Tefnacht of
Punubu pernub thirteen, Pukunanni Epi of Ahni fourteen, Iptihardishu of
Pisati Hurunpi fifteen, Nohti Huruantini necht hor Nachenu of pishab
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Di Nuti sixteen, Bukur Ninip of Pahnuti seventeen Ziha of
Ziaotu Siout eighteen, Lamentu of Himuni Munu, nineteen Ishbimatu of
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Tahani Tenni Fi twenty mante Piangi Mentuemhat of Niri Thebes.
It is impossible for us to identify those of the
Assyrian names of Egyptian princes and cities, the Egyptian names
of which we have not given. The mightiest of these
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princes was Necao Assyrian Nikou Greek Neko, prince of Memphis,
and says, according to Manitho six seventy one the six
sixty three BC, he was the favorite of Asser Hadden.
At this monarch's request, Necao changed the name of Seyis
to Karbel Matati garden of the Lord of Lands, and
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gave his son Pemtek the Assyrian name Nabu shzib Anni.
Shortly after the conquest of Egypt, Asser Hadden resigned the
crown in favor of his son Asser Banipal about six
sixty eight b C. The second Assyrian invasion. This change
in the rulers of Assyria encouraged to Harkla to attempt
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the delivery of Egypt from Assyrian rule. He advanced on
thieves Assyrian nil and meant to emhat. Assyrian Mantipianchi received
him with open arms, hailing him as a deliverer. Memphis
was taken soon after, and the Ethiopian proceeded to make
himself at home in Egypt. When aser Banipal heard of this,
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he at once determined to punish the Ethiopians. He advanced
to Karbana, a town north of Memphis, where he met
and utterly routed to Harta's forces. The king himself, who
had remained at Memphis, on hearing of this defeat, at
once fled to Thebes, which city he abandoned on the
approach of the Assyrian army without a battle about six
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sixty seven b C. Meanwhile, the Egyptian princes, under the
leadership of Necao of Seis, Charladari of Tannis, and Pakruru
of Persopt had opened negotiations with Taharka, inviting him to
renew his attack and promising their support. Their letters were, however,
intercepted and the conspirators were arrested. Proof against them was
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not wanting, but the Assyrian king evidently thought it wise
policy not to punish them. They were left in possession
of their holdings, but had to bare allegiance to Asserbanepal. Necao,
the favorite of his father, was sent home loaded down
with presents, and his son Nabu Chesibanni, was appointed governor
general of Egypt. Aser Banipal hoped to gain a powerful
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ally in this manner, and he was not disappointed. In
the Greek accounts, to Harklaw figures as a great hero
and conqueror. Strabo relates that he reached the columns of Hercules,
the westernmost point of northern Africa, on one of his campaigns,
and according to Magosthenes, he led his army to India
and thence to the Pontus and Thrace. In his inscriptions,
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he poses as a mighty conqueror. Fourteen Negro tribes are
mentioned as subdued in Ethiopia. The list of conquered nations
he had inscribed on the walls of the Temple of
Karnak is copied word for word from that of Rameses
the second and even mentions among other states. Asser. While
we know he was several times whipped by the Assyrians,
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at Gabelbarkal, he built two temples, and at Karnak he
repaired portions of the Great Temple of Amon Rah and
of the Temple of mut. He died about six sixty
four b s. Tanawat Amon and the third Assyrian invasion.
The step son of Taharka ascended the Ethiopian throne about
six sixty four b C. An inscription found at the
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Gabelbarkal relates that this king had been encouraged by a
dream that promised him the crown of Egypt to invade
that country. Elephantine and Thebes hailed him as a deliverer.
Memphis resisted but was taken after a battle. It is
very probable that Necau, prince of Memphis, and Saeus, who
died about this time six sixty four b SI, fell
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in one of the battles with tanawat Amon. When he
was at Memphis, a deputation of Egyptian princes headed by
Pakruru of Persopt offered their submission. The others withdrew to
their fortresses and refused to yield. Tanuwat Amon evidently did
not feel strong enough to attack them and preferred to
return to Memphis, where he had long theological arguments with
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those princes who submitted. When aser Banipal heard of this
new Ethiopian invasion by ur Damani, as the Assyrian inscriptions
called tanawat Amon, he sent an army against him. The
Ethiopians immediately withdrew before the approach of the Assyrians and
fled to Ethiopia. Thus, about six sixty two b C.
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Was driven from Egypt, the last Ethiopian king who dared
invade the country. End of chapter eight recording by Owen
Cook in Potawatamie ceded land
Chapter eight of History of Egypt. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. History
of Egypt by F. C. H. Wendel. Chapter eight, The
Ethiopians and Assyrians in Egypt Dynasties twenty three, twenty four
(00:23):
and twenty five eight hundred to six forty five b c.
Section one Dynasty twenty three, the disintegration of Egypt and
the first Ethiopian invasion already under Sheshenk the Third. Thebes
seems to have been lost to the Libyan dynasty. The
last monument that mentions any king of the twenty second
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dynasty in Karnak is dated from the twenty ninth year
of Sheshenk's reign, and after the loss of Thebes, these
kings were confined to the Delta. Four kings are mentioned
in the inscription of King Piangki, but we know little
of any one of them. They are usu ar Ken
of Bubastis, probably the same man as usar Ken the third,
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the last of the Bibastides, a alpet of Klisma, Nemart
of Ramunu, Hermopolis and Pef dead Bast of Renensuten Heracleopolis.
Manitho states that Pef deed Bast, whom he calls Petubastis,
reigned forty years. A notice preserved by Amian to the
effect that in his time the Phoenicians had suddenly attacked
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and taken Thebes is probably a faint recollection of the
Ethiopian invasion. At all events, The inscription of Piangxi, which
mentions besides these four kings, sixteen rulers of smaller districts
amply proves that Egypt was at this time completely disintegrated.
The rise of Ethiopia we have seen that for many
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centuries Ethiopia was an Egyptian province, but it would seem
that at the close of the twenty first dynasty it
gradually emancipated itself from Egypt. In the times of the
twenty second dynast, Ethiopia was no longer under Egyptian rule.
Several historians have attempted to bring into connection the fall
of the twenty first dynasty and the establishment of the
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Ethiopian Kingdom by assuming that the heirs of Pasebranu had
fled before Sheshenk the first to that country early in
the tenth century, before the Common Era, and had founded
a theocratic government there. This hypothesis is in some measure
confirmed by the name of the first Ethiopian invader of Egypt, Pianchi,
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a name that occurs also in the times of the
priest kings. There is, not, however, sufficient proof to assert
this as an established fact. Be that as it may.
We find that about the time of the twenty second dynasty,
Ethiopia had become an independent kingdom. The capital was Napata,
at the foot of the Gebel Barkal, where Amenhotep the
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third had erected a temple to amun Rah. The centuries
of dependents had firmly established Egyptian civilization. In Ethiopia. The
religion was that of Amunrah, though it was carried out
to consequences unknown. In Egypt, the priests had an almost
absolute power in the name of Amon. The kings went
out on their wars. They were entirely dependent on his
(03:13):
prophecies and oracles as interpreted by the priests. They strictly
observed the laws regarding cleanliness and all the minute details
of the ritual. Thus they put into practice what had
been mere theory. In Egypt, a long inscription relates how
the king was chosen directly through an oracle of Amunrah,
thus confirming the account given by Diodorus. The priests had
(03:36):
moreover the right to command the king in the name
of Ahmon to commit suicide, a pernicious practice that her
Gamines in the third century v c. Put a stop to.
It is then not to be wondered at that the
Egyptian priests described Ethiopia to the Greek tourists as a
promised land. The titulature of the kings was modeled after
(03:56):
that of the Pharaohs. The official language of the realm
the Egyptian, with some dialectic peculiarities, the script and the
older inscriptions as hieroglyphic. Gradually the language changed more and more,
becoming surcharged with Ethiopian elements, and at last it has
changed to such an extent as to be completely unintelligible.
(04:18):
The script also changed. With time. A cursive form known
as the Meroitic demodic script arose, which no one has
yet succeeded in deciphering. In this script, most of the
Ethiopic inscriptions are written, and it is only after this
has been deciphered that we can gain a clear picture
of the history of the New Ethiopian Kingdom. Early in
(04:40):
the eighth century BC, the new Kingdom was strong enough
to attack Egypt. The disintegration of Egypt offered the then
Ethiopian ruler Piangti a fine opportunity of subduing the country
that had so long held his native land in subjugation.
He invaded Egypt and seems to have found but little resistance.
The inscription which treats of his Egyptian campaign enumerates the
(05:04):
twenty sovereigns who at that time ruled Egypt. One Hussar
Ken King of perbastt Bubastis in the Delta, two Alpet
King of ten Remu Klisma in the Delta. Three Nemart
King of Munu Hermopolis, Magna Ashmunain and Upper Egypt. Four
(05:27):
Pef ded Bast, King of Renensuten Heracleopolis, Magna Ahnes in
Upper Egypt. Five Tefnacht, Prince of sah Sees and men
Nepher Memphis. Six Sheschenk, Chief of mercenaries in Perusiri Busiris
in the Delta. Seven ched Amon alf Ankh, Chief of
(05:51):
Mercenaries in perbanebded Mendes in the Delta. Eight angh Hor,
chief of mercenaries in per upro heh Hermopolis. Nine Bekennef
Hereditary Prince ten Nessnaketi, chief of mercenaries in the city
of casset Coois in the Delta. Eleven Pedubast, Chief of
(06:17):
mercenaries in hert heriab Athribis in the Delta, twelve Patentfh,
chief of mercenaries in Persult, capital of the twentieth Lower
Egyptian Nomes. Thirteen Pama, chief of mercenaries in pasasrek Busiris,
fourteen necht Hoor Nachenu, chief of mercenaries in per herrere Fegroriopolis.
(06:44):
Fifteen Padu Horsan Tawi, Priest of Horace in sechem Cetapolis,
sixteen Herobusa, Prince of Saiut, Siut and Hesawi seventeen Chetria,
Prince of the city of Frentz Nefher eighteen Babas, Prince
(07:06):
of Errao, Babylon and Perhapi Nilopolis, nineteen a chief of mercenaries,
and Tannis twenty a chief of mercenaries in Ostrassin. These
kings and princes seemed to have offered but little or
no resistance to the Ethiopian invader, and who have remained
tranquil under his control for some time. But the spirit
(07:29):
of liberty was not dead in the land of Pemet.
In the twenty first year of Piangchi's reign, an attempt
was made by Tefnacht, Prince of Sais and Memphis, who
was by far the mightiest of these petty sovereigns, to
deliver Egypt from the Ethiopian domination. He succeeded in uniting
the many petty rulers of Lower and Middle Egypt under
(07:50):
his leadership. Then he sailed up the Nile and everywhere
the cities opened their gates to him. At Renensuten, he
met with the first resistance. King Pefdedbast, seemed determined to
maintain his separate sovereignty under Piankhi's protection. The city was
besieged and taken, but Pefdedbast joined the alliance in only
(08:11):
a half hearted manner. The allies now proceeded south and
at Hmunu were joined by King Nemmart, who became one
of the most useful members of the coalition. They then
went against thebes matters were now becoming serious, and Pianghi,
on hearing of what was going on, ordered poa Armah
and Ramersegni, his lord lieutenants in Upper Egypt, to oppose
(08:35):
the progress of the rebellion. They immediately took active measures
and began the siege of Rmulu. To aid in their operations,
the Ethiopian king had sent an army north. As they
approached Thebes. On their fleet, they encountered Tefnacht's fleet. A
battle ensued in which the Egyptians were defeated, leaving Ramersegni
(08:56):
and po Armah to take Mulu. The Ethiopians pursued the
leeing Egyptians northward. The Egyptians made a stand at Renensuten,
which city was the key of the Fayoum. Here, two
battles occurred on succeeding days. The first was fought on
the Nile, possibly the Egyptians sought to prevent the enemy
from landing. The second was fought on the river bank
(09:18):
at Perpek, a town near Renensuten. In both these battles,
the patriots were defeated with heavy loss. Meanwhile, Khmunu had
fallen and Nemart, hearing of this determined to retake his capital.
Marching rapidly south, he laid siege to the town, and,
after defeating several sallies made by the Ethiopian garrison, recaptured it.
(09:42):
Thus matters stood when Pianchi determined to come north and
conduct the campaign in person. Before he started, however, his
troops had gained some further advantages, taking several smaller fortresses,
of which the most important was Tatahen. This strong fort
was taken by storm after a most determined resistance. Among
(10:02):
the slain was one of Tefnacht's sons. Finally, the king came.
After celebrating a religious festival at Thebes, he marched against Ramunu.
A regular siege was commenced, a high wall was built
around the town, and a shower of arrows and stones
was thrown into the city. Three days the town held out,
(10:23):
but finally Nemart was compelled to surrender and pay tribute.
Pefted bast of Renensuten came up the stream and paid
homage to Pianghi, bringing him costly presents. His ready submission
proved that he had joined Tefnacht much against his will,
and inclined the king to be gracious Pianchi now sailed
(10:43):
down stream to per Sergem reperat i Lahoun, a strong
fortress in the northern part of the Fayoum, which was
surrendered on the first summons. Just north of this lay
the stronghold of meritumbe Maydoum, which seemed inclined to hold out.
A peremptory summons, leaving the city the choice between immediate
surrender and a massacre of its garrison in case of
(11:06):
a storm, however, brought the commandant to terms. At the
northern boundary of Upper Egypt, there was a strongly fortified
city which was also surrendered on Piangchi's approach. This left
the way open to Memphis. The city was very strongly fortified.
Tefnacht had laid in it a garrison of eight thousand
men and then gone north, probably to collect reinforcements. The
(11:30):
Ethiopian monarch hesitated about storming the sacred city and summoned
it to surrender, offering to enter the city peaceably, as
his only desire in coming to Memphis was to pay
his homage to the gods. But Memphis was the key
of the delta, and the garrison was determined to hold
out besides, Tefnacht's reinforcements could be expected daily. The king
(11:52):
therefore ordered his soldiers to storm the town. They effected
a landing in the harbor of Memphis, and scaling the walls,
were soon masters of the city. Many of the garrison
and of the citizens fell in the combat, and many
others were carried off as prisoners of war. The city
was plundered, but the temples were spared, a guard having
been set over them. Pianghi remained in Memphis several days,
(12:16):
partly to take part in several religious festivals, and partly
to receive the tribute to several princes and grand dukes
of the Ma that came here to offer their submission.
He next advanced to ann Heliopolis, where he attended some
other religious festivals and received the submission of a number
of other princes, among them usar Ken, king of Eubastus.
(12:40):
Then he went to hot hedy ab Arthrabis, where he
received the submission of the last remaining rebellious princes except Tefnacht.
This leader, deserted by all his allies, determined to make
a last stand for freedom, raising the walls and burning
down the treasury buildings of Sais. He retired to the
island city of Mess in the Nile and strongly entrenched himself.
(13:03):
Prince Peptubast of Arthrabis was sent against him with strong detachment.
A battle ensued in which Tefnacht was defeated and his
army annihilated. Tefnacht now sent messengers to Pianchi, offering to surrender.
The king sent him two ambassadors, in whose presence he
swore the oath of allegiance. Two cities that had hitherto
(13:25):
held out now also surrendered. The rebellion was crushed. After
holding a grand reception of the princes, Pianchi returned home,
his ships laden down with the tribute and booty won
in the war. Pianqui reigned in all forty years, but
he had no further occasion to interfere in Egypt. This
was owing to his wise policy. He left all of
(13:48):
the old princes in possession of their lands, and thus
bound them to his person, as they owed their sovereignty
to his grace. Moreover, a disunited Egypt was no menace
to him, and the bickerings among the various petty kings
could at any time furnish him a pretext for invading
the country. That he was determined to prevent the union
of these princes was proved by the Great campaign against
(14:11):
Tefnacht and his allies. He had no idea of holding
the country, but retired after having effectively choked Tefnacht's attempt
to unite the various petty states into a great kingdom.
Section two. The twenty fourth dynasty Seyetic b c. Seven
thirty four to seven twenty eight. Beckn Renf, the only
(14:34):
king of this dynasty, seems to have succeeded in doing
what Tefnacht had attempted over nineteen years before. According to Diodorus,
who calls him Bochhoris, he was the son of t Nephathos,
who is no doubt identical with Tefnacht. For about six
years he ruled undisturbed by the Ethiopians. All we know
of him from the monuments is that he buried an
(14:56):
APIs at Memphis in the sixth year of his reign.
In Ethiopia, Kashta had succeeded Pianghi. This monarch was married
to Shepinopet, a daughter of King usar Khin of Eubastus.
Their son Shabaka succeeded him and immediately determined to conquer Egypt.
He could lay a certain claim to the Egyptian throne,
(15:18):
as his mother was a daughter of the last Bubastide king.
In invading the country, he defeated Becken Renf Manitho states
that he burned him alive and compelled the various petty
kings to acknowledge his sovereignty. Section three The twenty fifth
Dynasty Ethiopians the Assyrian Invasions seven twenty eight to six
(15:41):
forty five b C. Shabaka the Sabakon of the Greeks,
Saw of the Bible, and shabe of the Assyrians seven
twenty eight to seven twenty six b C. Herododus relates
that Sabakon the Ethiopian had conquered Egypt and had left
it after a race of fifty years in consequence of
(16:02):
a dream. Diodorus comes nearer the truth when he states
that four Ethiopian kings ruled Egypt for thirty six years.
Shabaka took the title of king of Upper and Lower Egypt,
but appointed his sister Amanerdas, who was married to a
man named Piangi, regent of the country. The Greek authors
(16:23):
praise this ruler highly. He is reputed to have abolished
capital punishment, substituting hard labor for it. This pharaoh became
mixed up in Asiatic affairs. King Hosea of Israel had
joined other Syrian monarchs in a rebellion against Salmanasser, the
fourth King of Assyria, and the allies had sent to
Shabaka asking his assistance. The plot was discovered, Hosea was
(16:48):
called to Assyria and thrown into prison. Salmanasser invested Samaria
about seven twenty five b C, but died before the
city fell. His successor, Shahrukinu Sargon the second, continued the
siege and took the city in seven twenty two b C.
Shortly after a new coalition was formed, at the head
(17:10):
of which stood King Ilubid of Hamath. This coalition embraced
besides Hamath, Arpad, Semaira, Damascus, Gaza, and Egypt. Sargon, however,
was too quick for the Allies. Before Shabaka could join them,
Sargon met and routed their forces at Kharkar. He now
(17:31):
moved southward and met Shabaka, who had meanwhile been joined
by King Hanno of Gaza at Rafia. The Allies were
badly defeated and Hanno was taken prisoner seven twenty b C.
Sargon could not follow up his victory and invade Egypt,
as events had meanwhile occurred in the North, which called
him to the new seat of war, but he had
(17:53):
gained his purpose. Shabaka was badly crippled and even sent tribute.
This pharaoh died died about seven sixteen b C. Shabataka
seven point fifteen to seven O three b C, the
successor of Shabaka, is a king of whom we do
not know much. Despite the fact that he reigned twelve years,
(18:14):
he seems to have done little in Asia. He did
not interfere. Probably the defeat of Shabaka at Rafia had
been so complete as either to cripple Egypt for years,
or at least to discourage her rulers from attacking Assyria again.
Taharka seven O two to six sixty two b C.
(18:34):
This king was, in all probability not of royal parentage,
but came to the throne by marrying Shabataka's widow. He
was twenty years of age when he ascended the throne.
Young and active, he was willing to restore to Egypt
its former prestige. Meanwhile, Sargon had been assassinated and his
son seen Ahi Edib Sanharib had ascended the Assyrian throne
(18:57):
seven O five b C. Immediately, a new coalition was
formed against Assyria. Elulius of Tire, Hezekiah of Judah, and
Zidka of Ascalon formed a league and called upon Taharka
for assistance. Marduk Baladin, the Chaldean ruler of Babylon, was
also drawn into the league and conducted negotiations with Hezekiah.
(19:21):
King Padi of Akaron, who had refused to join the rebels,
was deposed and turned over to Hezekiah. This mighty coalition,
if properly handled, would have been a match for the Assyrians,
but Sanheib was too quick for them. In seven O
one b C. He entered Syria and subdued Alilius. Then,
going south, he took Ascalon and Akoron. At Altacou, he
(19:45):
met and defeated Taharka, who had attempted to check him.
After taking Altaku and some other towns, Sanharib marched on Jerusalem.
Hezekiah submitted, and Badhi was restored to his kingdom. The
rebellion was not however, crushed. As yet, Hezekiah continued his
negotiations with Taharka, who had returned to Egypt to collect
(20:07):
a new army. Sanhib, hearing of this, accused the Jewish
king of treason and threatened him with destruction. Relying on
Jehovah and the King of Egypt, Hezekiah boldly held out
Jerusalem was besieged. Meanwhile, Taharka was coming to the aid
of his ally with a new army. Sanhib advanced to
(20:28):
meet him, but his army was so reduced by pestilence
that he had to retire without giving battle. The story
of the Bible is well known. The Angel of the
Lord smote the Assyrian army in the night, and one
hundred and eighty five thousand men died, whereupon Sanharib had
to retire. Herodotus has a somewhat different version of the affair.
(20:50):
He relates that after the Ethiopian Sabakon, a pious priest
of tah named Cephos ruled in Egypt. He denied his
soldiers certain privileges and thus gained their enmity. When Sanacharib,
king of the Arabians and Assyrians, marched against Egypt, they
refused to fight, and Sethos was placed in a sad predicament.
(21:11):
He prayed to the gods for aid, and they sent
out mice that ate up the bows and belts of
the Assyrian army encamped about Pelusium during the night, so
that the Egyptian merchants and mechanics could easily defeat them
next day. The first Assyrian invasion. Sanharib never returned to Palestine.
He was assassinated in sixt eighty one b S and
(21:34):
his son Assar Haddon Ashur Ahiden ascended the throne. Trouble
between him and Taharka began in six seventy two b
C when King Baal of Tire, relying on promises of
assistance from Taharka, rebelled against Assyria. Assar Haddan, now determined
to put an end to Egyptian interference, a detachment of
(21:56):
his army besieged Tire, while the main body marched against Egypt.
The prince of the Bedouins, dwelling on the Egyptian border,
gladly furnished camels and water, and thus the difficult march
from Raffia to Pelusium was accomplished without serious loss. Taharka
seems to have offered but little resistance, for the Assyrian
army entered Memphis, and soon after Thebes also was taken
(22:20):
and sacked. Taharka fled to Ethiopia. After these victories, Asserhaddan
styled himself King of Mussur Lower Egypt, Patrus Upper Egypt,
and Kush Ethiopia. The land itself was left under the
control of twenty independent petty sovereigns as follows. One Niku
(22:44):
Nekao of Mimbi, Memphis and Sai Sayus. Two Sharru Ladari
of Tirnu, three Pisanhu of Nathu Natho, four Pacruru of
Bishoptu persopt the capital of the Normos Arabia, the twentieth
(23:07):
Lower Egyptian Nome. Five puc Nannipi Bekenneph of Hathhiribe hatheriab Athrabis,
six Nahki Aghenenchi Renensuten, seven Pitubisti Pedubast of Zaunu Thanas
(23:30):
eight Unamunu of Natu, nine Horsiaishu of Tamuti, chebnuter Sebenethos,
ten Puama Pimai of Bindidi Perbanebdad equals Mendes eleven, Sudzinku
(23:53):
Sheshenk of Pusiri Perusiri Busyris, twelve, tap Nochti Tefnacht of
Punubu pernub thirteen, Pukunanni Epi of Ahni fourteen, Iptihardishu of
Pisati Hurunpi fifteen, Nohti Huruantini necht hor Nachenu of pishab
(24:22):
Di Nuti sixteen, Bukur Ninip of Pahnuti seventeen Ziha of
Ziaotu Siout eighteen, Lamentu of Himuni Munu, nineteen Ishbimatu of
(24:43):
Tahani Tenni Fi twenty mante Piangi Mentuemhat of Niri Thebes.
It is impossible for us to identify those of the
Assyrian names of Egyptian princes and cities, the Egyptian names
of which we have not given. The mightiest of these
(25:04):
princes was Necao Assyrian Nikou Greek Neko, prince of Memphis,
and says, according to Manitho six seventy one the six
sixty three BC, he was the favorite of Asser Hadden.
At this monarch's request, Necao changed the name of Seyis
to Karbel Matati garden of the Lord of Lands, and
(25:26):
gave his son Pemtek the Assyrian name Nabu shzib Anni.
Shortly after the conquest of Egypt, Asser Hadden resigned the
crown in favor of his son Asser Banipal about six
sixty eight b C. The second Assyrian invasion. This change
in the rulers of Assyria encouraged to Harkla to attempt
(25:46):
the delivery of Egypt from Assyrian rule. He advanced on
thieves Assyrian nil and meant to emhat. Assyrian Mantipianchi received
him with open arms, hailing him as a deliverer. Memphis
was taken soon after, and the Ethiopian proceeded to make
himself at home in Egypt. When aser Banipal heard of this,
(26:07):
he at once determined to punish the Ethiopians. He advanced
to Karbana, a town north of Memphis, where he met
and utterly routed to Harta's forces. The king himself, who
had remained at Memphis, on hearing of this defeat, at
once fled to Thebes, which city he abandoned on the
approach of the Assyrian army without a battle about six
(26:28):
sixty seven b C. Meanwhile, the Egyptian princes, under the
leadership of Necao of Seis, Charladari of Tannis, and Pakruru
of Persopt had opened negotiations with Taharka, inviting him to
renew his attack and promising their support. Their letters were, however,
intercepted and the conspirators were arrested. Proof against them was
(26:51):
not wanting, but the Assyrian king evidently thought it wise
policy not to punish them. They were left in possession
of their holdings, but had to bare allegiance to Asserbanepal. Necao,
the favorite of his father, was sent home loaded down
with presents, and his son Nabu Chesibanni, was appointed governor
general of Egypt. Aser Banipal hoped to gain a powerful
(27:15):
ally in this manner, and he was not disappointed. In
the Greek accounts, to Harklaw figures as a great hero
and conqueror. Strabo relates that he reached the columns of Hercules,
the westernmost point of northern Africa, on one of his campaigns,
and according to Magosthenes, he led his army to India
and thence to the Pontus and Thrace. In his inscriptions,
(27:38):
he poses as a mighty conqueror. Fourteen Negro tribes are
mentioned as subdued in Ethiopia. The list of conquered nations
he had inscribed on the walls of the Temple of
Karnak is copied word for word from that of Rameses
the second and even mentions among other states. Asser. While
we know he was several times whipped by the Assyrians,
(28:00):
at Gabelbarkal, he built two temples, and at Karnak he
repaired portions of the Great Temple of Amon Rah and
of the Temple of mut. He died about six sixty
four b s. Tanawat Amon and the third Assyrian invasion.
The step son of Taharka ascended the Ethiopian throne about
six sixty four b C. An inscription found at the
(28:23):
Gabelbarkal relates that this king had been encouraged by a
dream that promised him the crown of Egypt to invade
that country. Elephantine and Thebes hailed him as a deliverer.
Memphis resisted but was taken after a battle. It is
very probable that Necau, prince of Memphis, and Saeus, who
died about this time six sixty four b SI, fell
(28:46):
in one of the battles with tanawat Amon. When he
was at Memphis, a deputation of Egyptian princes headed by
Pakruru of Persopt offered their submission. The others withdrew to
their fortresses and refused to yield. Tanuwat Amon evidently did
not feel strong enough to attack them and preferred to
return to Memphis, where he had long theological arguments with
(29:09):
those princes who submitted. When aser Banipal heard of this
new Ethiopian invasion by ur Damani, as the Assyrian inscriptions
called tanawat Amon, he sent an army against him. The
Ethiopians immediately withdrew before the approach of the Assyrians and
fled to Ethiopia. Thus, about six sixty two b C.
(29:30):
Was driven from Egypt, the last Ethiopian king who dared
invade the country. End of chapter eight recording by Owen
Cook in Potawatamie ceded land
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