Benson, Margaret; Gourlay, Janet: The temple of Mut in Asher: an account of the excavation of the temple and of the religious representations and objects found therein, as illustrating the history of Egypt and the main religious ideas of the Egyptians (London, 1899)

CHAP. XVI.]

AAHMES.

279

scattering its inhabitants, and restricted the landing
of Greek merchandise to Naukratis alone. Defeneh
ceased to be, after an existence of only one hundred
years, but Naukratis survived through its commerce
till the founding of Alexandria took from it its
mercantile pre-eminence, and then, robbed of its
military strength and its material prosperity, it be-
came the town of the scholar and the retreat of
the philosopher.

Aahmes nevertheless is the central figure in
the Greek traditions of Egypt. The ancient secrets
of the land were more easily exploited by inquisitive
interest in his reign than at any time before, and
Greek authors delighted to prove that the elements
of their philosophies were drawn straight from the
fountain-head—"the wisdom of the Egyptians." A
hundred Greek stories of Egypt connected them-
selves with " Amasis."

The power of Persia had by this time engulfed
Babylon, and the smaller states of Asia Minor and
Syria cast about for some means of saving their
independence. A confederacy, of which Croesus of
Lydia was the head, was quickly demolished by
Cyrus, and Aahmes, finding the conqueror at his
gates, gave up a resistance which had become futile.
While the borders of Persia still marched with those
of Egypt, Aahmes occupied himself in the west with
the affairs of Cyrene. He entered into a treaty
with the people, and made a princess of Cyrene his
second queen.