Berkley, E.: The pharaohs and their people: scenes of old Egyptian life and history (New York, [1883])

94 THE EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY.

were brought to light the bodies of Taa the
Victorious (the last of the brave Sekenen-Ras),
of Aahmes, and of his son Amenhotep i. The
conqueror of the Hyksos is enwreathed in
garlands and festoons, his young son is swathed
in lotus leaves and flowers—amongst them is a
perfectly preserved wasp, that must have been
accidentally shut in when the cofEn-lid was
closed more than 3000 years ago. This coffin
and its case are in very good preservation ; on
the lid is an effigy of the young king, which is
evidently a portrait. The coffin of Thothmes 1.
was found, but the mummy was missing.

When Thothmes 1. became king, the internal
dissensions of Egypt had quieted down, and,
after one campaign in the south, the king pro-
ceeded to ' cool his heart' by undertaking the
war on which the mind of the Egyptians was
set—a war of retribution and of conquest. In
this distant expedition (already alluded to in
the memoirs of Aahmes), Thothmes rapidly
pushed his way as far as Naharina (Mesopo-
tamia), and returned home laden with treasures
and spoil, having exacted a promise of annual
tribute from many tribes in many regions. In