387
CHAPTEE XVI.
DYNASTY XXV.1
THE ETHIOPIANS.
"owards the end of the ninth century Egypt had far
too much to do in defending herself to trouble about her
'Supremacy in the South, which she had heretofore so
oarefully guarded. The ' Viceroys of the South ' and
Hang's sons of Cush' are now struck out of the official
hst of court dignitaries, and the ' Kings of Cush' take
their place. The whole South, from the boundary line
at the city of Syene, recovered its freedom, and the
Ethiopians began to enjoy a state of independence.
Meanwhile, if the power of Egypt was no longer felt,
Egyptian civilization had survived. All that was
Wanting was a leader. Nothing could have appeared
more opportune for the priests of Amen than this
state of things in Nubia and Ethiopia, where the
nmds of an imperfectly developed people must needs,
nder skilful guidance, soon show themselves pliable
and submissive to the dominant priestly caste. Mount
arkal, where Amen-hotep I1T. had already raised a
Sanctuary for the great Amen of Thebes in the form of
a strongly fortified temple-city, was the site chosen by
ne newly arrived priests for the seat of their future
Royalty. The capital of this kingdom of Cush was
Zapata, which is so often mentioned in the inscriptions
°t Ethiopian origin.
to-1-
1 For Table of Kings see p. xxvi.
C c 2
CHAPTEE XVI.
DYNASTY XXV.1
THE ETHIOPIANS.
"owards the end of the ninth century Egypt had far
too much to do in defending herself to trouble about her
'Supremacy in the South, which she had heretofore so
oarefully guarded. The ' Viceroys of the South ' and
Hang's sons of Cush' are now struck out of the official
hst of court dignitaries, and the ' Kings of Cush' take
their place. The whole South, from the boundary line
at the city of Syene, recovered its freedom, and the
Ethiopians began to enjoy a state of independence.
Meanwhile, if the power of Egypt was no longer felt,
Egyptian civilization had survived. All that was
Wanting was a leader. Nothing could have appeared
more opportune for the priests of Amen than this
state of things in Nubia and Ethiopia, where the
nmds of an imperfectly developed people must needs,
nder skilful guidance, soon show themselves pliable
and submissive to the dominant priestly caste. Mount
arkal, where Amen-hotep I1T. had already raised a
Sanctuary for the great Amen of Thebes in the form of
a strongly fortified temple-city, was the site chosen by
ne newly arrived priests for the seat of their future
Royalty. The capital of this kingdom of Cush was
Zapata, which is so often mentioned in the inscriptions
°t Ethiopian origin.
to-1-
1 For Table of Kings see p. xxvi.
C c 2