1G2 Mr. Robert Mond [May 22, 



Ameiiliotep 11. and Thotmes III., the Xapoleoii of Egypt, rapidly 

 extended its boundaries to the banks of the Euphrates on tb.e south, 

 and includintr Phoenicia and Palestine as far as the Tauros Moun- 

 tains and the frontier of Armenia in the north, and brought Egypt 

 in close connection with the ^lediterranean Islands. 



For a few years during this dynasty Thebes suffered an eclipse 

 when Amenhotep IV., renouncing the worship of Amen, established 

 a new capital at Tell el Armarna, which scarcely survived liis reign, 

 and under his successors, Thutaneh Amen and Hor-em Heb, both 

 Thebes and its god Amen regained full sway. 



This period was contemporary with the great or second Minoan 

 period of Crete, the period of Mykena, and of the great development 

 of the Hittites and Babylonians and Mitanni. Assyria was beginning 

 to rise to power. 



During the 19th and 20th Dynasties the power of Egypt suffered 

 gradual eclipse, in spite of the efforts of their rulers, the Setis, 

 Ramses the Great, and Ramses the Third. Their reigns saw the 

 Biblical Exodus, and the destruction of Crete and Mykena l)y the 

 Dorians, and the subsequent irruption of the Cretans into Philistina 

 and Palestine. 



Henceforward the King-Priests of Amen ruled independently 

 at Thebes, whilst Lower Egypt was under the sway of dynasties 

 which came from the Delta and Lybia, with the exception of the 

 25th Dynasty, which came from Nubia, and fought with varying 

 success against the great xlssyrian invaders until Assur Bani Pal 

 conquered Egypt and sacked Thebes, a blow from which that city 

 never recovered. 



After Psamthek had defeated the Assyrians, Egypt again fell a 

 prey to the Persians under Cyrus, whose rule was ended by the defeat 

 of Xerxes by Alexander the Great. 



Ptolemy I. then obtained Egypt as his share of the division of 

 Alexander's Empire, until at last Egypt became a Roman province 

 under Ptolemy XV and Cleopatra. 



This very condensed excursion into the history of Egypt has been 

 thought necessary to indicate the importance of the role whicli 

 Thebes has played in the world's history, to explain some of the 

 gaps we find in the historical continuity of its monuments, and 

 especially to emphasize the vital interest which appertains to all 

 contemporary monuments which are yet extant or likely to be dis- 

 covered. 



It was the first occupation of every Egyptian, grown to man's 

 estate, to provide for his soul or spirit an imperishable dwelling- 

 place, consonant with his wealth and dignity, and well furnished, by 

 means of pictorial representations, with those amenities which had 

 constituted his ambitions and delights during life. Hence the due 

 study of these monuments, these sacred mortuary chapels, equips us 



