APPENDIX III. 483 



of tliem were distinguished in the arts of peace or war, and dviring their 

 ride Egypt continued steadily to decline in power and influence. Within 

 a period of about one hundred and iifty years all the Asiatic provinces of 

 the enapire fell off one by one, and were never afterwards recovered. At 

 this time also the high priests of Amnion at Thebes gradually usurped the 

 supreme authority, and ultimately seized the crown itself, although their 

 usurpation was not acknowledged throughout the whole of Egj'pt. 



XXI. Dynasty : Takite. 



M. 1110, B. 1100. 



HiRON, a high priest of Ammon, was the reputed founder of this dynasty, under which 

 the capital was again shifted northwards to San. During this jieriod the 

 country was for the first time invaded by the Assyrians under their 

 king, Naromath (Nimrod). B. 1100. 



XXII. Dynasty: Bubastite. 



M. 980, B. 96h. 



SnESHONK or Shashank (Sesoxchis) I. This is the Shishak of the Bible, son of 

 Nimrod, who overthrew Eoboam. king of Judah, captured and plundered 

 Jerusalem, and ruled Egypt, removing the centre of authority to Bubastis 

 in the Delta. His wars against the Jews are commemorated in an inscrip- 

 tion on the walls of the great hall at Karnak, where a list is given of the 

 towns and districts conquered or ravaged by him. B. 966. 



Most of the princes of this dynasty bear Assyrian names, such as 

 Nimrod, Osorkou (Sargon), and Takeloth (Tiglath). The}^ do not appear 

 to have been independent sovereigns, but rather governors or satraps, 

 appointed by the Assyrian monarchs, or possibly adventurers from the 

 East. It is expressly stated that the father of the first Sheshonk was a 

 captain of armed bands, who came from Syria to seek his fortune in Egypt. 



After the overthrow of the priest kings, the preponderance of Thebes 

 ceased for ever. Henceforth all the dynasties belong to Lower Egypt, 

 where they fix their residence. They do not, however, form true 

 dynasties of native princes, but rather a government of Mameluks, like 

 tliose who afterwards ruled Egypt during mediaeval and later times. 



The Bubastite dynasty rapidly lost all authority, and after it had ceased 

 to reign, Egypt was for a time divided amongst a number of petty military 

 princes practically independent of the chief monarch. 



During this period the descendants of the Theban high priests withdrew 

 to Ethiopia, where they established a powerful state and laid claim to the 

 sovereignty of all Egypt. 



PiANKHi, one of these princes, even overran the country, and reduced it for a short time 

 as far as the Mediterranean. 



XXIII. Dynasty: Tanite, 

 M. 810, B. 766. 



