ANCIENT EGYPT. I9 



According to the Sallier papyrus in the British Museum, 

 attempts were made by Ra-sekenen, a Hak of Upper Egypt, 

 to free the country from this foreign yoke ; and the Hyksos 

 were conquered and driven out of the country by Aahmes, 

 probably the pharaoh "who knew not Joseph." He estab- 

 lished the powerful xviiith dynasty, under which Egypt 

 attained the culminating point of power and glory. I regret 

 that time will not allow me to dwell on the illustrious reigns 

 of his more immediate successors, all of whom contributed so 

 largely to the building and decoration of Karnak. 



The next dynasty, the xixth, which begins the period 

 classed as the New Empire, was founded by Rameses I. 

 about B.C. 1500. He was followed by Sethi I.; Rameses the 

 Great succeeded. These three illustrious monarchs built the 

 great hall of columns at Karnak. Rameses H. was probably 

 the pharaoh of the Oppression, while his successor Sethi 

 (Meneptah) II. is thought to have reigned at the time of the 

 Exodus. Rameses lived to a great age, and during his reign 

 the final decadence of Egypt among the nations began. 



The xxth dynasty was founded by Rameses III., the 

 Rhampsinitus of Herodatus, who was the last of the famous 

 warrior kings of Egypt. After him succeeded many Rameses, 

 each more feeble and degenerate than the other, coming 

 steadily under the domination of the priestly caste of Amen, 

 which in the person of the high priest, Hir-hor, at length 

 usurped the crown and founded the next dynasty, the xxist. 

 During the reign of his son Piankh, whose daughter king 

 Solomon demanded in marriage, Egypt was invaded by the 

 Assyrians under Naromath (Nimrod), who conquered the 

 country. Nimrod lies buried at Abydos ; and his son, 

 Sheshonk, the Shishak of the Bible, founded the xximd 

 dynasty. Chronology now becomes more exact and reliable, 

 for we have many historic parallels, Jeroboam, the son of 

 Nebat, was a refugee at the Egyptian court, and he induced 

 Sheshonk to move against Rehoboam. An inscription on the 

 walls of Karnak, which differs in some respects from the 

 account given in Holy Writ, commemorates this campaign, 



