He was crowned at Thebes on the 21st of the third month of Pirit; and a circular, addressed to the representatives of the ancient seignorial families and to the officers of the crown, announced the names assumed by the new sovereign.  “This is the royal rescript to announce to you that my Majesty has arisen king of the two Egypts, on the seat of the Horus of the living, without equal, for ever, and that my titles are as follows:  The vigorous bull Horus, beloved of Mait, the Lord of the Vulture and of the Uraeus who raises itself as a flame, most valiant,—­the golden Horns, whose years are good and who puts life into all hearts, king of the two Egypts, Akhopirkeri, son of the Sun, Thutmosis, living for ever.* Cause, therefore, sacrifices to be offered to the gods of the south and of Elephantine,** and hymns to be chanted for the well-being of the King Akhopirkeri, living for ever, and then cause the oath to be taken in the name of my Majesty, born of the royal mother Sonisonbu, who is in good health.—­This is sent to thee that thou mayest know that the royal house is prosperous, and in good health and condition, the 1st year, the 21st of the third month of Pirit, the day of coronation.”

     * This is really the protocol of the king, as we find it on
     the monuments, with his two Horus names and his solar
     titles.

** The copy of the letter which has come down to us is addressed to the commander of Elephantine:  hence the mention of the gods of that town.  The names of the divinities must have been altered to suit each district, to which the order to offer sacrifices for the prosperity of the new sovereign was sent.

The new king was tall in stature, broad-shouldered, well knit, and capable of enduring the fatigues of war without flagging.  His statues represent him as having a full, round face, long nose, square chin, rather thick lips, and a smiling but firm expression.  Thutmosis brought with him on ascending the throne the spirit of the younger generation, who, born shortly after the deliverance from the Hyksos, had grown up in the peaceful days of Amenothes, and, elated by the easy victories obtained over the nations of the south, were inspired by ambitions unknown to the Egyptians of earlier times.  To this younger race Africa no longer offered a sufficiently wide or attractive field; the whole country was their own as far as the confluence of the two Niles, and the Theban gods were worshipped at Napata no less devoutly than at Thebes itself.  What remained to be conquered in that direction was scarcely worth the trouble of reducing to a province or of annexing as a colony; it comprised a number of tribes hopelessly divided among themselves, and consequently, in spite of their renowned bravery, without power of resistance.  Light columns of troops, drafted at intervals on either side of the river, ensured order among the submissive, or despoiled the refractory of their possessions in cattle, slaves,