CHAPTER II—­THE REACTION AGAINST EGYPT

THE XIth DYNASTY:  HARMHABI—­THE HITTITE EMPIRE IN SYRIA AND IN ASIA MINOR—­SETI I. AND RAMSES II.—­THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA:  MINEPHTAH AND THE ISRAELITE EXODUS.

The birth and antecedents of Harmhabi, his youth, his enthronement—­The final triumph of Amon and his priests—­Harmhabi infuses order into the government:  his wars against the Ethiopians and Asiatics—­The Khati, their civilization, religion; their political and military constitution; the extension of their empire towards the north—­The countries and populations of Asia Minor; commercial routes between the Euphrates and the AEgean Sea—­The treaty concluded between Harmhabi and Sapalulu.

Ramses I. and the uncertainties as to his origin—­Seti I. and the campaign against Syria in the 1st year of his reign; the re-establishment of the Egyptian empire—­Working of the gold-mines at Etai—­The monuments constructed by Seti I. in Nubia, at Karnak, Luxor, and Abydos—­The valley of the kings and tomb of Seti I. at Thebes.

Ramses II., his infancy, his association in the Government, his debut in Ethiopia:  he builds a residence in the Delta—­His campaign against the Khati in the 5th year of his reign—­The talcing of Qodshu, the victory of Ramses II. and the truce established with Khatusaru:  the poem of Pentauirit—­His treaty with the Khati in the 21st year of his reign:  the balance of power in Syria:  the marriage of Ramses II. with a Hittite princess—­Public works:  the Speos at Abu-Simbel; Luxor, Karnak, the Eamesseum, the monuments in the Delta—­The regency of Khamoisit and Minephtah, the legend of Sesostris, the coffin and mummy of Ramses II.

Minephtah—­The kingdom of Libya, the people of the sea—­The first invasion of Libya:  the Egyptian victory at Piriu; the triumph of Minephtah—­Seti II., Amenmeses, Siphtah-Minephtah—­The foreign captives in Egypt; the Exodus of the Hebrews and their march to Sinai—­An Egyptian romance of the Exodus:  Amenophis, son of Pa-apis.

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CHAPTER II—­THE REACTION AGAINST EGYPT

The XIXth dynasty:  Harmhabi—­The Hittite empire in Syria and in Asia Minor—­Seti I. and Ramses II.—­The people of the sea:  Minephtah and the Israelite Exodus.

While none of these ephemeral Pharaohs left behind them a, either legitimate or illegitimate, son there was no lack of princesses, any of which, having on her accession to the throne to choose a consort after her own heart, might thus become the founder of a new dynasty.  By such a chance alliance Harmhabi, who was himself descended from Thutmosis III., was raised to the kingly office.* His mother, Mutnozmit, was of the royal line, and one of the most beautiful statues in the Gizeh Museum probably represents her.  The body is mutilated, but the head is charming in