to repel the invader:  he fled to Ethiopia, abandoning Thebes to its fate.  The city was ransomed by despoiling the temple of Amon of half its treasures:  Montumihait transferred his allegiance unhesitatingly to Assur-bani-pal, and the whole of Egypt from the Mediterranean to the first cataract once more became Assyrian territory.  The victory was so complete that Assur-bani-pal thought he might without risk show clemency to his prisoners.  He summoned them to his presence, and there, instead of putting out their eyes or subjecting them to some horrible form of torture, he received them back into favour, and confirmed Necho in the possession of all the honours which Esarhaddon had conceded to him.  He clothed him in a mantle of honour, and bestowed on him a straight-bladed sword with an iron scabbard ornamented with gold, engraved with his names and titles, besides rings, gold bracelets, chariots, horses, and mules; in short, all the appurtenances of royalty.  Not content with restoring to him the cities of Sais and Memphis, he granted him the fief of Athribis for his eldest son, Psammetichus.

[Illustration:  174.jpg MONTUMIHAIT, PRINCE OF THEBES]

Drawn by Boudier, from the photograph by Miss Benson.  It is not quite certain that this statue represents Montumihait, as the inscription is wanting:  the circumstances of the discovery, however, render it very probable.

Moreover, he neglected no measure likely to show his supremacy.  Athribis received the new name of Limir-patesi-assur, may the high priest of Assur be glorious, and Sais that of Kar-bel-matati, the fortress of the lord of the countries.  Psammetichus was called Nebo-shezib-anni, Nebo, deliver me, and residents were installed at his court and that of his father, who were entrusted with the surveillance of their conduct, and the task of keeping them to the path of duty:  Necho, thus well guarded, thenceforward never faltered in his allegiance.

The subjection of Egypt reacted on Syria and Asia Minor.  Of the only two states still existing along the Phoenician seaboard, one, namely Tyre, had been in revolt for many years, and the other, Arvad, showed symptoms of disaffection.

[Illustration:  175.jpg PSAMMETICHUS]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief in the British
     Museum.

Esarhaddon, from lack of a sufficient fleet, had never been able to subdue the former, but he had interrupted the communications of the island with the mainland, and the blockade, which was constantly increasing in strictness, had already lasted for four years.  On receipt of the news from Egypt, Baal realised that further resistance was hopeless; he therefore delivered up to the victor his heir-apparent, Yahi-melek, and one of his daughters, together with other hostages, besides silver, gold, and wood, and intreated for pardon.  Assur-bani-pal left him in possession of his kingdom