SET-NEKHT AND RAMESES III.

power over the country, and in making the local prhrces and chiefs pay tribute to him instead of to the gods, but after a few years a relative of Rameses II., called Set-Nekht, was placed by the priests on the throne of Egypt, and he succeeded in suppressing Arsu and other claimants to the sovereignty of the country. During his reign Egypt possessed but little authority in Syria, and Nubia was ruled by the Prince of Kash and his subordinates.

Set-Nekht was succeeded by his son Rameses III., who during his father's lifetime had assisted in governing Egypt, and to him belongs the credit of having developed the commerce of the country considerably. For some time before he ascended the throne a number of Mediterranean peoples were preparing to invade Egypt, but it was not until the fifth year of his reign that the conspiracy came to a head, and the enemy dared to carry out their plans. The Egyptians were victorious, and they mutilated about twelve thousand of dead rebel warriors.

In the eighth year of the reign of Rameses III., Egjpt was threatened by several nations and tribes, who determined to attack her by sea and land simultaneously. The king was, however, equal to the occasion, for having placed his ships with their hired crews in certain positions, his arm} set out to attack the land forces of the enemy. The Egyptians routed their enemies, who fled to their ships and tried to escape, but these found themselves blocked by the king's fleet, and large numbers of the rebels were killed or taken prisoners. Rameses III. marched into Syria, and collected tribute and gifts, and where these were not forthcoming he cut down the fruit trees, burned the crops, and destroyed the villages. After his return to Egypt the king was compelled to undertake two more campaigns, one against the Libyans, who were led by Kapur, and another against several Shasu tribes ; in both of these he was successful, and he captured much spoil.

On the road between Egypt and Syria, at a place called Aina, Rameses III. dug a well, which he surrounded by a strong building, twenty cubits square and thirty cubits high ; this indicates that he attempted to provide a regular supply of water for the men and beasts of the caravans which passed to and from VOL. I. 641 T t