n king
Pankhi already held the Thebais. The energetic prince of Sais, Tefnakht,
followed by most of the princes of the Delta, subdued most of Middle
Egypt, and by uniting these forces threatened the Ethiopian border.
Heracleopolis Magna, however, with its petty king Pefteuaubasti, held
out against Tefnakht, and Pankhi coming to its aid not only drove
Tefnakht out of Middle Egypt, but also captured Memphis and received the
submission of the princes and chiefs; in all these included four "kings"
and fourteen other chiefs. According to Diodorus the Ethiopian state was
theocratic, ruled through the king by the priests of Ammon. The account
is probably exaggerated; but even in Pankhi's record the piety of the
king, especially towards Ammon, is very marked.

Ethiopian Dynasty.

The XXIVth Dynasty consisted of a single Saite king named Bocchoris
(Bekerrinf), son of Tefnachthus, apparently the above Tefnakht. Another
Ethiopian invader, Shabako (Sabacon), is said to have burnt Bocchoris
alive. The Ethiopian rule of the XXVth Dynasty was now firmly
established, and the resources of the two countries together might have
been employed in conquest in Syria and Phoenicia; but at this very time
the Assyrian empire, risen to the highest pitch of military greatness,
began to menace Egypt. The Ethiopian could do no more than encourage or
support the Syrians in their fight for freedom against Sargon and
Sennacherib. Shabako was followed by Shebitku and Shebitku by Tirhaka
(Tahrak, Taracos). Tirhaka was energetic in opposing the Assyrian
advance, but in 670 B.C. Esarhaddon defeated his army on the border of
Egypt, captured Memphis with the royal harem and took great spoil. The
Egyptian resistance to the Assyrians was probably only half-hearted; in
the north especially there must have been a strong party against the
Ethiopian rule. Tirhaka laboured to propitiate the north country, and
probably rendered the Ethiopian rule acceptable throughout Egypt.
Notwithstanding, the Assyrian king entrusted the government and
collection of tribute to the native chiefs; twenty princes in all are
enumerated in the records, including one Assyrian to hold the key of
Egypt at Pelusium. Scarcely had Esarhaddon withdrawn before Tirhaka
returned from his refuge in the south and the Assyrian garrisons were
massacred. Esarhaddon promptly prepared a second expedition, but died on
the way to Egypt in 668 B.C.; his son Assur-bani-pal sent it forward,
routed Tir