y greater refinement and elegance in the technique of carving
or moulding than had yet been attained.

* [One of the two obelisks of the Campus Martius, on which
site the Church of S. Maria Sopra Minerva was built.--Tr.]

** Above the summary of the contents of the present chapter,
will be found one of these sphinxes which was discovered in
Rome.

[Illustration: 437.jpg THE SMALL OBELISK IN THE PIAZZA DELLA MINERVA AT
HOME]

Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph.

While engaged in these works at home, Apries was not unobservant of
the revolutions occurring in Asia, upon which he maintained a constant
watch, and in the years which followed the capitulation of Tyre, he found
the opportunity, so long looked for, of entering once more upon the
scene. The Phoenician navy had suffered much during the lengthy blockade
of their country, and had become inferior to the Egyptian, now well
organised by Thelonians: Apries therefore took the offensive by sea, and
made a direct descent on the Phoenician coasts. Nebuchadrezzar opposed
him with the forces of the recently subjugated Tyrians, and the latter,
having cooled in their attachment to Egypt owing to the special favour
shown by the Pharaoh to their rivals the Hellenes, summoned their
Cypriote vassals to assist them in repelling the attack. The Egyptians
dispersed the combined fleets, and taking possession of Sidon, gave
it up to pillage. The other maritime cities surrendered of their own
accord,* including Gebal, which received an Egyptian garrison, and
where the officers of Pharaoh founded a temple to the goddess whom they
identified with the Egyptian Hathor.

* The war of Apries against the Phoenicians cannot have
taken place before the capitulation of Tyre in 574 B.C.,
because the Tyrians took part in it by order of
Nebuchadrezzar, and on the other hand it cannot be put later
than 569 B.C., the date of the revolt of Amasis; it must
therefore be assigned to about 571 B.C.

The object at which Necho and Psammetichus II. had aimed for fifteen
years was thus attained by Apries at one fortunate blow, and he could
legitimately entitle himself "more fortunate than all the kings his
predecessors," and imagine, in his pride, that "the gods themselves
were unable to injure him." The gods, however, did not allow him long
to enjoy the fruits of his victory. Greeks had often visited Libya since
the time when Egypt had been