the last years of Amenothes, when Tii was the
exclusive favourite of the sovereign; but it was alleged later on, when
Harmhabi had emerged from obscurity, that Amon, destining him for the
throne, had condescended to become his father by Mutnozmit--a customary
procedure with the god when his race on earth threatened to become
debased.* It was he who had rocked the newly born infant to sleep, and,
while Harsiesis was strengthening his limbs with protective amulets, had
spread over the child's skin the freshness and brilliance which are the
peculiar privilege of the immortals. While still in the nursery, the
great and the insignificant alike prostrated themselves before Harmhabi,
making him liberal offerings. Every one recognised in him, even when
still a lad and incapable of reflection, the carriage and complexion
of a god, and Horus of Cynopolis was accustomed to follow his steps,
knowing that the time of his advancement was near. After having called
the attention of the Egyptians to Harmhabi, Amon was anxious, in fact,
to hasten the coming of the day when he might confer upon him supreme
rank, and for this purpose inclined the heart of the reigning Pharaoh
towards him. Ai proclaimed him his heir over the whole land.**

* All that we know of the youth of Harmhabi is contained in
the texts on a group preserved in the Turin Museum, and
pointed out by Champollion, translated and published
subsequently by Birch and by Brugsch. The first lines of the
inscription seem to me to contain an account of the union of
Amon with the queen, analogous to those at Deir el-Bahari
treating of the birth of Hatshopsitu, and to those at Luxor
bearing upon Amenothes III. (cf. vol. iv. pp. 342, 343; and
p. 51 of the present volume), and to prove for certain that
Harmhabi's mother was a princess of the royal line by right.

** The king is not named in the inscription. It cannot have
been Amenothes IV., for an individual of the importance of
Harmhabi, living alongside this king, would at least have
had a tomb begun for him at. Tel el-Amarna. We may hesitate
between Ai and Tutankhamon; but the inscription seems to say
definitely that Harmhabi succeeded directly to the king
under whom he had held important offices for many years, and
this compels us to fix upon Ai, who, as we have said at p.
108, et seq., of the present volume, was, to all
appeara