408 REMARKABLE OBJECT OF THE REIGN OF AMENOPHIS III. first pylon of Soleb, where lie Avorships his predecessor t^^pified as the Moon, shows that Achenaten claimed descent at least from Amenophis. It was dm-ing this reign that the priesthood of the sun's disk were completely triumphant throughout the whole country ; and in every accessible spot the names of the gods and of Amen-ra^ were chiselled out or erased ; the temple at Karnak — the Memnonium of Luxor, were mutilated ; and even articles of furniture did not escape the fanatical hatred of the old religion. The sepulchres alone were left inviolate, and it is to the regard paid to the dead alone that we owe many articles inscribed with the names of the rival-worshippers ; a certain respect, indeed, was paid to Amenophis III., but the constructions erected in the short reigns of Amenophis IV. and Amenmes were pulled down, and the empire convulsed. Some intention seems to have been entertained by them of removing the site of the old court and its necropolis, as the coronation of the King, and the sepulchres of the race are at El Tell. Two other names in shields, with the name of the disk, have been found at Tel El Amarna,^ one reading Ateu nech hesu, " the disk multiplying commands," resembling a prcenomen, the other S-s . . . en aten, apparently a name. Another prsenomen, Ra skar clie'peT — " the Sun giving existence to creation," — has been also assigned to this line, but on what authority is not stated.* According to M. Lepsius, Ach en aten assumed his eldest daughter and son-in-law into the Empire.^ The last King in connection with this line is the so-called Skhai,^ whose name was also found amongst the blocks of the p^don of Horus, and whose tomb, in the western valley, exhibits mutilations of his name, similar to those of the Amenophis. The resemblance of his titles to those of Amenophis III., and Horus, show that he was connected w^ith the line. The name of his queen resembles that of the celebrated Taia.' As the name of Amen is not found in his 3 Wilkinson, Sir G., Modern Egypt, ii., this king hasalso been read iS^ojito'. L'Hote, p. 255. 1. c.,p. 3. Acherei. Prisse Revue Archeol.ii.,
- Mr. Poole, Horse, p. 255. p. 458. De Rouge, Rev. Arch, iv., p. 121.
- M. Lepsius Ueber denGotterkreis. s. 45. and .4?', Lepsius Einleit ; Ba Ntten Mesi,
makes " the whole reign at least twelve Bunsen, Aegyptens Stelle, B. iii., s. 88. years," and that be had seven children, all De Rouge, Notice des Monumens du daughters, as I had conjectured. Louvre, 1849, p. 18, No. 55. L'Hote, I. c, •^ L'Hote, Voyage, p. 96; M.Lcnormant p. 10. Rosellini, M. St. i., pt. 2nd. Tav. Eclaircissement du cercueil du Roi Myce- App. B. yinus, 4to. Paris, 1839, p. 24. The name of ^ Trans. R. S. Lit., p. 83.
