Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/537

 480 Pkimitivk Grkixk: Mvcknian Art. this suzerainty of Egypt over the isles of a substantial or purely honorific character, which took the shape of annual presents made to the lords of an empire which at that time suffered no com- parison ? That we cannot answer the question matters little. What we had at heart to show is that the Egypt of the Theban dynasties and the tribes scattered on the islands and the coasts of the yEgean did not constitute two separate worlds. These restless turbulent tribes were willing enough to submit to a strong Egyptian supremacy ; but as soon as they saw the reins of government slacken through inner discords, they lost no time in falling upon so rich a prey. Thus, towards the middle of the fourteenth century b. c, several of them allied themselves with other clans banded together against Ramses II. Antiquity has handed down the tale of the adventurous humour of the Pelasgi or Tyrsenians, the '* most roving race ever seen," says Herodotus. Now, could the habits and name of the Tyrsenians be nearer than they are to the Toursha, who, in the days of Ramses II., invaded Egypt in concert with Libya ? Again, there is no difficulty in recognizing the Acha^ans in the Aquaiousha who, in the reign of Menephtah, tried to force the western frontier of Egypt, along with the Toursha, Leka, Shardana, and Sakalousha. Such incursions are perhaps faintly remembered in the story which Odysseus relates to Eumceus. The hero styles himself a Cretan who had effected a descent in Egypt, together with other freebooters. The African shore had been reached after a voyage of but five days ; they had sailed up one of the mouths of the river, and hid themselves among the rushes ; whence they had presently stolen out to loot peaceful homes, carrying off women and children to their ships. They had loitered over-much in that rich plain, so that the inhabitants had had time to call in rein- forcements from the nearest town, and together they had put the marauders to flight and captured their leader, whose life, however, had been spared. He seems to have been of a thrifty turn of mind, for he realized quite a fortune during the seven years which he spent in Egypt. The result of excavations carried on in Egypt shows that the Pelasgi and Acha;ans had large commercial dealings with the Delta. Since the distinctive peculiarities of Mycenian pottery have been established, many a specimen has been identified among objects collected in the tombs of that country. In the