Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/43

 The History of the Hittites. 27 storm-bell was sounded, and the whole country rose up in arms, as it did in our times against Mehemet AH and Ibrahim Pasha. A new confederacy was formed, consisting chiefly of tribes from Asia Minor, of which the Kheta, from some unexplained reason, had not the leadership. As usual, all were eager for plunder, and they advanced as far as Pelusa on the very borders of Egypt, where Ramses III., the last great Pharaoh, awaited them. Once again superior discipline and organiza- tion triumphed over mere bar- barous numbers ; the invading hordes were repulsed, and Ramses entered Syria as a conqueror. But, threatened at home by a rising on the Libyan frontier, he was obliged to renounce the fruit of his victory and his intended march upon Kadesh, contenting himself with the allegiance of Phoenicia and Philistia. Hence- forth Egypt ceased to concern herself about what might happen beyond the mountains of Judaea. At first sight, it seems as if the withdrawal of Egypt from Syria should have been the Hittites' opportunity ; but whatever desire they may have had to possess themselves of the provinces lately vacated by the Pharaohs was checked by the growing ascen- dency of Assyria. The balance of power so long wielded by Egypt had migrated to the regions watered by the two great rivers of Western Asia; and the first place to be attacked was undoubtedly Carchemish on the Euphrates, where the river is fordable during the best part of the year. It was not to be expected that the kings of Kalah and Nineveh would neglect to occupy a point that offered so many advantages. In fact, Tiglath-Pileser, towards the end of the twelfth century a.c, moved through the upper part of Syria, and reached Fig. 260. — King Khitisar. Lepsius, DenkmaUtt iii., Plate CLXVI.