"Samentu speaks truth," said Tutmosis. "Happily not his holiness, but we, the warriors, will decide the ancient struggle between the priests and the pharaoh."
CHAPTER LXIII
On Paofi 12 alarming news went forth from various Egyptian temples. During a few preceding days an altar was overturned in the temple of Horus; in the temple of Isis a statue of the goddess shed tears. In the temple of Amon at Thebes, and from the tomb of Osiris in Dendera, omens of much evil were given. The priests inferred from infallible signs that some dreadful misfortune would threaten Egypt before the month had ended. Hence Herhor and Mefres, the high priests, commanded processions around the temples and sacrifice in houses.
On Paofi 13 there was a great procession in Memphis: the god Ptah issued from his temple, and the goddess Isis from hers. Both divinities moved toward the centre of the city with a very small assembly of believers, mainly women. But they were forced to withdraw, for Egyptians reviled them and foreigners went so far as to hurl stones at the sacred boats of the divinities.
In presence of these abuses the police bore themselves with indifference, some of them even took part in unseemly jests. During the afternoon unknown persons told the crowd that the priests would not permit relief to be given the people and desired a rebellion against the pharaoh.
Toward evening laborers gathered in crowds at the temples, where they hissed the priests and abused them. Meanwhile stones were hurled at the gate, and some criminals openly beat off the nose of Horus who was on guard at his own entrance.
A couple of hours after sunset the high priests and their most faithful adherents assembled in the temple of Ptah. The worthy Herhor was there; so were Mefres, Mentezufis, three nomarchs, and the highest judge.
"Terrible times!" said the judge, "I know to a certainty that the pharaoh wishes to rouse a rabble to attack temples."
"I have heard," said the nomarch of Sebes, "that an order has been sent to Nitager to hurry at the earliest with new troops, as if those here were insufficient."
"Communication between Upper and Lower Egypt is interrupted since yesterday," added the nomarch of Aa. "On the roads are posted troops, and the galleys of his holiness examine every barge sailing on the river."