The tradition current in the time of the Ptolemies reckoned the number of men under the command of King Ahmosis when he encamped before Avaris at 480,000. This immense multitude failed to bring matters to a successful issue, and the siege dragged on indefinitely. The king afc length preferred to treat with the Shepherds, and gave them permission to retreat into Syria safe and sound, together with their wives, their children, and all their goods. This account, however, in no way agrees with the all too brief narration of events furnished by the inscription in the tomb. The army to which Egypt really owed its deliverance was not the undisciplined rabble of later tradition, but, on the contrary, consisted of troops similar to those which subsequently invaded Syria, some 15,000 to 20,000 in number, fully equipped and ably officered, supported, moreover, by a fleet ready to transfer them across the canals and arms of the river in a vigorous condition and ready for the battle.*
* It may be pointed out that Ahmosi, son of Abîna, was a
sailor and a leader of sailors; that he passed from one
vessel to another, until he was at length appointed to the
command of one of the most important ships in the royal
fleet. Transport by water always played considerable part in
the wars which were carried on in Egyptian territory; I have
elsewhere drawn attention to campaigns conducted in this
manner under the Horacleopolitan dynasties, and we shall see
that the Ethiopian conquerors adopted the same mode of
transit in the course of their invasion of Egypt.
As soon as this fleet arrived at the scene of hostilities, the engagement began. Ahmosi-si-Abîna conducted the manouvres under the king’s eye, and soon gave such evidence of his capacity, that he was transferred by royal favour to the Rising in Memphis—a vessel with a high freeboard. He was shortly afterwards appointed to a post in a division told off for duty on the river Zadiku, which ran under the walls of the enemy’s fortress.* Two successive and vigorous attacks made in this quarter were barren of important results. Ahmosi-si-Abîna succeeded in each of the attacks in killing an enemy, bringing back as trophies a hand of each of his victims, and his prowess, made known to the king by one of the heralds, twice procured for him, “the gold of valour,” probably in the form of collars, chains, or bracelets.**
* The name of this canal was first recognised by Brugsch,
then misunderstood and translated “the water bearing the
name of the water of Avaris.” It is now road “Zadikû,” and,
with the Egyptian article, Pa-zadikû, or Pzadikû. The name
is of Semitic origin, and is derived from the root meaning
“to be just;” we do not know to which of the watercourses
traversing the east of the Delta it ought to be applied.
** The fact that the attacks from this side were not
successful is proved by the sequel. If they had succeeded,
as is usually supposed, the Egyptians would not have fallen
back on another point further south in order to renew the
struggle.
Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph by Emil Brugsch-Bey.
The assault having been repulsed in this quarter, the Egyptians made their way towards the south, and came into conflict with the enemy at the village of Taqimît.* Here, again, the battle remained undecided, but Ahmosi-si-Abîna had an adventure. He had taken a prisoner, and in bringing him back lost himself, fell into a muddy ditch, and, when he had freed himself from the dirt as well as he could, pursued his way by mistake for some time in the direction of Avaris. He found out his error, however, before it was too late, came back to the camp safe and sound, and received once more some gold as a reward of his brave conduct. A second attack upon the town was crowned with complete success; it was taken by storm, given over to pillage, and Ahmosi-si-Abîna succeeded in capturing one man and three women, who were afterwards, at the distribution of the spoil, given to him as slaves.** The enemy evacuated in haste the last strongholds which they held in the east of the Delta, and took refuge in the Syrian provinces on the Egyptian frontier. Whether it was that they assumed here a menacing attitude, or whether Ahmosis hoped to deal them a crushing blow before they could find time to breathe, or to rally around them sufficient forces to renew the offensive, he made up his mind to cross the frontier, which he did in the 5th year of his reign.
* The site of Taqimît is unknown.
** The prisoner who was given to Ahmosis after the victory,
is probably Paâmû, the Asiatic, mentioned in the list of his
slaves which he had engraved on one of the walls of his
tomb.
It was the first time for centuries that a Pharaoh had trusted himself in Asia, and the same dread of the unknown which had restrained his ancestors of the XIIth dynasty, doubtless arrested Ahmosis also on the threshold of the continent. He did not penetrate further than the border provinces of Zahi, situated on the edge of the desert, and contented himself with pillaging the little town of Sharûhana.* Ahmosi-si-Abîna was again his companion, together with his cousin, Ahmosi-Pannekhabit, then at the beginning of his career, who brought away on this occasion two young girls for his household.**