Thûtmosis III., who claimed a share of the worship offered in them,
and whose son, Amenôthes II., also assumed the symbols and functions of
divinity.

[Illustration: 059.jpg ONE OF THE RAMS OF AMENÔTHES III]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph by Mons. de Mertens.

Amenôthes I. was venerated in the province of Kari, and Amenôthes III.,
when founding the fortress Hâît-Khâmmâît* in the neighbourhood of a
Nubian village, on a spot now known as Soleb, built a temple there, of
which he himself was the protecting genius.**

* The name signifies literally "the Citadel of Khâmmâît,"
and it is formed, as Lepsius recognised from the first, from
the name of the Sparrow-hawk Khâmmâît, "Mait rising as
Goddess," which Amenôthes had assumed on his accession.

** Lepsius recognised the nature of the divinity worshipped
in this temple; the deified statue of the king, "his living
statue on earth," which represented the god of the temple,
is there named "Nibmâûrî, lord of Nubia." Thûtmosis III. had
already worked at Soleb.

The edifice was of considerable size, and the columns and walls
remaining reveal an art as perfect as that shown in the best monuments
at Thebes. It was approached by an avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, while
colossal statues of lions and hawks, the sacred animals of the district,
adorned the building. The sovereign condescended to preside in person
at its dedication on one of his journeys to the southern part of his