* Repressive measures of this kind are evidently referred to in passages similar to those in which Osorkon II. boasts of having “overthrown beneath his feet the Upper and Lower Lotanu,” and speaks of the exploits of the sons of Queen Kalamait against certain tribes whose name, though mutilated, seems to have been Libyan in character.

Under their rule, Egypt enjoyed fifty years of profound peace, which was spent in works of public utility, especially in the Delta, where, thanks to their efforts, Bubastis came to be one of the most splendid among the cities of secondary importance.*

     * All our knowledge of the history of the temple of Bubastis
     dates from Naville’s excavations.

Its temple, which had been rebuilt by Ramses II. and decorated by the Rames-sides, was in a sorry plight when the XXIInd dynasty came into power.  Sheshonq I. did little or nothing to it, but Osorkon I. entirely remodelled it, and Osorkon II. added several new halls, including, amongst others, one in which he celebrated, in the twenty-second year of his reign, the festival of his deification.  A record of some of the ceremonies observed has come down to us in the mural paintings.  There we see the king, in a chapel, consecrating a statue of himself in accordance with the ritual in use since the time of Amenothes III., and offering the figure devout and earnest worship; all the divinities of Egypt have assembled to witness the enthronement of this new member of their confraternity, and take part in the sacrifices accompanying his consecration.  This gathering of the gods is balanced by a human festival, attended by Nubians and Kushites, as well as by the courtiers and populace.  The proceedings terminated, apparently, with certain funeral rites, the object being to make the identification of Osorkon with Osiris complete.

[Illustration:  244.jpg PICTURE IN THE HALL OF THE HARPS IN THE FIFTH TOMB]

The Egyptian deities served in a double capacity, as gods of the dead as well as of the living, and no exception could be made in favour of the deified Osorkon; while yet living he became an Osiris, and his double was supposed to animate those prophetic statues in which he appeared as a mummy no less than those which represented him as still alive.

[Illustration:  245.jpg GATE OF THE FESTIVAL HALL AT BUBASTIS]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a restoration by Naville.

Another temple of small size, also dedicated to Bastifc or Pasht, which had been built in the time of Ramses II., was enlarged by Osorkon I., and richly endowed with workshops, lands, cattle, slaves, and precious metals:  Tumu-Khopri of Heliopolis, to mention but one of the deities worshipped there, received offerings of gold in value by weight.L120,000, and silver ingots worth L12,000.*

     * This is the small temple afterwards described by Herodotus
     as being dedicated to Hermes.