But another Ethiopian prince, Tuant-Amon, made a last attempt to recover the dominion of his fathers.

Thebes received him with acclamation, and Memphis was taken without difficulty.

There the satrap of Goshen came to pay him homage on behalf of his brother-governors in the north.
His triumph, however, was short-lived.

Assur-bani-pal determined to inflict a terrible punishment on the rebel country, and to reduce it to subjection once for all.

Thebes had been the centre of disaffection; its priesthood looked with impatience on the rule of the Asiatic, and were connected by religion and tradition with Ethiopia; on Thebes and its priesthood, therefore, the punishment had to fall.