Horemheb also summoned together all the builders in the city and bade them tear down the houses of the wealthy and break up ships for their timber, and he set labourers to building battering rams and ladders and tools to break gates and siege towers, so that the noise of hammering and crashing timber filled the night. But above all other noises rose the yells of black men and Sherdens under the lash, and this sound was agreeable to the citizens of Thebes. Therefore they forgave Horemheb all his deeds from beforehand and loved him, for all the destruction had made even the most sensible grow weary of Amun, and they hoped Amun would soon fall to rid the city from the soldiers.
Horemheb wasted no time in vain negotiations with the priests, but as soon as it grew light, he gave his officers their orders and summoned all sergeants and gave them their tasks. The soldiers pushed the siege towers at five points about the Temple walls while at the same time battering rams began to thunder against the gates, and no one was even wounded — for the soldiers made roofs of their shields, and the priests and Temple guards had thought the siege would continue unchanged and hadn’t boiled water or melted tar to counter the attackers on the walls. Thus they could make no stand against so determined an attack which was made in several places at the same time according to the plan, but dispersed their forces and ran hither and thither in panic about the walls, and the crowd started shouting from fear in all forecourts. When the chief priests saw that the gates were giving way and that black men were gaining the walls, they caused horns to be sounded to stop the fight and to save the lives of the people for they were of the opinion that Amun had had sacrifice enough, and they desired to spare the remainder of the Amun’s faithful for service in the future. The gates were therefore opened, and the soldiers allowed the crowds packed in the forecourts to escape as Horemheb had commanded. The people fled, calling upon Amun, and were content to hasten home, for the uproar had abated and they were weary indeed of standing so long in the courtyards beneath the burning sun.
Thus Horemheb took possession of the forecourts, stores, stables and workshops of the Temple without severe casualties. The Houses of Life and Death were also brought under his control, and he sent physicians from the House of Life into the city to heal the sick, but he
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did not meddle with the House of Death — for the House of Death dwells outside of life and in sanctuary from whatever may befall in the world. The priests and guards made a last stand in the great Temple to protect the holy of holies, and the priests laid spells on the guards and drugged them that they might fight to the death without feeling pain.
The battle in the great Temple went on until nightfall, but by then the bewitched guards had all been slain along with such priests who had made armed resistance, and there remained only the priests of the highest order who had gathered about their god in the sanctuary. Horemheb gave order for the fighting to cease and at once sent men to gather up the dead and throw them into the river, but he himself went to the priests of Amun and said:
“I wage no war against Amun, for I serve Horus, my falcon. Nevertheless, I must obey the command of Pharaoh and depose Amun. Would it not be more agreeable for both yourselves and me if no image were found in the holy of holies for the soldiers to desecrate for I do not wish to commit sacrilege, though because of my oath I must serve Pharaoh. Reflect upon my words, and to that end I will allow you a water measure’s time. Thereafter, you may depart in peace, and none shall raise his hand against you since I do not seek your lives.”
These words were agreeable to the priests, who had braced themselves to die for the sake of Amun. They remained in the sanctuary until a measure of water had run from the water clock. Then Horemheb with his own hand tore down the veil of the sanctuary and let the priests depart, but when they had gone, the sanctuary was empty and no image of Amun was to be seen for the priests had made haste to demolish it, and they bore away the pieces under their cloaks that later they might proclaim a miracle and affirm that Amun still lived. Horemheb caused seals to be set on all stores, and he sealed the cellars where the gold and silver was hidden with his own hands. That evening, by the light of torches, stone masons set to work to efface the name of Amun from every statue and inscription. During the night, Horemheb had the square cleared of what was left of bodies and sent men to quench the fires that still raged in some parts of the city.
When the wealthier and more aristocratic Thebans learned that Amun had been deposed and that peace and good order had been
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