Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-02
Armagcddon Again.
ny Trsderio J. Haskil

II ny Frederic J. Hsskir
Washington, Aug. z.--Arrnag gcddnn
| In again In the spotlight. Much was
heurd about the prophcsied Armaged-
don--~the last battle or the worid--dur-
| Ing the recent war. Now interest has
been revived by the fact that an
American expedition is to expore the
ruins of the real Armagcddon.
Armageddon. or Megiddo as IL In
more often called. Is one OF the his
toric places in Palestine. Here was
erected the Oldest known fortress in
the country. and in the course OF CEN
turtles seven different cities--Assyr-
ian. Canaanite. Jewish. Egyptian and
Eornan---rose within the walls. inside
this fortress city nm Egyptian king
trapped i1s princes Of Syria and made
them put dust on their heads and pay
tribute TO him. Armageddon was so
often the scene OF battles that the
name became a symbol Of terrible war
and destruction. much as Waterloo has
acquired its meaning. There some
people think the last battle Of the
world Will be fought.
The story of the most famous battle
at Megiddo between the Syrian princes
and King Thotfnes III Of Egypt can
be read on the temple walls at kar-
max by those versed in deciphering the
handwriting OF the Egyptians.
Thotmes III was the king who was
responsible for the obelisk now in
Central Park. He IL also remembered
as the king who quarreled with his
sister or aunt, Queen Hataheput, over
the Egyptian throne for a decade or
two. and who, when she died. had her
pictures and name ehIseled off the
monuments she had built and his own
put in their place. Sometimes his
workmen were careless in their al
terations, so that an inscription reads
king Thotmes III, she made this
monument to her father. Amen"
Az soon as Thotmes got the king
dom to himself. he set out in his
chariot with his army back OF him 70
conquer other Kingdoms, and one Of
his first big victories was at Megiddo.
Press Axentinr King.
We should probably know little more
than this il Thotmes III had not re-
garded himself as a person whose DO
ings were of infinite importance. He
carried with him everywhere a sec
retary who did nothing but write
down what His Majesty did or said
on all occaSions. SO the battle of
Megiddo was reported in detail and
the latest chapterLof the kings jour
nal was sent back every day 10 Egypt
to be deposited in the temple OF Amen.
This journal is net in existence today,
but Tnotrne4 insured a permanent rec
ard OF his conquest by having the
most important facts carved on stone
walls, where they can be seen today,
somewhat damaged by time, but still
readable.
Megiddo was so important because
1t was a walled city on a hill and in a
strategic place or the way from Egypt
to Babylon Thotmes went directly
TO it and drew up his well drilled
troops on the plain in front Of the
city, One hundred and nineteen Of the
princes and their warriors from diff
ferent parts of the invaded coun-
try had gathered together to drive
out the Egyptians, but, when they
met. the Syrians fed panic stricken,
and Thotmes had his official reporter
record that the people Of the city drew
up their fugitive protectors over the
city walls by their clothes, because
they were afraid to open the gates
even for their own people.
The Syrianx- escaped because the
Egyptian soldiers stopped to seize and
divide the beautiful gold and silver
chariots-1, 900 OF then--and 1000
horses and many arms forsaken in the
fight. !.
But Thotnnes was not satisfied with
the plunder. He said that 70 take
Megiddo was like taking a thousand
towns, since all the important chiefs
OF the country were inside it, and he
proceeded to starve out the city by
guarding every possible entrance.
Finally, Megiddo surrendered. The
princes and warriors filed out Of the
gate and agreed 10 pay Thotmes year
" tribute. The city was then s3cked,
perhaps burned, and valuable works
of art and jewels and gold Of re-
markabIg wealthy city carried off 70
Egypt, as well as such trophies as the
seepter, royal tent, and furniture be-
longing TO the King of Kadesh. Thot-
mes had it all recorded and went on TO
other unconquered regions.
This was only one of the numerous
battles fought at different times at
this strategic spot.
Some years ago, 1903, a German /
Palestine Society sent an expedition |
to the city, now a ruin, to explore the |
old foundations and see if any relics /
Of the battles were left buried there, I
For nearly three years the scientists /
worked, with the result that traces Of ]
seven cities We're found in different /
strata below the present surface. The I
oldest city, they believed, fiourished 1
back in the neolithic, or. stone, period. /
Pieces OF Talis. skeletons. temple and /
palace ruins, a seal marked as the /
OF 'Shema, the servant of /
king of Israel. all helped I
to identity the times when different +
held the important for /
.ress.
Ruins Still Hold Secrets
The expedition had to give up its
work before the possibilities of the