The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-03

Washington, D. c., Aug. Arm
ageddon is again in the spoti1gnt.
Much was heard about the pfophe-
sled Armageddo last battle
of the world-during the fecens
war. Now interest has been revived
by the fact that an American expe-
fition is to explore the ruins OF the
real Arnaag eddoa.
Armageddon, or Megiddo, as 1t is
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
centuries seven different cities
Assyrian. Canaanite. Jewish. Egyp-
tfan and Roman-rose within the
walls. Inside this fortress city an
Egyptian king trapped 1l9 princes
of syria and made them put dust on
their heads and pay tribute to him.
Arma geddon was SO often the scene
of battles that the name became a
symbol OF terrible war and destruc-
ton, 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 Syr-
ian princes and King Thotmes III
of Egypt can be read on the temple
walls at KaEnak 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 is also remem-
bered as the king who quarreled
with his sister or aunt, Queen
Hatsheput, over the Egyptian
throne for a decade or two, and who,
when she died, had her pictures
and name chiseled Off the monu-
ments she had built and his own
put in their place. Sometimes his
worknen were careless in their
alterations, so that an inscription
reads King Thotmes III, she made
this monument to her father,
Amen
AS soon at Thotmes got the king
dom to himself, he set out in his
chariot with his army back of him
to conquer other kingdoms, and one
of his first big victories was at
Megiddo.
I Press Agenting King.
We. should probably know little
more than this if Thotmes III had
not regarded himself as a person
whose doings were of infinite i'm
portance. He carried with him
everywhere a secretary who did
nothing but write down what his
majesty did or said on all occas-
ions. So the battle of Megiddo was
reported in detail and the latest
chapter of the kings journal was
sent back every day to Egypt to be
deposited in the temple of Amen.
This journal is not in existence to-
day, but Thotmes insured a perma-
nent record of his conquest by hav-
ing 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 be-
cause it was walled city on a
hill and in strategic place on the
way from Egypt to Babylon.
Thotmes went directly 10 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 different
parts of the invaded country had
gathered together to drive out the
Egyptians, but, when they met, the
Syrians fed panic stricken, and
Ehotmes 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
pie.
The Syrians escaped because the
Egyptian soldiers stopped to seize
and divide the beautiful gold and
silver chariots-1,0 900 of them
and 1000 horses and many arms
fOrsaken in the fight.
But Thotmes was not satisfied
with the plumber. He said that to