Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-08-27

~ have no place in a pyramid sacred 10 Ra.
\ lie built the temple in the valley and tstIc,
beside the wooden staff Of power that
was symbol of Ptah, the only heir 10 The
Egyptian throne was laid in a iorloIn tomb.
STVi The most tragic feature Of the self.
49, imposed calamity that befeH King Cnas IS
fEE3 the fact that his sacrifice OF his only son
1%y1 was in vain. After his DEATH the priests
esstd OF Ptah advanced the cause Of Tot young
- offshoot of collateral branch OF The royal
~ family, who came from Memphis and
~ a dcvout disciple and staunch supporter Of
the Architect of the World.
- Tot seized the throne and became the
- u founder of the Sixth Dynasty. He was Crly
~ p but he soon displayed all the faT..ar
- attributes OF a dictator He turned al once
: IA on the followers who had put him INTO
81 power. There had always been two high
..1s.5 priests Of Ptah but Tot. who some.
~ times called ioti the Terrible, disposed Of
81 them both and installed his own man, Satu
asyl Thety, sole high priest.
- lie had his own pyramid built rot far
- from that of Unas and calied it Tctsotu,
~ The Most Lasting of Places" II lasted
S~fa long enough. but Tou didn't. His tomb was
$3.50 plundered by graverobbers.
- In life Tot didn't last as long as ke Cd
in death. AT the end Of eight years q his
dictatorial reign, he aSsaSSinatcd +, his
guards at the behest Of a usurper who was hacked
The new Pharaoh called himself Userkere. or
Mighty is the Spirit Of Ra" But in some respects
he was even ruthless than his predecessor,
and the Sun Gods hierarchy found itself in
Userkere had hunch, and it was a good che,
that he wasn't going 10 last very long either. Be
Of the terrific heat, work in the quarries
usually abandoned in midsummer But there are
records showing that Userkere kept the slaves, and
a lot Of Egyptians, too, working summer and win
ter, day and night, in frantic effort to get his
pyramid built before his death
He didn't make IT, His sojourn the Egyptian
throne was only siXyear stretch, and no trace Of
any Userkere pyramid has ever been found.
Just what happened TO this ineroper has not
been established but he was succeeded by Toti's
son, who probably had been too young to make a
bid for the kingship when his father slain.
The called himself Piop Meryre and must have
been considerable OF a conciliator because he man.
aged 10 reconcile the two rival priesthoods.
The war Of the gods ended and for many years
Pa and Ptah. got along like couple Of office
holders at q political clambake
Egypt baSked for a while under benign sue
ccssion Of Pharaohs, but the blood of Toti the Ter.
rhle was punGcnt enough 10 make itself felt in
later generations One OF his descendants in the
Sixth Dynasty was Queen NitoCris, who the in
spration for a famous play by Lord Dunsany en-
tilted The Queens Enemies"
The queen was described by current historians
as the beauty with the rosy checks" but there
we're no bushes her soul When her brother
was assassinatcd she determined TO avenee. him
She invited his suspected murderers to feast
which was held in an underground chamber CT the
hanks Of the Nile.
They came, sure that treachery was in the
queens heart, and each brought an armed slave for
protection. Queen Nltocrs laughed at their fears.
You are strong and / am only a weak
woman" she said. How could do you HARM
When the food came, each Of the guests gave
his portion first 10 his slave TO taste. The queen
pushed the slaves aside and tasted IL herself
when the wine came she the 10 take
the FIRST sip from the Eoslets.
See, YOU have no reason 10 be afraid she said.
Il would not poison you. want you TO trust me-"
There was more wine, and the guests grew
merry. but the queen the merriest Of all.
Il cannot bear TO have enemies" she said Il
shall not sleep tonight if have any enemies left"
AZ The height of the feast she Slipped away TO
.ta1, av,I t,,4 tho, ~