Fortresses

From the earliest days the Egyptians erected fortre es against the incursions of the Asiatics, Bedawin, and Nubians. The most ancient are those of Abydos and El-Kab. In the Delta a line of forts was erected under the M.E., and called the "gates of the barbarians." Above Aswân, on the Nubian frontier, was a fortre called the "gate of the south," which was commanded sometimes by the nomarch of Thebes, and sometimes by the "superintendent of the South." At Semneh and Kummeh, in Nubia, just above the second cataract, Usertsen III. (Dynasty XII.) erected two great forts immediately opposite to each other, to bar the water-way against the southern tribes. Most of the cities of ancient Egypt were strongly fortified—notably Thebes, Ombos, On, Sais and San. El-Kab, the ruins of which are still standing, is the oldest walled city in Egypt. The ruins of many other fortre es are still in existence.