7 Fall of the house of Sais
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Roger Forshaw
Abstract
Soon after the death of Ahmose II, the Persian Empire, which had been increasing in size and power for a number of years, invaded Egypt. Ahmose’s son, Psamtek III, the new ruler of Egypt, fought the Persians, under Cambyses II at Pellusium. The Egyptians retreated and following a siege at Memphis were defeated and Psamtek was taken prisoner. Cambyses conquered Egypt, sent expeditions to the oases, campaigned in Nubia and consolidated his control over the whole country. The celebrated statue of Udjahorresnet, an Egyptian naval officer and dignitary, who served under both Ahmose II and Cambyses II, provides information for this period. Psamtek III reputedly committed suicide following a failed attempt to foment a rebellion against the Persian occupiers. In 525 BC Cambyses was declared King of Egypt and incorporated Egypt into the Persian empire. The Saite Period was over and Egypt was an occupied country.
Abstract
Soon after the death of Ahmose II, the Persian Empire, which had been increasing in size and power for a number of years, invaded Egypt. Ahmose’s son, Psamtek III, the new ruler of Egypt, fought the Persians, under Cambyses II at Pellusium. The Egyptians retreated and following a siege at Memphis were defeated and Psamtek was taken prisoner. Cambyses conquered Egypt, sent expeditions to the oases, campaigned in Nubia and consolidated his control over the whole country. The celebrated statue of Udjahorresnet, an Egyptian naval officer and dignitary, who served under both Ahmose II and Cambyses II, provides information for this period. Psamtek III reputedly committed suicide following a failed attempt to foment a rebellion against the Persian occupiers. In 525 BC Cambyses was declared King of Egypt and incorporated Egypt into the Persian empire. The Saite Period was over and Egypt was an occupied country.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Epigraph v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Foreword xi
- Preface xii
- Abbreviations xiv
- Chronologies xvi
- 1 Political turmoil and ‘Libyan’ settlers 1
- 2 Kushite and Assyrian invaders 24
- 3 Psamtek ‘the Great’ 52
- 4 Egypt, a new beginning 77
- 5 The heirs of Psamtek I 124
- 6 Haaibra versus Ahmose II 146
- 7 Fall of the house of Sais 172
- 8 The Saite era within the history of Pharaonic civilisation 182
- References 189
- Index 221
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Epigraph v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Foreword xi
- Preface xii
- Abbreviations xiv
- Chronologies xvi
- 1 Political turmoil and ‘Libyan’ settlers 1
- 2 Kushite and Assyrian invaders 24
- 3 Psamtek ‘the Great’ 52
- 4 Egypt, a new beginning 77
- 5 The heirs of Psamtek I 124
- 6 Haaibra versus Ahmose II 146
- 7 Fall of the house of Sais 172
- 8 The Saite era within the history of Pharaonic civilisation 182
- References 189
- Index 221
