26th Dynasty The
Twenty-Sixth Dynasty, also known as the Saite Dynasty, after its seat of power the city of
Sais, reigned from 672 to 525 BC, and consisted of six pharaohs. It started with the unification of Egypt under
Psamtik I in 656/655 BC, itself a direct consequence of the
Sack of Thebes by the Assyrians in 663 BC. Canal construction from the
Nile to the
Red Sea began. Egypt seems to have expanded into the Near East early in this period. They
conquered the city of Ashdod around 655 BC, and a wide range of archaeological finds from throughout the Levant shows an Egyptian occupation and control in the late decades of the 7th century BC. These include various Egyptian objects from several sites, ostraca and documents showing a tribute/tax system, and evidence from the fortress of Mezad Hashavyahu. Egyptian influence reached to the Euphrates area in places such as
Kimuhu and
Quramati. Later they were pushed back by the defeat at
Carcemish, although Egyptian intervention in the Near East seems to have continued for a while after this battle. In 570 BC,
Apries (Hophra) was deposed by
Amasis II, who replaced him as
Pharaoh of Egypt. In Amasis' fourth year, around 568–567 BC, Egypt was invaded by the
Babylonians, under the leadership of
Nebuchadnezzar II. This assault was recorded by a fragmentary Babylonian inscription, as well as a fragmentary stele of Amasis from the 4th year of his reign in 567 BC, which may describe a combined naval and land attack by the Babylonians. Recent evidence suggests that the Babylonians were initially successful during the invasion and gained a foothold in Egypt, but they were repelled by Amasis' forces. It is believed that this forced Nebuchadnezzar II to retire plans to conquer Egypt. Amasis II followed a new policy and directed his interests toward the
Greek world. He annexed
Cyprus during his reign. To the south,
Psamtik II led a great military expedition that reached deep into upper Nubia and inflicted a heavy defeat on them. A demotic papyrus from the reign of Ahmose II describes a small expedition into Nubia, the character of which is unclear. There is archaeological evidence of an Egyptian garrison at Dorginarti in lower Nubia during the Saite period. One major contribution from the Late Period of ancient Egypt was the
Brooklyn Papyrus. This was a medical papyrus with a collection of medical and magical remedies for victims of
snakebites based on snake type or symptoms. Artwork during this time was representative of animal cults and animal mummies. This image shows the god Pataikos wearing a scarab beetle on his head, supporting two human-headed birds on his shoulders, holding a snake in each hand, and standing atop crocodiles.
27th Dynasty The
First Achaemenid Period (525–404 BC) began with the
Battle of Pelusium, which saw Egypt (
Mudrāya) conquered by the expansive
Achaemenid Empire under
Cambyses, and Egypt become a
satrapy. The Persians came to dominate Egypt, but Egypt remained independent until it was made a Persian province in 485 B.C., after a revolt. The
Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt consists of the Persian emperors - including Cambyses,
Xerxes I, and
Darius the Great - who ruled Egypt as Pharaohs and governed through their satraps, as well as the Egyptian
Petubastis III (522–520 BC) (and possibly the disputed
Psammetichus IV), who rebelled in defiance of the Persian authorities. The unsuccessful revolt of
Inaros II (460–454), aided by the
Athenians as part of the
Wars of the Delian League, aspired to the same object. The Persian satraps were
Aryandes (525–522 BC; 518–c.496 BC) - whose rule was interrupted by the rebel Pharaoh Petubastis III,
Pherendates (c.496–c.486 BC),
Achaemenes (c.486–459 BC) - a brother of the emperor Xerxes I, and
Arsames (c.454–c.406 BC).
28th–30th Dynasties The
Twenty-Eighth Dynasty consisted of a single king,
Amyrtaeus, prince of
Sais, who successfully rebelled against the Persians, inaugurating Egypt's last significant phase of independence under native sovereigns. He left no monuments with his name. This dynasty reigned for six years, from 404 BC–398 BC. The
Twenty-Ninth Dynasty ruled from
Mendes, for the period from 398 to 380 BC. King
Hakor of this dynasty was able to defeat a Persian invasion during his reign. The
Thirtieth Dynasty took their art style from the
Twenty-Sixth Dynasty. A series of three Pharaohs ruled from 380 to 343 BC. The first king of the dynasty,
Nectanebo I, defeated a
Persian invasion in 373 BC. His successor,
Teos, subsequently led an expedition against the Achaemenid Empire in the
Near East. The expedition was beginning to meet with some success, and made its way to
Phoenicia without any particular problems. Unfortunately for Teos, his brother,
Tjahapimu, was plotting against him. Tjahapimu convinced his son,
Nectanebo II, to rebel against Teos and to make himself Pharaoh. The plan was successful and the betrayed Teos had no alternative but to flee, and the expedition disintegrated. The final ruler of this dynasty, and the final native ruler of Egypt, was
Nectanebo II who was defeated in battle, leading to the re-annexation of Egypt by the
Achaemenid Empire.
31st Dynasty The
Second Achaemenid Period saw the re-inclusion of Egypt as a satrapy of the Persian Empire under the rule of the Thirty-First Dynasty, (343–332 BC) which consisted of three Persian emperors who ruled as Pharaoh—
Artaxerxes III (343–338 BC),
Artaxerxes IV (338–336 BC), and
Darius III (336–332 BC)—interrupted by the revolt of the non-Achaemenid
Khababash (338–335 BC).
32nd Dynasty Persian rule in Egypt ended with the defeat of the Achaemenid Empire by
Alexander the Great, who accepted the surrender of the Persian satrap of Egypt
Mazaces in 332 BC. This marked the beginning of Hellenistic rule in Egypt, with Alexander appointing
Cleomenes of Naucratis as its overseer (possibly with the title satrap). Cleomenes's oversight lasted until Alexander's death, which was followed after a short interval by the 33rd dynasty, generally known as the
Ptolemaic Kingdom. ==See also==