Speaker 1: Chapter nine of History of Egypt. This is a LibriVox recording.
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Speaker 1: by Rick VENA History of Egypt by F. C. H. Wendel,
Speaker 1: Chapter nine, The Egyptian Renaissance Dynasty twenty six six forty
Speaker 1: five through five twenty five BC, Section one Semtec the
Speaker 1: first six forty five through six ten BC. We have
Speaker 1: seen in the preceding chapter how the House of Sayeis
Speaker 1: gradually rose in importance. The first Ahti, as the Egyptians
Speaker 1: called the petty sovereigns of the preceding epic of this
Speaker 1: line that succeeded in gaining supreme power, even though for
Speaker 1: a short time only was Tephnat, the contemporary of Usarkin,
Speaker 1: the third king of Bubastus and the great opponent of Pianchi.
Speaker 1: How his attempt at unifying Egypt failed, we have already seen.
Speaker 1: A descendant of his was the bechan Renf, who ruled
Speaker 1: at least in lower Egypt for six years seven thirty
Speaker 1: four through seven twenty eight b C. The next prince
Speaker 1: we know is Nekau, the favorite of Asarhadum and Assur
Speaker 1: Banipal as predecessors of this Nekao. Manetho mentions Stephanites ruled
Speaker 1: seven years and Nechepsos ruled six years. The Egyptian names
Speaker 1: of which princes are unknown. This Nekau seems to have
Speaker 1: come to his death about the time tanuwat Amon invaded
Speaker 1: Egypt six sixty four b C. Nekaou was succeeded by
Speaker 1: his son Semtek, the Samatikos of the Greeks, who was
Speaker 1: given the name of Nabu ushesib Ani at Aserbanopal's request.
Speaker 1: Semtec seems to have been a faithful ally of Assyria
Speaker 1: for quite some while, but he merely waited a chance
Speaker 1: to gain his ends. He entered into friendly relations with
Speaker 1: taniwat Amon, marrying one of his relatives, the Ethiopian princess
Speaker 1: shep and Apet, a daughter of Queen Amonardas. As Amonardas
Speaker 1: had been queen of Egypt. Semtek thus acquired a claim
Speaker 1: to the throne at length. The right moment came about
Speaker 1: six forty five BC. Aided by mercenaries sent him by
Speaker 1: King Gaigies of Lydia, he succeeded in making himself independent
Speaker 1: from Assyria. It is evident that he succeeded in this
Speaker 1: only after a struggle, but we have no record of
Speaker 1: his combats with Assyria. His next enemies were in Egypt itself,
Speaker 1: though he was under doubtedly the rightful sovereign of the country,
Speaker 1: Yet the many petty rulers that divided the country among
Speaker 1: themselves did not submit without a struggle. Semtec, however, succeeded
Speaker 1: in gaining the ascendancy and uniting Egypt under his scepter.
Speaker 1: Semtec made Seyus his capital. This made na It, the
Speaker 1: Great Goddess of Sayus, the official head of the national pantheon,
Speaker 1: and deposed a mon Ra who had held this position
Speaker 1: with some interruptions for about fifteen hundred years. Memphis, the
Speaker 1: oldest capital of Egypt and part of Semtec's original principality,
Speaker 1: was also highly favored, and many of the government offices
Speaker 1: were located there. Thebes was falling into decay. The Assyrian
Speaker 1: wars had dealt the city a blow from which it
Speaker 1: never recovered. True. Semtec and some of his successors built
Speaker 1: here and repaired the Great Temple of Amon, but the
Speaker 1: city never again rose into prominence of the city of Sais.
Speaker 1: There remains today scarce a trace. The climate and soil
Speaker 1: of the Delta are not favorable to the preservation of ruins,
Speaker 1: and after the city had once fallen into decay, all
Speaker 1: traces of it rapidly disappeared. Mindful of the great debt
Speaker 1: he owed the Greek mercenaries Semtec little by little, increased them.
Speaker 1: By this action, he incensed the native mercenaries, who had
Speaker 1: hitherto ruled supreme in Egypt. According to Herodotus, two hundred
Speaker 1: and forty thousand men of the warriors who stood on
Speaker 1: the left of the king emigrated to Ethiopia in this
Speaker 1: reign because they had not been relieved in their garrisons
Speaker 1: for three years. This story is assuredly untrue, but it
Speaker 1: reflects the fact that the native troops were highly dissatisfied
Speaker 1: and were no particular friends of Semtecs. The stories that
Speaker 1: the Greek authors tell us of his scientific experiments to
Speaker 1: ascertain which people was the oldest of the world, and
Speaker 1: those that they relate of his efforts to find the
Speaker 1: source of the Nile are all alike untrue and legendary.
Speaker 1: The remark of Strabo that he was one of the
Speaker 1: greatest conquerors of the world is also false. The king
Speaker 1: was too much occupied with internal affairs to go in
Speaker 1: search of foreign conquest. The real fact of the matter
Speaker 1: is that Semtec was confined to Egypt proper. On the
Speaker 1: western frontier, he fortified Marea as a defense against Libya.
Speaker 1: On the Asiatic frontier, he erected the strong fortress of
Speaker 1: Daphne near Pelusium, and on the Ethiopic frontier, the town
Speaker 1: of Siuin Assawan Sayene was strongly fortified. The fact that
Speaker 1: the three frontiers were thus put in a state of
Speaker 1: defense proves that the king did not make any conquests.
Speaker 1: Herodotus relates that he conquered Asdod after a siege of
Speaker 1: twenty nine years, but there is no reason to believe this.
Speaker 1: The policy of this king and of all his successors,
Speaker 1: was to gain the friendship of the Greeks. He gave
Speaker 1: lands along the banks of the Pelusian branch of the
Speaker 1: Nile near Bubastis to the Ionians and Carians, and in
Speaker 1: order that they might come into communication with his subjects,
Speaker 1: he gave them Egyptian boys, whom they should teach Greek,
Speaker 1: and who were to serve as interpreters. The Milesians soon
Speaker 1: after entered the Balbitic arm of the Nile and settled
Speaker 1: a fortified camp, which was called the Malesian Camp. Tyrian
Speaker 1: merchants settled, possibly about the same time, in Memphis and
Speaker 1: gave their name to the Tyrian quarter of the US city.
Speaker 1: The king died about six ten b C. Having been
Speaker 1: prints of Sayis and Memphis from six sixty four b
Speaker 1: C and King from six forty five b C. On
Speaker 1: section two Necao Greek Neko and Necau six ten through
Speaker 1: five ninety four b C. Necaou successfully continued the policy
Speaker 1: of his father. Herodotus relates that he began the construction
Speaker 1: of a canal which was to connect the Nile with
Speaker 1: the Red Sea, and that after one hundred and twenty
Speaker 1: thousand laborers had perished, Nikau suddenly stopped the work, having
Speaker 1: been warned by an oracle that he was working for
Speaker 1: the barbarians. This story is very improbable. A canal connecting
Speaker 1: the Nile with the Red Sea existed already in the
Speaker 1: times of Seti the first and Rameses the Second, about
Speaker 1: seven hundred years before this time. This canal was mentioned
Speaker 1: in the Assyrian inscriptions of the eighth century BC, and
Speaker 1: it is scarcely possible that it could have disappeared entirely
Speaker 1: in less than a century. Nikau possibly cleared it of
Speaker 1: sand and widened it. The story of the enormous number
Speaker 1: of laborers who perished during the progress of the work
Speaker 1: and that of the oracle are both utterly false. Herodotus
Speaker 1: relates a story of a great maritime enterprise undertaken at
Speaker 1: this time, which seems quite credible. He states that Nikau
Speaker 1: sent out Phoenician ships from the Red Sea to circumnavigate Africa,
Speaker 1: and that in the third year of their journey they
Speaker 1: returned to the Mediterranean through the Straits of Gibraltar. The
Speaker 1: very fact that Herodotus questions, namely that in circumnavigating Libya,
Speaker 1: that is, Africa, they had the sun on their right hand,
Speaker 1: proves that they really did accomplish their task. The same
Speaker 1: historian relates that Nicaou kept fleets of triremes in the
Speaker 1: Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Nikau felt himself strong enough
Speaker 1: to attempt the restoration of Egyptian supremacy in Asia. Great
Speaker 1: changes had meanwhile taken place on this continent. Assur Banipal
Speaker 1: died the king of a great empire, but his successors
Speaker 1: were not able to hold their own. About six hundred
Speaker 1: eight b C, Nabu Pallissar, whom Asorbanopal had appointed Viceroy
Speaker 1: of Babylon, threw off the Assyrian yoke and founded an
Speaker 1: independent Babylonian kingdom. Intent on crushing out the Assyrian kingdom,
Speaker 1: he allied himself with King Kayaksaraes of Medea, and together
Speaker 1: they attacked and completely annihilated the Assyrian kingdom. The Medes
Speaker 1: kept all the land east and north of the Tigris.
Speaker 1: The Babylonians Mesopotamia and Syria. Nikaou thought the time had
Speaker 1: now come to intervene in Asia. Accordingly, in the spring
Speaker 1: of the year six hundred eight b C, he invaded
Speaker 1: the continent. He encountered no resistance until he reached Megido.
Speaker 1: Here at the very spot where almost a thousand years before,
Speaker 1: Tutmosis the Third had defeated the Syrian coalition, King Josiah
Speaker 1: of Judah had drawn up his army ready to dispute
Speaker 1: Necao's advance. The pharaoh, not wishing to lose time in
Speaker 1: subduing the petty sovereigns of Syria and Palestine, haughtily ordered
Speaker 1: the Jewish king to give way. Josiah refused and was
Speaker 1: arranging his army for the coming battle when he was
Speaker 1: fatally wounded by an arrow. The king was brought back
Speaker 1: to Jerusalem, where he died and was buried. Amid the
Speaker 1: wailings of his people, over whom he had ruled for
Speaker 1: thirty nine years, Nikaou continued his march to Riblah near Hamath,
Speaker 1: where he went into camp. Meanwhile, the Jews had elected Ioakis,
Speaker 1: the son of Josiah, king, but Nikaou was dissatisfied with
Speaker 1: their choice and deposed him, giving the kingdom to his
Speaker 1: older brother Joakim and levying a heavy contribution on the land.
Speaker 1: Excepting Judaea, Gaza was the only state that offered any
Speaker 1: resistance to the Egyptians. Up to the year six hundred
Speaker 1: four b c. Ni Kaou seems to have had his
Speaker 1: own way in Asia, but in that year Nabopalassar was
Speaker 1: ready to meet him. He himself was old and sick,
Speaker 1: so he sent his son Nabekinezar Babylonian Nabu Kuduri uz
Speaker 1: Zure against the Egyptians at Karchemish on the banks of
Speaker 1: the Euphrates. The two armies met and Nikaou was utterly routed.
Speaker 1: His army must have been completely annihilated, for he left
Speaker 1: Syria to the victor without daring to oppose him again.
Speaker 1: Nebiconesar probably had the intention of invading Egypt, but the
Speaker 1: death of his father compelled him to return to Babylon.
Speaker 1: Nikaou did not dare to interfere in Asia again. Time
Speaker 1: and again the Jews begged him for assistance in their
Speaker 1: repeated revolts against the Babylonians. At last, Jerusalem fell about
Speaker 1: five ninety six b C, and Nebukonesar was free to
Speaker 1: invade Egypt, but it seems that he was called to
Speaker 1: other parts of his kingdom and the threatened invasion did
Speaker 1: not come until much later. Nikaou died in five ninety
Speaker 1: four b C and was buried like his father in
Speaker 1: Sais Section three Semtec the second five ninety four through
Speaker 1: five eighty nine BC. The only historical event of this
Speaker 1: short reign was an invasion of Ethiopia. Both Herodotus and
Speaker 1: Aristaeus mention it, and an Egyptian inscription confirms their report.
Speaker 1: Late in this reign, General ness Hor was sent against
Speaker 1: the Ethiopians, and the war was finally brought to a
Speaker 1: close early in the following reign. It may be that
Speaker 1: the trouble with Ethiopia had begun already in Nikoo's time,
Speaker 1: and this coount for his otherwise incomprehensible policy with regard
Speaker 1: to the Jewish rebellions. The graffiti left on the colossi
Speaker 1: of Abu Simbel by the Phoenetian and Greek mercenaries that
Speaker 1: marched with the Egyptian army on this campaign still further
Speaker 1: confirm the report of Semtec's war in this quarter. Despite
Speaker 1: his short reign of only six years, this pharaoh was
Speaker 1: an active builder, restoring and repairing temples in all parts
Speaker 1: of Egypt from the Delta to Nubia. Section four o
Speaker 1: Habre Greek Aprias five eighty nine through five sixty four BC.
Speaker 1: Early in this reign, Neshor brought to a successful conclusion
Speaker 1: the Ethiopian War begun in the reign of Semtek. The
Speaker 1: second Ouhabre, thought manners in Asia favored an intervention on
Speaker 1: his part. In Judea. Important changes had taken place in
Speaker 1: the times of his predecessors. Joakim, the king whom Nekau
Speaker 1: had appointed, was deposed in five ninety seven b C
Speaker 1: after a reign of eleven years. In Yoakim, his son
Speaker 1: put in his place by Nebekinezer. Soon after, he also
Speaker 1: was deposed and Zedekiah put in his place. Zedekiah five
Speaker 1: ninety six through five eighty six b C. Was not
Speaker 1: the man the Babylonian king had thought him. He determined,
Speaker 1: despite the warnings of the prophets, to win the independence
Speaker 1: of his kingdom. O Habre now came to his aid
Speaker 1: and began a war with Tire. Saidon was taken and
Speaker 1: a Cypriote fleet that opposed him was utterly defeated. Although
Speaker 1: thus far successful, the pharaoh withdrew soon after on the
Speaker 1: approach of the Babylonians. Meanwhile, Zedekiah had begun the war,
Speaker 1: but Jerusalem was soon invested and after a spirited resistance,
Speaker 1: was taken July five eighty seven b C. While o
Speaker 1: Habre did nothing to assist his sorely beset ally, Zedekiah
Speaker 1: was deposed and blinded, and Meidalia was set on the throne.
Speaker 1: He was assassinated by a descendant of the family of Ishmael,
Speaker 1: who was soon after compelled to fly the country. He
Speaker 1: and his friends went to Egypt, where ou A Habre
Speaker 1: received them kindly. Soon after Oua Habre began a war
Speaker 1: which promised better results. A war had broken out between
Speaker 1: the Greek city of Syrene, which lay on the northern
Speaker 1: coast of Africa west of Egypt, and the Libyans. The
Speaker 1: Libyan king Adecram placed himself under the protectorate of Egypt,
Speaker 1: and an Egyptian army was immediately sent out to aid him.
Speaker 1: At a town of Irsa on the well of Theestus,
Speaker 1: a battle ensued in which the Egyptian army was annihilated.
Speaker 1: This account, taken from her Rodotus, is probably correct, but
Speaker 1: the rest of his account is certainly false. He relates
Speaker 1: that the Egyptians were furious over the defeat and declared
Speaker 1: that Apries had sent out the native troops in order
Speaker 1: to have them annihilated, so that his rule over the
Speaker 1: rest of the Egyptians might be the more secure. This
Speaker 1: is entirely unnatural. In Egypt, the pharaoh was an absolute ruler.
Speaker 1: He was considered as the son of the god Ra
Speaker 1: and the incarnation of the god Horace, and it would
Speaker 1: not have been at all necessary for him to destroy
Speaker 1: the national troops in order to strengthen his rule. The troops,
Speaker 1: according to Herodotus, also murmured, and the king sent an
Speaker 1: officer named Amesis Egyptian ACMs to quiet them. While he
Speaker 1: was addressing them, a soldier stepping behind him, placed a
Speaker 1: helmet on his head and proclaimed him king. The rest
Speaker 1: of the army shouted their assent, and Ameesis, gladly accepting
Speaker 1: the election, placed himself at their head and marched against
Speaker 1: the pharaoh. A messenger sent by Aprias was sent back
Speaker 1: with a sarcastic reply. Aprias, now prepared for battle and
Speaker 1: collecting his Greek mercenaries to the number of thirty thousand,
Speaker 1: marched against his rival at Mommphis on the Canopic branch
Speaker 1: of the Nile. The armies met and Aprias was, after
Speaker 1: a well contested battle, defeated, captured and brought to Memphis,
Speaker 1: where he was kept in prison for a while, but
Speaker 1: was finally delivered up to the anger populace and strangled.
Speaker 1: This story is utterly false from beginning to end, as
Speaker 1: are also the many anecdotes the Greek writers tell of Amesis.
Speaker 1: We know, however, that oua Habre, about six years before
Speaker 1: his death, appointed Akmes, the second co regent. Akmes was
Speaker 1: wedded to Anshnss Nepher ab Rah, a daughter of Semtek
Speaker 1: the second, and to nay it A Kurt, a sister
Speaker 1: of Oua Habre. These facts completely refute the Greek legends.
Speaker 1: Why Akmes was appointed co regent we cannot say. Possibly
Speaker 1: the king had no male issue and wished to keep
Speaker 1: the succession in the family. In the time of their
Speaker 1: joint reign fell Nebekinezer's invasion. This campaign was undertaken, according
Speaker 1: to the Babylonian inscriptions, in the thirty seventh year of
Speaker 1: Nebekinezer's reign, that is, in five sixty seven b C.
Speaker 1: The Babylonians found little or no resistance and easily succeeded
Speaker 1: in overrunning and plundering the whole land as far as Assuan,
Speaker 1: and then retired, either voluntarily or after having been defeated
Speaker 1: by ness hor Be. That as it may, the Babylonians
Speaker 1: never again entered Egypt. Ouahbre died in five sixty four
Speaker 1: b C, after having ruled twenty five years in all,
Speaker 1: nineteen alone and six in conjunction with his brother in
Speaker 1: law and successor Section five Akmes the second Amesis five
Speaker 1: sixty four through five twenty six b C. This pharaoh
Speaker 1: came into still closer connection with the Greeks than any
Speaker 1: of his predecessors. The many anecdotes the Greek authors tell
Speaker 1: of his private life and family relations are all untrustworthy,
Speaker 1: as are also the reports that Pythagoras, Solon, and Thalus
Speaker 1: visited Egypt in his reign. Solon is even said to
Speaker 1: have copied from Amess's laws, one of the laws he
Speaker 1: promulgated at Athens in five ninety four b C. A
Speaker 1: statement that is of course absurd. Further, this king is
Speaker 1: said to have entered into friendly relations with Cleobulus, Bias
Speaker 1: and Piticus, and to have foreseen the down fall of Polycrates.
Speaker 1: All of these stories, which are by the by chronologically impossible,
Speaker 1: have a direct tendency, namely, to prove that all of
Speaker 1: the knowledge and philosophy of Greece was derived from Egypt. Amess,
Speaker 1: being the king best known to the Greeks, they placed
Speaker 1: the Egyptian voyages of their sages in his reign. We
Speaker 1: have already alluded to these traditions in the introduction. More
Speaker 1: credible are the accounts the Greek writers give us of
Speaker 1: his wars. He fought against the Arabians, that is, the Asiatics,
Speaker 1: and in order to increase the valor of his troops,
Speaker 1: He had the statues of the chief divinities set up
Speaker 1: behind their ranks, so that the troops believed the gods
Speaker 1: themselves were observing them. He next sent out a fleet
Speaker 1: against Cyprus that succeeded in subduing the Cypriote cities, which
Speaker 1: remained Egyptian dependencies for some time thereafter. This expedition was
Speaker 1: most probably undertaken as part of Egypt's work in the
Speaker 1: Great Coalition, which had been formed for the purpose of checking,
Speaker 1: if possible, the rise of the new Persian monarchy. This
Speaker 1: coalition was joined by Egypt, Lydia, Babylon, and Sparta. The
Speaker 1: object was to attack Persia from three sides at once,
Speaker 1: and had the allies acted in concert and not wasted
Speaker 1: valuable time over their preparations, they might have crushed Cyrus.
Speaker 1: As it was, Croasis moved before the others were ready.
Speaker 1: In all the health he could get from his allies
Speaker 1: consisted in a detachment of troops sent him by Achmas.
Speaker 1: In the spring of five forty six BC. He entered Cappadocia,
Speaker 1: devastated the country and captured the strong fortress of Teria.
Speaker 1: Now was the time for Akms and Nabu Naid, king
Speaker 1: of Babylon, to act, but it was impossible for them
Speaker 1: to concentrate their forces and to cooperate properly. Cyrus first
Speaker 1: moved against Croasis and soon had conquered Lydia, taken its capital,
Speaker 1: and made the king a prisoner fall of five forty
Speaker 1: six b C. A Persian fleet sent against Cyprus easily
Speaker 1: succeeded in dislodging the Egyptian garrisons. Am Now, instead of
Speaker 1: coming to the aid of his ally, Nabu Naid remained
Speaker 1: inactive while the Persians conquered Babylon and took possession of
Speaker 1: Palestine and Syria as far as the Egyptian frontier. The
Speaker 1: pharaoh evidently hoped to pacify Cyrus by this inactivity, but
Speaker 1: he had gone just one step too far and had
Speaker 1: incurred the determined enmity of the Persians that the invasion
Speaker 1: of Egypt did not follow immediately on. The occupation of
Speaker 1: Palestine was owing to complications that had arisen on the
Speaker 1: Eastern frontier. In the wars fought here, Cyrus lost his life,
Speaker 1: but his successor, Cambises, soon punished Egypt for its share,
Speaker 1: and the coalition against Persia, Akmes thought it to his
Speaker 1: advantage to interfere in Syrinae. Here King Archisilaus had been
Speaker 1: assassinated by Learchus, who had ascended the throne and supported
Speaker 1: by Egyptian mercenaries, had instituted a most tyrannical rule. His
Speaker 1: misrule did not last long. He was assassinated at the
Speaker 1: instigation of Polyarchus and his sister Eeriso, who placed Baddis,
Speaker 1: the son of Archisilaus, on the throne. The Egyptian mercenaries
Speaker 1: now called on Acmas for aid, and he determined to
Speaker 1: take advantage of these conditions to subdue the city. Before
Speaker 1: he started on the expedition, however, his mother died and
Speaker 1: he was detained in Egypt by the preparations for her interment. Polyarchus,
Speaker 1: accompanied by his mother Cretola and his sister Erkso, now
Speaker 1: went to Egypt to propitiate the pharaoh. Acmes received them kindly, and,
Speaker 1: praising the energy they had shown, dismissed them. Loaded with presents.
Speaker 1: He now abandoned the expedition against Syennae, as he was
Speaker 1: evidently satisfied with the recognition of his sovereignty. The two
Speaker 1: nations hereafter remained at peace until the downfall of Egypt.
Speaker 1: Acmees was confined entirely to Egypt. His expedition against Cyprus,
Speaker 1: though at first successful, had proved in the end a failure.
Speaker 1: In Asia, he dared not interfere Ethiopia retained its independence,
Speaker 1: and his sovereignty over Synae was purely nominal, while the
Speaker 1: kingdom thus did not extend its boundary under Akmus. Still,
Speaker 1: his reign was an epoch of great prosperity. Agriculture and
Speaker 1: commerce flourished, and it is stated that there were at
Speaker 1: this time twenty thousand inhabited places in Egypt. The Greeks were,
Speaker 1: of course greatly favored, and costly presents were made to
Speaker 1: their temples, among them being a contribution of a thousand
Speaker 1: pounds of alum, one of the most important raw products
Speaker 1: of Egypt, to the fund the Amphic Taions were collecting
Speaker 1: for rebuilding the Delphic Temple. Greek immigration was greatly encouraged.
Speaker 1: The Ionians and Carians, whom Semtec the first had settled
Speaker 1: on the Pealusic branch of the Nile, were removed to
Speaker 1: Memphis to serve as a body guard to the Pharaoh
Speaker 1: in place of the harbor. Thus lost to the Greeks.
Speaker 1: The king gave them the city of Nolcratus and its
Speaker 1: surroundings in the neighborhood of the present city of Alexandria.
Speaker 1: This new city stood outside of the pale of Egyptian
Speaker 1: jurisdiction and was allowed to make its own laws. The
Speaker 1: result was that the inhabitants clung to their own Greek
Speaker 1: customs and institutions with the greatest tenacity, and went their
Speaker 1: way entirely uninfluenced by their Egyptian neighbors. The city being
Speaker 1: originally intended for Ionians from Taos, its government was modeled
Speaker 1: after that of the latter city. This town became the
Speaker 1: center of Greek activity in Egypt. In it was erected
Speaker 1: the great sanctuary of the Greeks in Egypt. This was
Speaker 1: the Helenion, which was built by several Greek cities conjointly.
Speaker 1: These cities were Chios, Taos, Fosai, Clasomenae, Nidos, Halicarnassis, Phacelis,
Speaker 1: and Mytelenae. The reason why so many cities helped to
Speaker 1: build the Helenion was that all of the cities that
Speaker 1: took part in this work had the privilege of sending
Speaker 1: to Nelcratus a supervisor of trade, or as we would
Speaker 1: put it, appointing a member of the board of trade.
Speaker 1: Temples to zeus Hera and Apollo were also built by
Speaker 1: other cities, who thus gained the same privilege as the
Speaker 1: builders of the Helenion. Nelcratus rose very rapidly, owing to
Speaker 1: certain laws that gave her a complete monopoly of the
Speaker 1: trade with Greece. The Greeks soon had colonies in all
Speaker 1: parts of Egypt, even in the southern portions of the country.
Speaker 1: The Milesians had a trading post at Abydos, and Samian
Speaker 1: merchants even settled in the Great Oasis. Being engaged in
Speaker 1: no great wars, this pharaoh was enabled to devote considerable
Speaker 1: attention to the temples of the land. In all parts
Speaker 1: of Egypt, from the Delta to the island of Baigay,
Speaker 1: we find traces of his work. He died five twenty
Speaker 1: six b C, after having been co regent of his
Speaker 1: brother in law for six years and sole ruler for
Speaker 1: thirty eight years. Section six. Semtech the Third and the
Speaker 1: Persian conquest of Egypt five twenty six to five twenty
Speaker 1: five b C. When Semtec the Third ascended the throne
Speaker 1: of his fathers. The catastrophe that had so long threatened
Speaker 1: the land at length overwhelmed it. The account of this
Speaker 1: catastrophe has been preserved to us by Herodotus. The stories that,
Speaker 1: according to Greek traditions, impelled Cambises to invade Egypt are
Speaker 1: all untrustworthy, as they seek to bring Cambyses into relationship
Speaker 1: with the Egyptian kings and to find the cause of
Speaker 1: the war in this relationship, while making Cambyses appear at
Speaker 1: the same time as the legitimate pharaoh. The war far
Speaker 1: from having any such cause, as degree historians would have
Speaker 1: us believe, had in all probability been determined on already
Speaker 1: by Cyrus, who was prevented from carrying out this part
Speaker 1: of his plan by other matters. Cambyses was free to
Speaker 1: attack Egypt, and he had ample cause for war in
Speaker 1: the fact that Egypt had been the ally of his
Speaker 1: father's worst enemies, King Croasis of Lydia and King Nabu
Speaker 1: Naid of Babylon. Accordingly, Cambyses began making active preparations for
Speaker 1: the war, and everything indicated that he was going to
Speaker 1: have a hard time of it. The eastern frontier of
Speaker 1: Egypt was protected by the Syrian desert that skirted it
Speaker 1: to cross, which was a task of no small difficulty.
Speaker 1: Recognizing this fact, Akmas it concentrated his forces at Pelusium,
Speaker 1: hoping to gain an easy victory over the Persian army,
Speaker 1: which no doubt would suffer terribly in the desert and
Speaker 1: reach the Egyptian border sadly used up. Cambisses did not
Speaker 1: under rate the difficulty of the undertaking and made the
Speaker 1: most extensive preparations. A great fleet was fitted out to
Speaker 1: attack Pelusium by sea, while the army attacked it by land.
Speaker 1: Just as he was about to start, he received unexpected
Speaker 1: and timely aid in the Egyptian army. There was a
Speaker 1: Holacarnashian officer named Thanes, a bright and able leader who
Speaker 1: had had some difficulty with Akhmas. In consequence of this,
Speaker 1: he had fled to the Persian monarch. On the way,
Speaker 1: he was overtaken by the king's favorite eunuch, but managed
Speaker 1: to escape. Shortly after this event, Akmes had died and
Speaker 1: Semptek the third had succeeded him. Fanes not only betrayed
Speaker 1: to the Persians all the secrets of the state, but
Speaker 1: he also showed them the means of crossing the desert
Speaker 1: without great loss. To accomplish this, envoys were sent to
Speaker 1: all the Bedouin sheikhs of the desert, and treaties were
Speaker 1: concluded with them. They agreed to furnish the army with
Speaker 1: camels and water, and thus the Persian army was enabled
Speaker 1: to cross the desert and to reach Pelusium with but
Speaker 1: little loss. The battle that ensued was waged with great fury,
Speaker 1: but finally, after both sides had lost heavily, the Persians
Speaker 1: were victorious and the Egyptians fled from the field. Pelusium
Speaker 1: surrendered soon after. A ship was now sent to Memphis,
Speaker 1: whither the pharaoh had fled to demand the city's surrender.
Speaker 1: When it entered the harbor of Memphis, the garrison boarded it,
Speaker 1: killed the crew, and destroyed the vessel. This breach of
Speaker 1: international usage met with a severe but well merited punishment.
Speaker 1: Memphis was besieged and taken ten days after the capture.
Speaker 1: The punishment came two thousand sons of the most respected citizens,
Speaker 1: among them the son of King Semtek, were executed to
Speaker 1: atone for the death of the two hundred men that
Speaker 1: had composed the crew of the ill fated vessel, the
Speaker 1: daughter of the fair Pharoh, and the noblest virgins were
Speaker 1: sold into slavery, and the fortunes of the richest citizens
Speaker 1: and of the king's friends were confiscated, leaving their former
Speaker 1: owners beggars. The fate of Semtec was comparatively light. Cambises
Speaker 1: even intending to make him governor of Egypt, but he
Speaker 1: became involved in a conspiracy against Cambises and was compelled
Speaker 1: to take poison. Thus ended the last of the Semtecs.
Speaker 1: As a result of the capture of Memphis, the Libyans
Speaker 1: submitted voluntarily and paid tribute. Syennae and Barsaia also sent tribute,
Speaker 1: but this the Persian monarch divided among his soldiers, as
Speaker 1: he hoped to gain far more by capturing these rich
Speaker 1: towns than he could ever get from them as voluntary tribute.
Speaker 1: End of Chapter nine