Second ruler of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, reigning in Sais Ruling from 664 b. c.e. until his death, he was the son of NECHO I, who had been put to death by tanutamun (r. 664-657 B. C.E.) of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty for being a vassal of the Assyrians. Psammetichus I fled to Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, when his father was slain, and he returned to Egypt with the Assyrian army of assurbani-PAL. He was called Nabu-shezibanni by Assurbanipal and was well liked by the Assyrians, as his father had been before him.
Psammetichus I assumed the throne of SAIS, eventually turning on and defeating the Assyrians and the Nubians who were trying to hold on to their Twenty-fifth Dynasty domain. He used the military might of Greek mercenaries in order to establish his own rule and to unify Egypt. By his ninth regnal year, he ruled over all areas of the nation, using oracles to win over some areas and brute force to subdue others.
His consort was mekhtemweskhet (2), the daughter of HARSIESE, the high priest of Heliopolis. His son was NECHO II, and his daughter was nitocris (2). She was sent to THEBES, to be adopted by amenirdis (2) as the god’s wife of amun or a Divine Adoratrice of Amun. “The Adoption Stela of Nitocris” has survived to document this event.
Psammetichus I consolidated his control by building forts at NAUKRATIS and Daphne, in the eastern Delta, and on ELEPHANTINE Island. He also continued to employ Greek mercenaries, initiating Greek settlements of loni-ans and Carians. Naukratis was possibly started as a result of his policies. Psammetichus I aided the Assyrians against the rising power of the Persians at Babylon and gained land on the Palestinian coast. He defeated
Nabopolasser, the Mede, at Ashdod on the coast as well. When the Scythians threatened Egypt, Psammetichus I sent tribute and escaped their assaults.
He ruled from Sais and Memphis and declared the goddess NEITH (1) as patroness of the dynasty Egypt prospered under his leadership, as he restored the economy, trade, and the traditions of the past. When he died, he was buried in the temple of Neith at Sais.
See also PEDIESE.
Psammetichus II (Neferibre, Psamtik) (d. 589 b. c.e.) Fourth ruler of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty He reigned from 595 b. c.e. until his death. He was the son of NECHO II and Queen mekhtemweskhet (3). Militarily active, Psammetichus II conducted a major campaign in NUBIA (modern Sudan) in his third regnal year. His army was composed of Greek mercenaries, and he went as far south as Napata during his campaigns. This war was depicted on a wall of karnak to commemorate the campaigns. His Greek soldiers also left inscriptions at ABU SIMBEL.
A granite statue of Psammetichus II was erected at DAMANHUR in the Delta in a temple dedicated to HORUS. He also went to southern Palestine to encourage the various city-states of the area to band together and to fight against the rising power of the Babylonians.
Psammetichus Il’s consort was queen takhat (3), who was the mother of his son, apries, and his daughter, ANKHESNEFERIBRE. This daughter was sent to Thebes to be adopted as a god’s wife of amun by nitocris (2). When Psammetichus II died, he was buried in sais.
World History
