SAITE DYNASTY

(664525 BC), the 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt, a native dynasty between the reigns of the earlier Cushites, or Ethiopians, and the later Achaemenid Persians. Psamtik I, prince of Sais and Memphis, managed to assert his independence and, by gaining the trust of the other princes around him, was able to assert his sovereignty over the entire Nile Delta. Under his firm rule, Egypt rapidly recovered its prosperity. Greek traders entered Egypt in increasing numbers and were encouraged to settle at Naukratis, near Sais. Psamtik guarded the frontiers of Egypt with three strong garrisons. Toward the end of his reign he sent support to the Assyrians against the attacks of the Medes and Babylonians, but in 612 BC Nineveh fell, and the might of Assyria was broken. Psamtik died in the 54th year of his reign and was succeeded by his son Necho II (610595 BC). The new Pharaoh, perhaps dreaming of a new empire in Asia, prepared an expedition to help the remnant of the Assyrian forces in Syria against the Babylonians. After some initial successes, however, his forces were so thoroughly routed at Carchemish (605) that he relinquished Syria and only barely saved Egypt. Herodotus relates that, in Necho's reign, Phoenician sailors dispatched from Egypt actually circumnavigated Africa, and the attempt was made to complete a canal through the Wadi Tumilat connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas by way of the lower Egyptian Nile. The next king, Psamtik II (595589 BC), visited Syria or Phoenicia and sent an army of Egyptians and mercenaries against the Cushites (to the south), perhaps to forestall a threatened attack. Pharaoh Apries (589570 BC) intervened in Syria and fomented rebellion against the Babylonian suzerainty in Judah, but he accomplished little there. Herodotus describes Apries' reign as exceedingly prosperous. He incurred the wrath of his Egyptian troops, however, and the general who was sent to put down the ensuing rebellion was proclaimed king and ruled as Ahmose II (570526 BC) after defeating Apries and his mercenaries. Though Ahmose had been brought to power over the issue of undue Greek influence, he nonetheless employed Greeks in numbers and cultivated the friendship of their tyrants. His rule was confined to Egypt (and perhaps Cyprus), but Egypt itself remained prosperous. At the beginning of his reign, he was threatened by Nebuchadrezzar II. Later he is said to have joined the league against Cyrus II the great of Persia; but shortly after his death the invading army of the Persians led by Cambyses II reached Egypt and dethroned his son, Psamtik III.