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Dynasty 26

Late Period - Egypt Through Time - What is Ancient Egypt?

Egypt’s Late Period: 664 to 332 BC

26th to 31st Pharaonic Dynasties

The Assyrians invaded, driving out the Nubians and then left to deal with issues in their home country

A Pharaoh of Libyan heritage ruled for a short period of time before the Persians invaded and occupied Egypt twice

Brief History

After being driven back south by the Assyrians, the Nubians never invaded Egypt again but continued to rule from their Capital City in Napata and when former Pharaoh Tantamani died he was buried in the Royal Cemetery with the Nubian Pyramids. They left behind them an Egypt who had been reintroduced to the Temples, Deities and Pyramids of the Middle Kingdom periods.

The Assyrian Ruler, King Ashurbanipal, left his vassal, Psamtik I to rule Egypt on his behalf. Psamtik had different ideas and though he continued to be peaceful with the Assyrians, he did not stay loyal to his Assyrian King Ashurbanipal. He expelled the Assyrian Army and made himself the first Pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt, taking Sais as his Capital City where he reigned for over 50 years. In part this may have been due to the Assyrians being involved in an ongoing rebellion closer to home in Babylon. In 656BC Pharaoh Psamtik I sent a fleet to Thebes in the south and peacefully managed to regain control of Upper Egypt and reunify the country as one.

The Capital City of the 26th Dynasty

Sais

Click here or on the Image below to learn more about the Pharaohs of this 26th Dynasty

Pharaoh Psamtik I

Founder of the 26th Dynasty, he managed to reunite all Egypt in 656 BC by utilising troops from King Gyges of Lydia. He reigned for 54 years from 664 to 610 BC

 

Pharaoh Necho II

Son of Pharaoh Psamtik I and Queen Mehtenweshkhet, he ruled from 610 to 595 BC. He sent out naval expeditions, aimed to build the precursor of today’s Suez Canal, instituted a Royal Navy, and is supposed to be the Pharaoh mentioned many times in the Bible

 

Pharaoh Psamtik II

Son of his predecessor, he ruled from 595 to 589 BC, during which time he engaged in battles in Nubia to stop them re-entering Egypt. He erected the Kiosk at the Temple of Isis on Philae Island, a pair of Obelisk at the Temple of Heliopolis, and the Temple of Hibis

 

Pharaoh Wahibre Haaibre or Apries

Ruling from 589 to 570 BC, Pharaoh Apries was the son of his predecessor. Attempting to follow in his grandfather’s military exploits but these failed and his Throne was usurped. He died trying to reclaim his Throne it at the head of a Babylonian Army

 

Pharaoh Amasis II

Amasis II taking the Throne was prosperous for Egypt and she began to bloom. Snubbing Persian Ruler Cambyses II of his daughter’s hand in marriage led to the invasion of Egypt by the Persians, but Pharaoh died before they arrived. The Persians exhumed and burned Pharaoh’s mummy

 

Pharaoh Psamtik III

Son of his predecessor, he ruled for 6 months, losing Egypt to the Persians in 525 BC. Pharaoh and his family fled to Memphis, but they were soon captured and moved to Persian Susa. When Pharaoh Psamtik III tried to incite a revolt, the Persians executed him

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