Ancient History - The Persian Empire under Cambyses

What was the first story of why Cambyses invaded Egypt?

An Egyptian doctor in the Persian court advised Cambyses marry the daughter of Pharoah Amasis. Fearing his daughter would become a concubine, Amasis sent his pretend daughter Nitetis, daughter of the deposed pharoah Apries (deposed by Amasis) and having no loyalty to Amasis. Cambyses decided to invade Egypt.

What was the second idea?

It was to protect Persia: Persian control of the Levant was threatened by an independent Egypt and that he should strike first

How did Cambyses prepare for the attack?

He got support from Phoenicia who were great navymen who joined Persia voluntarily. Initially Samos was Egyptian aligned, but the tyrant Polycrates turned to Persia and now had a strong navy.

Who became pharoah in 526 BCE and why was this bad for Egypt?

Psameticus III, who was unprepared to defend Egypt, and his Greek allies and Egyptian military council had deserted him.

How did Cambyses decieve the Egyptians at the Battle of Pelusium in 525 BCE?

Held cats on their shields; these were sacred to Egyptians and they did not want to harm them

What happened after Egypt fell?

Psammeticus tried to rebel and was executed (having initially been treated quite well), Libya-Barca-Cyrene submitted, Cambyses planned to fight other countries but cancelled it against Carthage due to them being Phoenician colonists (the Phoenicians refused to fight them). He tried to lead 50,000 men to Ammon but they were killed in a sandstorm, and inadequately planned to fight Ethiopia. His men ate pack animals and then each other, so they returned to Memphis.

What happened with the Apis Bull?

When he got back from Ethiopia, Cambyses saw Egyptians celebrating a religious festival. Believing it was them celebrating his failure, he ordered the Memphis leaders to explain but executed them, not believing them. The priests gave the same answer and he stabbed the new Apis Bull, ridiculing it. It later died.

What were some other insane acts of Cambyses?

Had Amasis’ body desecrated and damaged, sent Smerdis (his brother) to Persia from Egypt where he was later killed. Cambyses’ sister-wife asked if Cambyses preferred a lettuce with or without leaves and Cambyses said with. She said he had stripped Cyrus’ kingdom as bare as the lettuce, and Cambyses killed her.

Why are these ideas not necessarily reliable?

They are written by Herodotus who worked from biased Egyptian sources; Cambyses made the richer pay taxes they had previously avoided

Who was Udjahorresnet?

An Egyptian official who switched sides from Egypt to Persia, advised Cambyses and then Darius, and praised himself and Persia. Udjahorresnet portrays Cambyses as a traditional pharoah.

How did Cambyses die?

In 522 BCE, two Magi rebelled. Patizeithes (left in charge of the royal household by Cambyses) and Gaumata (who looked very similar to the murdered Smerdis). The brothers announced Gaumata was Smerdis and that troops should take their orders from him over Cambyses.

What happened when they sent a herald to Egypt?

They came across Cambyses and his friends in Syria in Ecbatana (the same name as the Median capital). Cambyses called for Prexaspes who had killed Smerdis, and they figured out what had happened. Cambyses realised the dream didn’t specify the Smerdis and was regretting it. When mounting his horse, the cover on his sword fell off and pierced his leg.

What happened to him after?

He asked where they were and recalled he’d die at Ecbatana, then told his nobles what had happened. He ordered them to avenge him and gangrene set in, killing him. His nobles didn’t believe it and thought it was a way to stop his brother taking the throne (they didn’t know about the real Smerdis’ murder). Prexaspes denied the murder due to a lack of protection.

What source tells us about how Darius ascended to the throne amidst the chaos?

The Bisitun Inscription

Who was suspicious of the new king and why?

Otanes, whose daughter was married to Smerdis. Smerdis never emerged from the royal citadel or met other Persians, and the women of the court didn’t meet either.

How did Phaidymie (Smerdis’ wife) check the truth?

Otanes told her Cyrus had Smerdis’ ears cut off, so Phaydimie reported he had no ears. Otanes then immediately gathered six other nobles to overthrow Smerdis.

Who was Darius in relation to Cambyses?

A distant cousin who had served in Egypt

What did Prexaspes do next?

He had allied with the Magi, and was going to declare the lie, but declared the truth and then killed himself

What happened after?

They killed the Magi, and agreed that the conspirator whose horse neighed first at sunrise would be king. Darius’ did and he became king.