7th century BCE – 6th century BCE
Egypt, centred on Sais in the Nile Delta
The Saite Dynasty was Egypt’s XXVIth Dynasty, established by Psamtek after the fragmentation and foreign domination of the late seventh century BC. It reunited and defended Egypt while relying heavily on Greek, Carian, Phoenician, and other foreign military personnel. The dynasty promoted an archaizing revival of Old Kingdom artistic, religious, and political forms, expanded trade through Naukratis, and maintained campaigns in Syria, Kush, Cyprus, and Cyrenaica before Persian conquest in 525 BC.
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The Story
Psamtek emerged from the political fragmentation of Egypt as the ruler of a reunited and independent kingdom, conventionally identified as the XXVIth Dynasty. His authority was contested by Assyria, Kush, and rival Delta chiefs, while Thebes continued for a time to recognize Tanwetamani. Recognition at Thebes was secured in 654 BC through the adoption of one of Psamtek’s daughters as heir to the office of the God’s Wife of Amun-Re, and garrisons at Elephantine, Marea, and Daphnae protected Egypt’s vulnerable frontiers.
Saite military strength depended substantially on foreigners. Greek and Carian mercenaries formed the main body of Psamtek’s army, while Phoenicians and later Jews also served in military establishments. Psamtek settled mercenaries in the Stratopeda near the Pelusian branch of the Nile, and Greek troops were present at Daphnae and Elephantine. This dependence allowed the Saite kings to defend Egypt and conduct foreign wars, but it also created resentment among Egyptian soldiers and contributed to later political instability.
The Saite rulers presented themselves as restorers of Egypt’s ancient glories. Their reigns encouraged an archaizing style in painting, relief sculpture, funerary monuments, cults, priesthoods, and titles, with models drawn especially from the Fourth to Sixth Dynasties of the Old Kingdom. This cultural program favored the traditions of northern Egypt and Memphis over the more recent imperial heritage of Thebes, and the artistic style continued beyond the dynasty into the third century BC.
The dynasty also strengthened Egypt’s overseas connections. Psamtek encouraged Phoenician and Greek merchants, while Naukratis developed as a cosmopolitan commercial settlement on the Canopic branch of the Nile. Egyptian grain, linen, papyrus, gold, ivory, and ebony moved toward the Greek world, while wine, olive oil, and silver entered Egypt. The presence of Greeks also introduced ironworking on a significant scale, with the earliest archaeological evidence in Egypt associated with Naukratis and the Greek mercenary fort at Daphnae.
Saite foreign policy alternated between defensive consolidation and attempts to recover influence abroad. Psamtek supported Assyria against Babylon and the Medes in 616 BC, but Nineveh fell in 612. Necho II later campaigned in Syria, briefly controlled Judah and Phoenicia, and was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 605 BC. Necho also developed Egyptian naval power, maintained fleets in the Mediterranean and Red seas, and undertook the construction of a canal along the Wadi Tumilat between the Nile and the Red Sea.
Psamtek II invaded Kush in 593 BC, apparently sacking Napata and extending Egyptian control toward the Second Cataract, although Egypt did not permanently occupy Kush. Under Wahibre, military defeat against Cyrene provoked an Egyptian mutiny and the rise of Ahmose, later known as Amasis. Ahmose maintained Greek trade and mercenary forces while reducing Greek mobility and securing tribute from Cyprus, but the dynasty’s independence ended when Cambyses II invaded Egypt in 525 BC.
7th century BCE – 6th century BCE
Egypt, centred on Sais in the Nile Delta
The Saite Dynasty was Egypt’s XXVIth Dynasty, established by Psamtek after the fragmentation and foreign domination of the late seventh century BC. It reunited and defended Egypt while relying heavily on Greek, Carian, Phoenician, and other foreign military personnel. The dynasty promoted an archaizing revival of Old Kingdom artistic, religious, and political forms, expanded trade through Naukratis, and maintained campaigns in Syria, Kush, Cyprus, and Cyrenaica before Persian conquest in 525 BC.
Continue exploring
The Story
Psamtek emerged from the political fragmentation of Egypt as the ruler of a reunited and independent kingdom, conventionally identified as the XXVIth Dynasty. His authority was contested by Assyria, Kush, and rival Delta chiefs, while Thebes continued for a time to recognize Tanwetamani. Recognition at Thebes was secured in 654 BC through the adoption of one of Psamtek’s daughters as heir to the office of the God’s Wife of Amun-Re, and garrisons at Elephantine, Marea, and Daphnae protected Egypt’s vulnerable frontiers.
Saite military strength depended substantially on foreigners. Greek and Carian mercenaries formed the main body of Psamtek’s army, while Phoenicians and later Jews also served in military establishments. Psamtek settled mercenaries in the Stratopeda near the Pelusian branch of the Nile, and Greek troops were present at Daphnae and Elephantine. This dependence allowed the Saite kings to defend Egypt and conduct foreign wars, but it also created resentment among Egyptian soldiers and contributed to later political instability.
The Saite rulers presented themselves as restorers of Egypt’s ancient glories. Their reigns encouraged an archaizing style in painting, relief sculpture, funerary monuments, cults, priesthoods, and titles, with models drawn especially from the Fourth to Sixth Dynasties of the Old Kingdom. This cultural program favored the traditions of northern Egypt and Memphis over the more recent imperial heritage of Thebes, and the artistic style continued beyond the dynasty into the third century BC.
The dynasty also strengthened Egypt’s overseas connections. Psamtek encouraged Phoenician and Greek merchants, while Naukratis developed as a cosmopolitan commercial settlement on the Canopic branch of the Nile. Egyptian grain, linen, papyrus, gold, ivory, and ebony moved toward the Greek world, while wine, olive oil, and silver entered Egypt. The presence of Greeks also introduced ironworking on a significant scale, with the earliest archaeological evidence in Egypt associated with Naukratis and the Greek mercenary fort at Daphnae.
Saite foreign policy alternated between defensive consolidation and attempts to recover influence abroad. Psamtek supported Assyria against Babylon and the Medes in 616 BC, but Nineveh fell in 612. Necho II later campaigned in Syria, briefly controlled Judah and Phoenicia, and was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 605 BC. Necho also developed Egyptian naval power, maintained fleets in the Mediterranean and Red seas, and undertook the construction of a canal along the Wadi Tumilat between the Nile and the Red Sea.
Psamtek II invaded Kush in 593 BC, apparently sacking Napata and extending Egyptian control toward the Second Cataract, although Egypt did not permanently occupy Kush. Under Wahibre, military defeat against Cyrene provoked an Egyptian mutiny and the rise of Ahmose, later known as Amasis. Ahmose maintained Greek trade and mercenary forces while reducing Greek mobility and securing tribute from Cyprus, but the dynasty’s independence ended when Cambyses II invaded Egypt in 525 BC.
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