VIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – Vᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Egypt and Lower Nubia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Persian rule in Egypt began with Cambyses II’s conquest in 525 BC and lasted until the Egyptian revolt that restored independence in 404 BC. Egypt was administered as a Persian satrapy from Memphis, paid tribute, supplied troops and ships, and hosted Persian garrisons. The rulers also developed Red Sea communications and canal infrastructure, while Egyptian resistance produced major revolts in 487 and 465 BC.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Cambyses II conquered Egypt in 525 BC after the brief reign of Psamtek III. He attempted to extend Persian power westward and southward, sending expeditions toward the Oasis of Siwa and Kush. The expedition to Siwa reached Kharga but was lost in the desert, while the campaign toward Kush turned back after its provisions failed. Persia nevertheless secured Lower Nubia and the Wadi Allaqi gold mines.
The Persian kings initially presented themselves as a new dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs. Cambyses was formally invested with Egyptian royal titles at the Temple of Neith in Sais, and Darius adopted a pharaonic throne-name. Day-to-day authority, however, was exercised by a Persian satrap residing at Memphis. Persian officials gradually replaced Egyptian administrators, and Aramaic became the language of the bureaucracy, while the native priesthood was retained.
Persian Egypt supported a large military and fiscal system. Garrisons occupied the White Fort at Memphis, Daphnae, and Elephantine, and were commanded mainly by Persians. Under Darius, Egypt reportedly paid 700 talents of silver annually, in addition to traditional revenues and supplies of grain, troops, and ships. Lower Nubia formed the province of Kushiya and paid tribute in gold, ivory, ebony, and slaves.
Persian administration did not simply destroy the prosperity associated with the Saite period. Trade with Greece appears to have been interrupted for several years after 525 BC but had revived by approximately 500 BC. Persian rulers also resumed work on Egypt’s Red Sea communications, linking the country more closely to the wider imperial system and stimulating commercial movement.
Darius completed or renovated Necho’s canal between the Nile and the Red Sea and used it for regular maritime communications between Egypt and Persia. A Carian official named Skylax sailed from the Indus along the coasts to Egypt in a thirty-month exploratory voyage, demonstrating the possibility of seaborne contact between Egypt and India. Xerxes later ordered Sataspes to attempt a west-to-east voyage around Africa, but the expedition turned back.
Persian rule remained unpopular among Egyptian elites, especially priests, who maintained a strong national consciousness. Allegations that Cambyses violated Egyptian religious institutions were preserved in later tradition, while the passage also records cuts in temple revenues. Darius attempted to present a more respectful policy by funding the burial of the Apis bull in 518 BC, undertaking building works for Egyptian gods, and codifying Egyptian laws.
Egyptian resistance exploited Persian military weakness. The first major revolt began in 487 BC and was suppressed by Xerxes in 484 BC with great severity. A second revolt followed the death of Xerxes and the Persian civil war in 465 BC; its leader was Inaros, a ruler of the vassal Libyans west of Egypt. The excerpt ends while introducing this revolt, so its subsequent course is not covered here.
VIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – Vᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Egypt and Lower Nubia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Persian rule in Egypt began with Cambyses II’s conquest in 525 BC and lasted until the Egyptian revolt that restored independence in 404 BC. Egypt was administered as a Persian satrapy from Memphis, paid tribute, supplied troops and ships, and hosted Persian garrisons. The rulers also developed Red Sea communications and canal infrastructure, while Egyptian resistance produced major revolts in 487 and 465 BC.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Cambyses II conquered Egypt in 525 BC after the brief reign of Psamtek III. He attempted to extend Persian power westward and southward, sending expeditions toward the Oasis of Siwa and Kush. The expedition to Siwa reached Kharga but was lost in the desert, while the campaign toward Kush turned back after its provisions failed. Persia nevertheless secured Lower Nubia and the Wadi Allaqi gold mines.
The Persian kings initially presented themselves as a new dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs. Cambyses was formally invested with Egyptian royal titles at the Temple of Neith in Sais, and Darius adopted a pharaonic throne-name. Day-to-day authority, however, was exercised by a Persian satrap residing at Memphis. Persian officials gradually replaced Egyptian administrators, and Aramaic became the language of the bureaucracy, while the native priesthood was retained.
Persian Egypt supported a large military and fiscal system. Garrisons occupied the White Fort at Memphis, Daphnae, and Elephantine, and were commanded mainly by Persians. Under Darius, Egypt reportedly paid 700 talents of silver annually, in addition to traditional revenues and supplies of grain, troops, and ships. Lower Nubia formed the province of Kushiya and paid tribute in gold, ivory, ebony, and slaves.
Persian administration did not simply destroy the prosperity associated with the Saite period. Trade with Greece appears to have been interrupted for several years after 525 BC but had revived by approximately 500 BC. Persian rulers also resumed work on Egypt’s Red Sea communications, linking the country more closely to the wider imperial system and stimulating commercial movement.
Darius completed or renovated Necho’s canal between the Nile and the Red Sea and used it for regular maritime communications between Egypt and Persia. A Carian official named Skylax sailed from the Indus along the coasts to Egypt in a thirty-month exploratory voyage, demonstrating the possibility of seaborne contact between Egypt and India. Xerxes later ordered Sataspes to attempt a west-to-east voyage around Africa, but the expedition turned back.
Persian rule remained unpopular among Egyptian elites, especially priests, who maintained a strong national consciousness. Allegations that Cambyses violated Egyptian religious institutions were preserved in later tradition, while the passage also records cuts in temple revenues. Darius attempted to present a more respectful policy by funding the burial of the Apis bull in 518 BC, undertaking building works for Egyptian gods, and codifying Egyptian laws.
Egyptian resistance exploited Persian military weakness. The first major revolt began in 487 BC and was suppressed by Xerxes in 484 BC with great severity. A second revolt followed the death of Xerxes and the Persian civil war in 465 BC; its leader was Inaros, a ruler of the vassal Libyans west of Egypt. The excerpt ends while introducing this revolt, so its subsequent course is not covered here.