Chapters › Kush: Napata & Meroe · Egypt
Late Period / Persian Egypt
664 BCE – 332 BCE Arabic under review
Approximate area of control
Research in progress No sourced map of this era's territory yet, so no area is drawn.
Key events
- 26th Dynasty; Psamtik II's expedition takes Napata (GHA II: 591 BCE; often 593 BCE)
Capitals / sites
Sais
Geopolitics
After the Assyrian attacks the Kushites withdrew south, and Egypt, reunified by Psammetik I of Sais, became 'Mediterranean-oriented' (GHA II ch.10, p.282). In 591 BC, Psammetik II's army, stiffened with Greek and Carian mercenaries, invaded Kush, which Leclant links to the fall of Napata (p.285). Cambyses' army failed to cross the Batn el-Hagar and retreated with heavy losses, but the Persians still 'counted the inhabitants of Kush as their subjects', and Kushite contingents served under Darius and Xerxes (p.286).
Culture
Zayed argues that the egyptianized people of the upper valley kept 'a distinct culture', expressed 'albeit in Egyptian form, even at the time of the thirtieth dynasty' (GHA II ch.4, p.144). Herodotus, who reached Elephantine around 450 BC, described it as the frontier between Egypt and 'Ethiopia' and was the first geographer to name Meroe, having met Meroites at Aswan (ch.6, p.197).
Economy
Sources refer to 'gifts of gold, ebony, elephant tusks and even children', with 'the ancient tributes formerly levied by Egypt seemingly going to Persepolis and Susa' (GHA II ch.10, p.286).
Regional power
Research in progress We have not yet read a source for this section. It will be added once one is checked; nothing is filled in by guesswork.
Open data flags
- regional_power: no actors scored
- Pass 20 text: [WORKING TRANSLATION – needs native Arabic review] for every Arabic field
- Persian tribute from Kush: 'seemingly' (GHA II p.286) – hedged in source
Sources
- A.H. Zayed (with J. Dévisse) (1981) Egypt's relations with the rest of Africa, ch.4 (General History of Africa II) UNESCO / Heinemann / University of California Press link [en]
- H. Riad (with J. Dévisse) (1981) Egypt in the hellenistic era, ch.6 (General History of Africa II) UNESCO / Heinemann / University of California Press link [en]
- J. Leclant (1981) The empire of Kush: Napata and Meroe, ch.10 (General History of Africa II) UNESCO / Heinemann / University of California Press link [en]
- K. Michałowski (1981) The spreading of Christianity in Nubia (General History of Africa II, ch.12) UNESCO link [en]
- Wikipedia contributors Late Period of ancient Egypt Wikipedia link [en]