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Ancient Man and His First Civilizations

Egypt-7

When last we left Egypt, the Assyrians had expelled the Nubians from Egypt, and had taken control. But by now, the Assyrians themselves, are on the way to defeat by a coalition of Media and Babylon.

The beginning of the End

Psamtik I

Upon the death of NeKau I (Necho) in 664, Psamtik I was recognized by his Assyrian overlords as King of Egypt, but this was a title at first without substance. He had rule over Memphis  and Sais, but mostly the country was controlled by the old guard Egyptians and Libyan princes. He was tasked with the responsibilities of controlling not only the unruly princes and petty kings of the Delta, but also to reconcile with the power center at Thebes.  Both Psamtik I, and his father NeKau I (Necho) of Sais, were originally involved with an intrigue associated with the Nubian ruler Taharqo against Assyria, but Psamtik was captured, held and indoctrinated by the Assyrians. Psamtik I was even given the Assyrian name, Nabu-shezibanni, before finally being returned to Egypt, where his father had assumed power in the Delta.

Working with Thebes turned out to be easier then he might have imagined, he was able to align himself with the daughter of a great Theaban nobleman named Mentuemhet. At that time, she held the title, "Adoratice of Amun  (God's Wife of Amun).  He was able to insert his own daughter Nitokris, as her successor. There can be no doubt, but that political considerations played a part in all this, for after all, Psamtik was himself half a Libyan, and the intense nationalism of the Egyptian natives found appeasement in this way. Moreover, Asiatics and Jews had poured into the country, the latter forming a colony at Elephantine where they were even permitted to build a temple to their god Yahu/ Jehovah. He was therefor able to effect both secular and religious ties that were to hold his growing presence in Egypt together, while he went after his Delta opponents.

In order to do this, he raised a conscript army, as well as employed the services of mercenaries, many of whom were Greek, including Carians. This involvement with foreign mercenaries, raises questions concerning the nature of their presence and their possible control within Egypt. Archaeological evidence suggests that sites such as Naukratis (an exclusively Greek town), among others, were established to facilitate this war, along with offering Egypt an increased commercial presence within the Mediterranean world. From Ramesside times Libyans and other Mediterranean peoples had contributed a substantial part to the armies on which the Egyptian monarchs relied; land had been bestowed upon them in return for their services.

The first Whites in Africa Even though those ancient Blacks with a written language, recorded everything. There are no Egyptian sources which tell of the first Black/White encounter in Egypt. If these writings still exist, they are being withheld by Whites: For good reason, if there is an account of the first Black/White encounter, the myth of White Egyptians could not exist. Therefore, our only source for this first Greek/Egyptian encounter, is the Greek historian Herodotus, in his book "The Persian Wars" Written 440 B.C. (He says that these things were told to him by the Egyptians). However, Herodotus is known to have been rather loose with the truth. By the time of this account (664–610 B.C.), Whites had been in Europe for at least 500 years, and had been marauding in the Mediterranean for 400 years. Egyptians had a close relationship with Cretans and Mycenaean's, and kept close tabs on the goings-on in the north: therefore they would have known about the White invaders, as soon as they arrived. In Book 2 - EUTERPE, he writes: [2.152] This was the second time that Psammetichus  (Psamtik I, reign 664–610 B.C. 26th dynasty) had been driven into banishment. On a former occasion he had fled from Sabacos the Ethiopian (Nubian), who had put his father Necos to death; and had taken refuge in Syria (Assyria) from whence, after the retirement of the Ethiop in consequence of his dream, he was brought back by the Egyptians of the Saitic canton. Now it was his ill-fortune to be banished a second time by the eleven kings, on account of the libation which he had poured from his helmet; on this occasion he fled to the marshes. Feeling that he was an injured man, and designing to avenge himself upon his persecutors, Psammetichus sent to the city of Buto, where there is an oracle of Latona, the most veracious of all the oracles of the Egyptians, and having inquired concerning means of vengeance, received for answer that "Vengeance would come from the sea, when brazen men should appear. Great was his incredulity when this answer arrived, for never, he thought, would brazen men arrive to be his helpers. However, not long afterwards certain Carians (Black Anatolians) and Ionians (Greeks), who had left their country (a colony in Anatolia), on a voyage of plunder, were carried by stress of weather to Egypt where they disembarked, all equipped in their brazen armour, and were seen by the natives, one of whom carried the tidings to Psammetichus, and, as he had never before seen men clad in brass, he reported that brazen men had come from the sea and were plundering the plain. Psammetichus, perceiving at once that the oracle was accomplished, made friendly advances to the strangers, and engaged them, by splendid promises, to enter into his service. He then, with their aid and that of the Egyptians who espoused his cause, attacked the eleven and vanquished them.

Psamtik also took as his principle wife Mehtemweskhet who was the daughter of Harsiese, High Priest at Heliopolis, further cementing his rule. To all appearances, Psamtik I had been a loyal subject of his Assyrian overlords, but as that empire's glories waned, Psamtik took his opportunity to break their hold, and in so doing became the absolute ruler of Egypt. During the remaining four decades of Psamtik I's rule, he continued to consolidate his power and bring the country under complete unity, something Egypt had really not seen in a number of years. He undertook a number of building projects, including fortresses in the Delta at Naukratis and Daphnae, as well as at Elephantine He also greatly expanded the Serapeum at Saqqara.

After consolidating Egypt militarily, Psamtik I was mostly concerned with keeping Egypt's sovereignty strong. There were expeditions into northern Nubia, probably to discourage any further ambitions of the Kushite kings. In the east, Babylon had become such an important power that the king actually formed an alliance with his old masters in Assyria in order to combat Babylon's growing menace. This alliance enabled Egypt to obtain control of the Canaanite coast. There were also actions required on the Libyan frontier, in order to combat the threat posed by the fugitive Delta princes. An Apis stele proves that Psamtik died after a reign of fifty-four years and was succeeded by his son Nekau II in 610 B.C.

Nekau II (Necho II)

Nekau (II), who we know better as Necho, was either the 2nd or 3rd king of Egypt's 26th Dynasty depending on whether we allow the rule of a nominal king Nekau I at the beginning of the Dynasty. Nekau was his Birth name, and Necho is actually his Greek name, he probably ruled Egypt until about 595 B.C.

He continued the foreign involvement of his father, and Canaan once more became an Egyptian possession. In fact, much of Egypt's involvement in that area is found in the Biblical account of the Book of Kings. Initially things went well for Nekau II and we find the Egyptian forces campaigning east of the Euphrates river against the Chaldaeans. This allowed the Egyptians to establish themselves on the Euphrates for a short while, though apparently the Egyptians did not end up controlling anything. After defeating Josiah of Judah in 609 B.C. He then intervened in the kingdom of Israel and deposed Josiah's son Jehoahaz, replacing him with his brother Eliakim (Jehoiakim) (II Kings 23: 29-35). Afterwards, we are told that Jerusalem paid tribute to Egypt.

He also ruled part of Assyria at least as far as Carchemish. But this position was also soon lost, when in 605 B.C, the king suffered a catastrophic loss. The son of the Babylonian king Nabopolassar, was sent to deal with Assyria. This son was called Nebuchadrezzar, and he captured Carchemish from the Egyptians, and then pursued the fleeing Egyptian army as far as Hamath, where he apparently caught and overwhelmed them. Hence, this was followed by a retreat of the Egyptians to their eastern frontier at Gaza.

Nekau was a very foresighted individual, who's vision included a "Suez Canal, almost 2,500 years prior to the modern construction. He had a navigable canal dug, using some 12,000 workers, through the Wadi Tumilat between the Pelusiac branch of the Nile (where the great frontier fortress of Pelusium was located) and the Red Sea. He caused a great port city, Per-Temu-Tjeku ("the House of Atum of Tjeku", modern Tell el-Mashkuta) west of modern Ismailia to be built on the canal, and like Suez later; its fortunes were inevitably linked with this new waterway. The courageous attempt to link the Nile with the Red Sea by a canal had to be abandoned, but it is almost certain that Phoenician ships sent by him to circumnavigate Africa succeeded in doing so, returning in his third year. Greece was expanding her trading contacts and Nekau took the opportunity to recruit displaced Ionian Greeks for the Egyptian Navy. He also encouraged some Greek settlement in the Delta. When Nekau II died in 595 B.C, he left behind a son and three daughters. His son, Psamtik II, only ruled for a brief period.

 

Wahibre

king Wahibre succeeded his father, Psamtik II in February of 589 B.C, his troubles began after he had sent his Egyptian army to help the Libyan Berbers against the mixed-race Greek settlers of Cyrene. In the ensuing battle, the Egyptians were badly beaten, and upon the survivor's return to Egypt, civil war broke out. King Wahibre was blamed for the disaster, this resulted in a confrontation between the regular Egyptian army, and the Greek mercenaries in the Egyptian army.

The defeat at Cyrene, probably only provided an excuse for this revolt, because for some time, Egyptian soldiers had felt that Greek mercenaries were treated better than they, the native Egyptian army. When Wahibre sent his general “Ahmose”,  to put down this revolt, Ahmose was instead implored by the Egyptians soldiers to be their leader, a plead which he accepted. There ensued a battle between the Greek mercenaries, under the command of king Wahibre, and the Egyptians under the command of Ahmose. Wahibre and the Greek mercenaries were defeated, and Ahmose became king Ahmose II .

The Greeks There are no known images of the original Albino Greeks, circa 1,200 B.C. In Greece, as in the other areas that the Greeks invaded, they interbred with the local Blacks to a great extent: creating in large part, a "Mulatto" people. Our first images of these Greek mulattos comes a few years later, after the Persians had conquered Egypt, Anatolia, and a large part of Greece. These are from the palaces and tomb of the Persian King Darius the Great - reigned 522–486 B.C. These identifications are speculative, based on certain factors. A complete explanation can be found here: Click >>> Please note: Most modern Greeks and Anatolians, are NOT descended from these ancient people. Like most modern Europeans, they are descended from later arriving Germanics, Slavs, and Turks, circa 200-600 A.D. As the modern name of Anatolia (Turkey) suggests, Turkish blood predominates there, as well as in North Africa, the Middle East, and Arabia.

Ahmose II (Amasis)

Ahmose II who was probably the 5th ruler of Egypt during the 26th Dynasty, has been called the last great Egyptian Pharaoh. This is because the rule of his son, Psamtik III, was very short lived, and in fact even in the last days of Ahmose' life, the Persians were already advancing on Egypt. They were the overwhelming power of the region, and would control Egypt up until Alexander the Great 's conquest of Egypt, and the ensuing Greek rulers. After his son “Psamtik III”, never again would an Egyptian rule Egypt, even unto today.

By this late date in Pharaonic history, Wahibres' army was mostly made up of Aegean mercenaries. The two armies met somewhere in the north-west Egyptian Delta in about January or February of 570 B.C, and Apries was forced to retreat. However, this did not give Ahmose complete control of Egypt. Wahibre's apparent retreat was only as far south as Memphis and he continued to control southern Egypt, while Ahmose established himself at Sais in Northern Egypt. Yet Wahibre was not content with this, and aided by his Greek troops, once again marched on Ahmoses’ in October of 570 B.C, where he was once again defeated by his former general. With this defeat, Wahibre could only find safety abroad, and he eventually turned up in the court of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Now Ahmose took control of a united Egypt.

This was complete when sometime between October 19th and December 9th of 570 B.C, Thebes submitted to his reign. Yet poor Wahibre was not yet finished. In March of 567, he again marched on Egypt at the head of a Babylonian army, but once again, Ahmose defeated him, this time capturing the former king. It seems that Ahmose allowed Wahibre to live for a short time, however because we find Herodotus telling us that:

The Egyptians complained that he did wrong by maintaining a man who was the greatest enemy both to them and (Amasis), therefore he delivered Apries to the people, who strangled him.

Apparently, Ahmose still held some respect for his former ruler, because he buried Wahibre with kingly honors in the royal necropolis at Sais. This may very well be explained if indeed Ahmose was married to Wahibres' daughter. However, various sources differ somewhat on these events. Now as the ruler of all Egypt, Ahmose took on the traditional role of builder, and is attested to by quarry inscriptions at Tura and Elephantine and with building projects at Memphis including two granite colossi and a temple of Isis  Philae Elephantine, Edfu Sohag, Abydos  Koptos, Karnak  and any number of Delta sites, including his tomb at Sais. While we have never discovered this tomb, again Herodotus steps in to describe it for us: (It is) a great cloistered building of stone, decorated with pillars carved in the imitation of palm-trees, and other costly ornaments. Within the cloister is a chamber with double doors, and behind the doors stands the sepulchre."

This was really a very prosperous time for Egypt. We are told that agriculture, always the backbone of Egypt, met a spectacular level of success, and Herodotus again tells us that the number of inhabited cities in Egypt reached as high as 20,000. After consolidating his power, Ahmose was apparently somewhat weary of the Greeks, who had been around since the beginning of the Dynasty, and of course, fought against him on the side of Wahibre. Psamtik I had encouraged the Greek merchants in the city of Naukratis, and Ahmose consolidated them in that area only.

This made for easier control of these merchants, and created a lucrative income for the crown in the form of taxes. Prior to Wahibres' defeat, the Greek mercenaries were established in camps between Babastis and the sea on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, where Herodotus tells us they had remained for over a century. Apparently, he first moved them to Memphis, where he could keep an eye on things. But, Ahmose was not willing to push the Greeks too far because he needed their alliance against the expanding threat of the Persians, as well as an attempted invasion by the Chaldaeans.

Apparently after their unsuccessful invasion, he formed an alliance with the Chaldaeans, Croesus of Lydia, and Sparta. Unfortunately, the Persians destroyed the alliance by first capturing Lydia in 546 and then the Chaldaeans. So instead, he cultivated his relationship with the Aegean world, extending his foreign relationships to include Cyprus. He is said to have even financed the rebuilding of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, after its destruction in 548 B.C. According to archaeological records, he probably even allowed the Greek soldiers to return to their old mercenary camps.

Regrettably, for all his efforts, the Persians would eventually prove too ambitious to stop. By the time of Ahmoses’ death after a long reign of some 44 years, the Persians had long ago conquered Babylon, and were already at the frontiers of Egypt. His son was eventually captured by the Persians, and Herodotus tells us that the Persian ruler Cambyses, had Ahmose's mummy exhumed and:

"subjected to every indignity, such as lashing with whips and the plucking of its hairs, until the executioners were weary. At last, as the corpse had been embalmed and would not fall to pieces under the blows, Cambyses ordered it burnt"

This Marks the end of Egyptian rule in Egypt, Egyptians will never again rule their country, even unto today.

Egyptian King and Ruler list The ancient Egyptian Kinglist is very fluid, as new attestations for previously unknown kings or Queens are discovered (such as newfound Serekhs or Cartouches), the list is updated. Chronological dates are educated guesses.

26th Dynasty Psammetichus I (Psam-tik) 664-610 Nekau (Necho) II 610-595 Psammetichus II 595-589 Apries 589-570 Amasis 570-526 Psammetichus III 526-525

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The Persians

Ancient Man and His First Civilizations

Egypt-8

The Persians

When Cyrus II (Cyrus the great), ascended the Persian throne in 559 B.C. He would be like all others – sooner or later – his eyes would turn westward – toward Egypt.

And so it was that Cyrus, by the time of his death in 529 B.C, together with his son Cambyses II, had already completed their plans for a successful assault on Egypt. So after Cyrus had died and Cambyses had become king, Cambyses launched his invasion of Egypt, and it was indeed successful. The Persian kings constitute the 27th dynasty of Egypt.

However over time, dissension at home among the Persians, and various Persian palace intrigues, provided an opportunity for one "Amyrtaios", to take the throne of Egypt. He is believed to have expelled the Persians from the entire country. He was the only ruler of the 28th Dynasty, and he is thought to have been a Libyan, as are all the rest. He ruled Egypt from Sais for six years.

His reign however, was unstable and he was removed from the throne by Nepherites I, who stabilized the country. Nepherites I, thus became the first ruler of the Twenty-ninth Dynasty. Nepherites I, had sent a gift to the Spartans after an allegiance had been entered into with Sparta against Persia. The gift was taken by the Persians after the ships from Egypt were captured as they approached Rhodes. The Egyptians did not know that the Rhodians had defected to the Persians.

The 29th and 30th dynasties are much the same, various obscure rulers, from various places. But since this marks the end of Dynastic Egypt, lets hear from its last kings.

Nectanebo I was the first ruler of the Thirtieth Dynasty and was a general from Sebennytus. He is thought to have been related to the family of Nepherites I. He imposed heavy taxes on the people of Egypt in order to finance Egypt's war with Persia. In the spring of 373 B.C, the Persian army moved in to attack Egypt. They got as far as the Mendesian mouth of the Nile. The two commanders of the Persian forces could not agree on their strategy. As the time passed, the Nile rose and flooded the Delta area, making a march southward impossible. The Persians abandoned their efforts and left. The Egyptians had successfully turned back the Persians, with a little help from the Nile, and peace was reestablished. Nectanebo restored and built many monuments throughout Egypt.

Nectanebo II
360-343 B.C.
Nectanebo II, was the third and final ruler of the Thirtieth Dynasty. He became king after the previous ruler, his uncle "Teo", had campaigned into Phoenicia, which was then a Persian provence, while leaving behind Nectanebo's father Tjahapimu, as governor of the country.

Well, Tjahapimu rebelled, and offered the throne to his son Nectanebo II, who was commanding Teo's troops in Phoenicia, some say Persian money was behind this intrigue. This turn of events left Teos little choice, and he fled to Persia, where he was given refuge, (the Persians felt that a former king would come in handy for the next attack), and Nectanebo returned to Egypt as Pharaoh.

Nectanebo ruled for eighteen years, and built many monuments in Egypt. After the disaster with the Persians, he risked no further expeditions against the Levant states. However, Cyprus and Phoenicia were now fighting against the Persians, and they were assisted by some troops sent by Nectanebo II.

Unfortunately, the Persian King Artaxerxes III, destroyed these troops and then moved against Egypt. Unlike the last Persian attack against Egypt, some thirty years before, this time the Nile flooding had already passed, and the Persian attack was made much more wisely than the last time, (when Nectanebo I was king). The Persian attack was made at three different points at the same time. Defeated, Nectanebo II retreated to Memphis, where he felt that he could make a stand against the Persians. But as city after city fell, all that he could do was gather up, as much of his possessions as he could, and flee to Nubia.

Thus the Persian king, Artaxerxes III, makes Egypt once more a Persian province. Artaxerxes, after taking over all of Egypt, demolished the walls of the most important cities and plundered the shrines, he carried off a vast quantity of silver and gold. He also carried off the written records from the ancient temples, these were later returned to the Egyptian priests, on the payment of huge sums. Then after he had lavishly rewarded the Greeks, who had accompanied him on the campaign, each according to his just deserts, he dismissed them to their native lands. And then, after having installed one "Pherendates" as satrap of Egypt, he returned home with his army.

Alexander the Great

And so things remained in Egypt, the Persians are lords of the land once more. That is until Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.), better known to history as 'Alexander the Great'. Alexander is now at war with Persia, and after conquering Persia's naval bases all along the coastline of Asia Minor (Anatolia), and Phoenicia/Canaan, Alexander marched south into Egypt.

Alexander's march into Egypt had a purpose. Egypt was essential to his future plans, he needed a strong coastal base for both military and commercial purposes. Egypt could provide ports, from which he could not only communicate across the Mediterranean, but from which he could also handle highly lucrative sea trade, which he wanted to divert from Phoenicia ports. With his naval force's following his progress down the coast, his Macedonian army covered the hazardous 130 mile distance in only a week, and he reached the heavily fortified coastal town of Pelusium, in late October 332 B.C. 

With his reputation going before him, Alexander was met by Egypt's Persian governor "Mazaces", who had no armed forces, and with the defeated king Darius' making a swift departure back east to Persia. Mazaces simply handed over the treasury's 800 talents and "all the royal furniture". In return he was kept on, as part of the new administration, which included the new governor Cleomenes. He was made responsible for finance, and later created the royal mint, around 331 B.C.

After installing a garrison at the key defensive site of Pelusium, Alexander then ordered his fleet to sail up the Nile, to the traditional capital of Memphis (Ineb-hedj), where he himself would arrive by land at the head of his troops. While passing by the ancient religious site of Heliopolis (Iunu) with its vast white temples and obelisks, Egypt made an enormous impression on both the Macedonian troops and their 24-year-old leader.  He had been brought-up with his mother Olympia's tales of Egyptian gods. The religiously-minded Alexander must have been completely dumbstruck in a land so steeped in ritual, where priests held enormous power, in temples not built to human scale.

Alexander Passed by the great pyramids of Giza, still gleaming in their shining white limestone covers, he finally reached Memphis, to a genuinely rapturous reception. (That which appears to be steps or ridges on the surface of the Pyramids, are actually anchor points for the marble caps that originally covered the pyramids, the pyramids were originally smooth sided). Arabs later removed these marble caps for building material.

By now, Greek travelers had actually been visiting Egypt for centuries, many of them setting up trading colonies or acting as mercenaries. Others such as the historian Herodotus and philosopher Plato, had came to study a culture they regarded with awe and as the cradle of civilization. Their acquired knowledge was certainly part of Alexander's education.

But for almost 200 years, Egypt had been occupied by Persia, which had incorporated it into their growing empire. The Persian kings had ruled in absentia through a satrap, exploiting Egypt's vast grain reserves and taxing its people. The Persians showed relatively little respect for the ancient traditions of Egypt, and were deeply unpopular. The Egyptians had often rebelled, so parts of the country remained virtually independent. 

Alexander was therefore, hailed as Savior and Liberator, he was the people's choice and legitimate heir. Alexander was given the double crown of the Two Lands, and anointed pharaoh, in Memphis on November 14, 332 B.C. The culmination of his coronation was the climactic moment when the high priest named him "son of the gods" this, according to traditions dating back almost 3,000 years. This title deeply affected him, and his mother Olympia's childhood references to him, as being the son of Zeus, must have filled his mind.

Later there were relief scenes carved, of the king of the gods Amun ('Zeus'), impregnating selected queens with the heir to the throne, Alexander! [there has always been Hype]! In a world where the gods were perceived as living entities, and considered a part of everyday life, Alexander must now have began to believe in his own divinity, as a fact, rather than a simple exercise in propaganda.

Always a devout man, who began each day with sacrifices to the gods, Alexander had no difficulty worshipping the Egyptian deities. Equating their gods with his own, he worshipped the Egyptian god Amun as a form of his god Zeus. At the Memphite necropolis of Sakkara, the new pharaoh offered sacrifices to the Apis bull, cult animal of the creator god Ptah. This was followed by games and literary contests in which performers from all over the Greek world took part in a multi-cultural extravaganza's. These kinds of events, mark the beginnings of Hellenism, in which there is an absorption of everything learnt by the ancients.

Ever keen to discuss philosophy, which the Greeks believed to have originated in Egypt, Alexander attended lectures given by the Egyptian philosopher Psammon. Wholeheartedly agreeing with his teaching that "all men are ruled by god, because in every case that element "which imposes itself and achieves mastery is divine" (If you win, it must be because god wants it that way - victors rule again!). In the two months that he resided as 'living god' in the royal palace at Memphis, there studying Egyptian laws and customs at first hand, he gave orders for the restoration of the Egyptians' religious centers, including the great southern temples of Luxor and Karnak.

In these restored temples, he appears in the company of the Egyptian gods, wearing traditional Egyptian regalia, including the rams horns of Amun, as worn by his pharaonic predecessors, including Amenhotep III. These images of Alexander were replicated all over Egypt, in both monumental statuary and delicate relief work, together with his Greek name translated into Egyptian hieroglyphs and enclosed by the royal cartouche.

With Alexander's annexation of Egypt, Greek officials, soldiers, merchants and immigrants from Greece and elsewhere in Europe, poured into Egypt. This would greatly change the population demographic. Alexander laid the groundwork for the first European city in Egypt, Alexandria, before leaving the country. After his death, his body was returned and entombed there. Egypt would remain a Greek possession for the next three centuries, much to the betterment of Greece. 

Egyptian King and Ruler list The ancient Egyptian Kinglist is very fluid, as new attestations for previously unknown kings or Queens are discovered (such as newfound Serekhs or Cartouches), the list is updated. Chronological dates are educated guesses.

27th Dynasty Cambyses 525-522 Darius I 521-486 Xerxes I 486-466 Artaxerxes I 465-424 Darius II 424-404 28th Dynasty Amyrtaios 404-399 29th Dynasty Nepherites I 399-393 Psammuthis 393 Hakoris 393-380 Nepherites II 380 30th Dynasty Nectanebo I 380-362 Teos 365-360 Nectanebo II 360-343

SECOND PERSIAN PERIOD (343-332 B.C.) 31st Dynasty Ochus (Artaxerxes III) 343-338 Arses 338-336 Darius III Codomannus 335-332 GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD (332 B.C. - 395 A.D.) Macedonian Kings - Alexandria Alexander the Great 332-323 Philip Arrhidaeus 323-316 Alexander IV 316-304

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egy[t Ancient Man and His First Civilizations

Ancient Man and His First Civilizations

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When last we left Egypt, the Assyrians had expelled the Nubians from Egypt, and had taken control. But by now, the Assyrians themselves, are on the way to defeat by a coalition of Media and Babylon.

The beginning of the End

Psamtik I

Upon the death of NeKau I (Necho) in 664, Psamtik I was recognized by his Assyrian overlords as King of Egypt, but this was a title at first without substance. He had rule over Memphis  and Sais, but mostly the country was controlled by the old guard Egyptians and Libyan princes. He was tasked with the responsibilities of controlling not only the unruly princes and petty kings of the Delta, but also to reconcile with the power center at Thebes.  Both Psamtik I, and his father NeKau I (Necho) of Sais, were originally involved with an intrigue associated with the Nubian ruler Taharqo against Assyria, but Psamtik was captured, held and indoctrinated by the Assyrians. Psamtik I was even given the Assyrian name, Nabu-shezibanni, before finally being returned to Egypt, where his father had assumed power in the Delta.

Working with Thebes turned out to be easier then he might have imagined, he was able to align himself with the daughter of a great Theaban nobleman named Mentuemhet. At that time, she held the title, "Adoratice of Amun  (God's Wife of Amun).  He was able to insert his own daughter Nitokris, as her successor. There can be no doubt, but that political considerations played a part in all this, for after all, Psamtik was himself half a Libyan, and the intense nationalism of the Egyptian natives found appeasement in this way. Moreover, Asiatics and Jews had poured into the country, the latter forming a colony at Elephantine where they were even permitted to build a temple to their god Yahu/ Jehovah. He was therefor able to effect both secular and religious ties that were to hold his growing presence in Egypt together, while he went after his Delta opponents.

In order to do this, he raised a conscript army, as well as employed the services of mercenaries, many of whom were Greek, including Carians. This involvement with foreign mercenaries, raises questions concerning the nature of their presence and their possible control within Egypt. Archaeological evidence suggests that sites such as Naukratis (an exclusively Greek town), among others, were established to facilitate this war, along with offering Egypt an increased commercial presence within the Mediterranean world. From Ramesside times Libyans and other Mediterranean peoples had contributed a substantial part to the armies on which the Egyptian monarchs relied; land had been bestowed upon them in return for their services.

The first Whites in Africa Even though those ancient Blacks with a written language, recorded everything. There are no Egyptian sources which tell of the first Black/White encounter in Egypt. If these writings still exist, they are being withheld by Whites: For good reason, if there is an account of the first Black/White encounter, the myth of White Egyptians could not exist. Therefore, our only source for this first Greek/Egyptian encounter, is the Greek historian Herodotus, in his book "The Persian Wars" Written 440 B.C. (He says that these things were told to him by the Egyptians). However, Herodotus is known to have been rather loose with the truth. By the time of this account (664–610 B.C.), Whites had been in Europe for at least 500 years, and had been marauding in the Mediterranean for 400 years. Egyptians had a close relationship with Cretans and Mycenaean's, and kept close tabs on the goings-on in the north: therefore they would have known about the White invaders, as soon as they arrived. In Book 2 - EUTERPE, he writes: [2.152] This was the second time that Psammetichus  (Psamtik I, reign 664–610 B.C. 26th dynasty) had been driven into banishment. On a former occasion he had fled from Sabacos the Ethiopian (Nubian), who had put his father Necos to death; and had taken refuge in Syria (Assyria) from whence, after the retirement of the Ethiop in consequence of his dream, he was brought back by the Egyptians of the Saitic canton. Now it was his ill-fortune to be banished a second time by the eleven kings, on account of the libation which he had poured from his helmet; on this occasion he fled to the marshes. Feeling that he was an injured man, and designing to avenge himself upon his persecutors, Psammetichus sent to the city of Buto, where there is an oracle of Latona, the most veracious of all the oracles of the Egyptians, and having inquired concerning means of vengeance, received for answer that "Vengeance would come from the sea, when brazen men should appear. Great was his incredulity when this answer arrived, for never, he thought, would brazen men arrive to be his helpers. However, not long afterwards certain Carians (Black Anatolians) and Ionians (Greeks), who had left their country (a colony in Anatolia), on a voyage of plunder, were carried by stress of weather to Egypt where they disembarked, all equipped in their brazen armour, and were seen by the natives, one of whom carried the tidings to Psammetichus, and, as he had never before seen men clad in brass, he reported that brazen men had come from the sea and were plundering the plain. Psammetichus, perceiving at once that the oracle was accomplished, made friendly advances to the strangers, and engaged them, by splendid promises, to enter into his service. He then, with their aid and that of the Egyptians who espoused his cause, attacked the eleven and vanquished them.

Psamtik also took as his principle wife Mehtemweskhet who was the daughter of Harsiese, High Priest at Heliopolis, further cementing his rule. To all appearances, Psamtik I had been a loyal subject of his Assyrian overlords, but as that empire's glories waned, Psamtik took his opportunity to break their hold, and in so doing became the absolute ruler of Egypt. During the remaining four decades of Psamtik I's rule, he continued to consolidate his power and bring the country under complete unity, something Egypt had really not seen in a number of years. He undertook a number of building projects, including fortresses in the Delta at Naukratis and Daphnae, as well as at Elephantine He also greatly expanded the Serapeum at Saqqara.

After consolidating Egypt militarily, Psamtik I was mostly concerned with keeping Egypt's sovereignty strong. There were expeditions into northern Nubia, probably to discourage any further ambitions of the Kushite kings. In the east, Babylon had become such an important power that the king actually formed an alliance with his old masters in Assyria in order to combat Babylon's growing menace. This alliance enabled Egypt to obtain control of the Canaanite coast. There were also actions required on the Libyan frontier, in order to combat the threat posed by the fugitive Delta princes. An Apis stele proves that Psamtik died after a reign of fifty-four years and was succeeded by his son Nekau II in 610 B.C.

Nekau II (Necho II)

Nekau (II), who we know better as Necho, was either the 2nd or 3rd king of Egypt's 26th Dynasty depending on whether we allow the rule of a nominal king Nekau I at the beginning of the Dynasty. Nekau was his Birth name, and Necho is actually his Greek name, he probably ruled Egypt until about 595 B.C.

He continued the foreign involvement of his father, and Canaan once more became an Egyptian possession. In fact, much of Egypt's involvement in that area is found in the Biblical account of the Book of Kings. Initially things went well for Nekau II and we find the Egyptian forces campaigning east of the Euphrates river against the Chaldaeans. This allowed the Egyptians to establish themselves on the Euphrates for a short while, though apparently the Egyptians did not end up controlling anything. After defeating Josiah of Judah in 609 B.C. He then intervened in the kingdom of Israel and deposed Josiah's son Jehoahaz, replacing him with his brother Eliakim (Jehoiakim) (II Kings 23: 29-35). Afterwards, we are told that Jerusalem paid tribute to Egypt.

He also ruled part of Assyria at least as far as Carchemish. But this position was also soon lost, when in 605 B.C, the king suffered a catastrophic loss. The son of the Babylonian king Nabopolassar, was sent to deal with Assyria. This son was called Nebuchadrezzar, and he captured Carchemish from the Egyptians, and then pursued the fleeing Egyptian army as far as Hamath, where he apparently caught and overwhelmed them. Hence, this was followed by a retreat of the Egyptians to their eastern frontier at Gaza.

Nekau was a very foresighted individual, who's vision included a "Suez Canal, almost 2,500 years prior to the modern construction. He had a navigable canal dug, using some 12,000 workers, through the Wadi Tumilat between the Pelusiac branch of the Nile (where the great frontier fortress of Pelusium was located) and the Red Sea. He caused a great port city, Per-Temu-Tjeku ("the House of Atum of Tjeku", modern Tell el-Mashkuta) west of modern Ismailia to be built on the canal, and like Suez later; its fortunes were inevitably linked with this new waterway. The courageous attempt to link the Nile with the Red Sea by a canal had to be abandoned, but it is almost certain that Phoenician ships sent by him to circumnavigate Africa succeeded in doing so, returning in his third year. Greece was expanding her trading contacts and Nekau took the opportunity to recruit displaced Ionian Greeks for the Egyptian Navy. He also encouraged some Greek settlement in the Delta. When Nekau II died in 595 B.C, he left behind a son and three daughters. His son, Psamtik II, only ruled for a brief period.

 

Wahibre

king Wahibre succeeded his father, Psamtik II in February of 589 B.C, his troubles began after he had sent his Egyptian army to help the Libyan Berbers against the mixed-race Greek settlers of Cyrene. In the ensuing battle, the Egyptians were badly beaten, and upon the survivor's return to Egypt, civil war broke out. King Wahibre was blamed for the disaster, this resulted in a confrontation between the regular Egyptian army, and the Greek mercenaries in the Egyptian army.

The defeat at Cyrene, probably only provided an excuse for this revolt, because for some time, Egyptian soldiers had felt that Greek mercenaries were treated better than they, the native Egyptian army. When Wahibre sent his general “Ahmose”,  to put down this revolt, Ahmose was instead implored by the Egyptians soldiers to be their leader, a plead which he accepted. There ensued a battle between the Greek mercenaries, under the command of king Wahibre, and the Egyptians under the command of Ahmose. Wahibre and the Greek mercenaries were defeated, and Ahmose became king Ahmose II .

The Greeks There are no known images of the original Albino Greeks, circa 1,200 B.C. In Greece, as in the other areas that the Greeks invaded, they interbred with the local Blacks to a great extent: creating in large part, a "Mulatto" people. Our first images of these Greek mulattos comes a few years later, after the Persians had conquered Egypt, Anatolia, and a large part of Greece. These are from the palaces and tomb of the Persian King Darius the Great - reigned 522–486 B.C. These identifications are speculative, based on certain factors. A complete explanation can be found here: Click >>> Please note: Most modern Greeks and Anatolians, are NOT descended from these ancient people. Like most modern Europeans, they are descended from later arriving Germanics, Slavs, and Turks, circa 200-600 A.D. As the modern name of Anatolia (Turkey) suggests, Turkish blood predominates there, as well as in North Africa, the Middle East, and Arabia.

Ahmose II (Amasis)

Ahmose II who was probably the 5th ruler of Egypt during the 26th Dynasty, has been called the last great Egyptian Pharaoh. This is because the rule of his son, Psamtik III, was very short lived, and in fact even in the last days of Ahmose' life, the Persians were already advancing on Egypt. They were the overwhelming power of the region, and would control Egypt up until Alexander the Great 's conquest of Egypt, and the ensuing Greek rulers. After his son “Psamtik III”, never again would an Egyptian rule Egypt, even unto today.

By this late date in Pharaonic history, Wahibres' army was mostly made up of Aegean mercenaries. The two armies met somewhere in the north-west Egyptian Delta in about January or February of 570 B.C, and Apries was forced to retreat. However, this did not give Ahmose complete control of Egypt. Wahibre's apparent retreat was only as far south as Memphis and he continued to control southern Egypt, while Ahmose established himself at Sais in Northern Egypt. Yet Wahibre was not content with this, and aided by his Greek troops, once again marched on Ahmoses’ in October of 570 B.C, where he was once again defeated by his former general. With this defeat, Wahibre could only find safety abroad, and he eventually turned up in the court of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Now Ahmose took control of a united Egypt.

This was complete when sometime between October 19th and December 9th of 570 B.C, Thebes submitted to his reign. Yet poor Wahibre was not yet finished. In March of 567, he again marched on Egypt at the head of a Babylonian army, but once again, Ahmose defeated him, this time capturing the former king. It seems that Ahmose allowed Wahibre to live for a short time, however because we find Herodotus telling us that:

The Egyptians complained that he did wrong by maintaining a man who was the greatest enemy both to them and (Amasis), therefore he delivered Apries to the people, who strangled him.

Apparently, Ahmose still held some respect for his former ruler, because he buried Wahibre with kingly honors in the royal necropolis at Sais. This may very well be explained if indeed Ahmose was married to Wahibres' daughter. However, various sources differ somewhat on these events. Now as the ruler of all Egypt, Ahmose took on the traditional role of builder, and is attested to by quarry inscriptions at Tura and Elephantine and with building projects at Memphis including two granite colossi and a temple of Isis  Philae Elephantine, Edfu Sohag, Abydos  Koptos, Karnak  and any number of Delta sites, including his tomb at Sais. While we have never discovered this tomb, again Herodotus steps in to describe it for us: (It is) a great cloistered building of stone, decorated with pillars carved in the imitation of palm-trees, and other costly ornaments. Within the cloister is a chamber with double doors, and behind the doors stands the sepulchre."

This was really a very prosperous time for Egypt. We are told that agriculture, always the backbone of Egypt, met a spectacular level of success, and Herodotus again tells us that the number of inhabited cities in Egypt reached as high as 20,000. After consolidating his power, Ahmose was apparently somewhat weary of the Greeks, who had been around since the beginning of the Dynasty, and of course, fought against him on the side of Wahibre. Psamtik I had encouraged the Greek merchants in the city of Naukratis, and Ahmose consolidated them in that area only.

This made for easier control of these merchants, and created a lucrative income for the crown in the form of taxes. Prior to Wahibres' defeat, the Greek mercenaries were established in camps between Babastis and the sea on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, where Herodotus tells us they had remained for over a century. Apparently, he first moved them to Memphis, where he could keep an eye on things. But, Ahmose was not willing to push the Greeks too far because he needed their alliance against the expanding threat of the Persians, as well as an attempted invasion by the Chaldaeans.

Apparently after their unsuccessful invasion, he formed an alliance with the Chaldaeans, Croesus of Lydia, and Sparta. Unfortunately, the Persians destroyed the alliance by first capturing Lydia in 546 and then the Chaldaeans. So instead, he cultivated his relationship with the Aegean world, extending his foreign relationships to include Cyprus. He is said to have even financed the rebuilding of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, after its destruction in 548 B.C. According to archaeological records, he probably even allowed the Greek soldiers to return to their old mercenary camps.

Regrettably, for all his efforts, the Persians would eventually prove too ambitious to stop. By the time of Ahmoses’ death after a long reign of some 44 years, the Persians had long ago conquered Babylon, and were already at the frontiers of Egypt. His son was eventually captured by the Persians, and Herodotus tells us that the Persian ruler Cambyses, had Ahmose's mummy exhumed and:

"subjected to every indignity, such as lashing with whips and the plucking of its hairs, until the executioners were weary. At last, as the corpse had been embalmed and would not fall to pieces under the blows, Cambyses ordered it burnt"

This Marks the end of Egyptian rule in Egypt, Egyptians will never again rule their country, even unto today.

Kings of the Assyrian Empire

Kings of the Assyrian Empire

Isaiah 36:2 - And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field. 

List of Assyrian Kings from 883 BC to 610 BC
King of Assyria	Period of Reign (Approx)
Ashurnasirpal II	883-859 BC
Shalmaneser III	858-824 BC
Shamshiadad V	823-811 BC
Adadnirari III	810-783 BC
Shalmaneser IV	782-773 BC
Ashurdan III	772-755 BC
Ashurnirari V	754-745 BC
Tiglath-pileser III	744-727 BC
Shalmaneser V	727-722 BC
Sargon II	722-705 BC
Sennacherib	705-681 BC
Esarhaddon	681-669 BC
Ashurbanipal	669-627 BC
Ashuretililani	627-620 BC
Sinshariskun	620-612 BC
Ashur-uballit	612-610 BC

This chart reveals the Kings of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian Empire began to arise around 1270 BC, in the area far north on the Tigris River after the fall of Chaldea. The first capital of Assyria was Assur, and after that Nimrod became the capital of ancient Assyria. By the 9th century BC the kings of Assyria began to lead military campaigns in the west, Shalmaneser III went further westward than the kings before him. He led campaigns across to Syria and even into Israel. TheBlack Obelisk of Shalmaneser reveals King Jehu of Israel paying tribute to him. Later in 702 BC Nineveh became capital of Assyria, and this was during the reign of king Sennacherib. Nineveh soon became one of the largest cities of the ancient Near East. At the height the Assyrian Empire the kingdom embraced the lands of the northern Tigris, Armenia, Media, Babylonia, Elam, Mesopotamia, Syria, Israel, Judah, and the northern portion of Egypt. The greatest Assyrian Kings were Shalmaneser, Sargon, Sennacherib, and Esarhaddon. The city of Nineveh was finally destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians who came against them at once, and the Kingdom of Assyria was defeated and came to an end in 625 BC.

Isaiah 36:13 - Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 

Map of the Assyrian Empire During the Time of its Greatest Monarchs

Also See: Map of the Assyrian Empire

Scriptures related to Assyria

Jeremiah 2:18 - And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? 

2 Kings 16:10 - And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that [was] at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. 

2 Kings 19:4 - It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that are left. 

Isaiah 37:4 - It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that is left. 

Jeremiah 2:36 - Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. 

2 Chronicles 32:9 - After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying, 

2 Chronicles 30:6 - So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings ofAssyria. 

2 Kings 16:7 - So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I [am] thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. 

2 Kings 18:9 - And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 

2 Kings 18:17 - And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field. 

2 Kings 17:26 - Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. 

2 Kings 17:24 - And the king of Assyria brought [men] from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed [them] in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. 

2 Kings 20:6 - And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 

2 Chronicles 28:21 - For Ahaz took away a portion [out] of the house of the LORD, and [out] of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave [it] unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 

Zechariah 10:10 - I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and [place] shall not be found for them. 

Jeremiah 50:17 - Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. 

2 Kings 18:16 - At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 

Isaiah 36:8 - Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 

Nehemiah 9:32 - Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 

Micah 5:6 - And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver [us] from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. 

2 Kings 23:29 - In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 

Isaiah 27:13 - And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. 

Isaiah 36:2 - And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field. 

2 Kings 18:23 - Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 

2 Kings 18:28 - Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 

2 Kings 19:10 - Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 

Isaiah 36:13 - Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 

2 Kings 15:19 - [And] Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 

2 Kings 16:8 - And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria. 

2 Kings 18:30 - Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.