Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt

Egypt
664 BC–525 BC
Capital		Sais
Languages		Egyptian language
Religion		Ancient Egyptian religion
Government		Monarchy
History
•	Established	664 BC
•	Disestablished	525 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt

The Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt (also written Dynasty XXVI or Dynasty 26) was the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC (although others followed). The dynasty's reign (664–525 BC) is also called the Saite Period after the city of Sais, where its pharaohs had their capital, and marks the beginning of the Late Period of ancient Egypt.

History

This dynasty traced its origins to 24th Dynasty. Psamtik I was probably a descendant of Bakenrenef, and following the Assyrians' invasions during the reigns of Taharqa and Tantamani, he was recognized as sole king over all of Egypt. While the Assyrian Empire was preoccupied with revolts and civil war over control of the throne, Psammetichus threw off his ties to the Assyrians, and formed alliances with Gyges, king of Lydia, and recruited mercenaries from Caria and Greece to resist Assyrian attacks.

With the sack of Nineveh in 612 BC and the fall of the Assyrian Empire, both Psamtik and his successors attempted to reassert Egyptian power in the Near East, but were driven back by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II. With the help of Greek mercenaries, Apries was able to hold back Babylonian attempts to conquer Egypt, but the Persians did conquer Egypt, and their king Cambyses II captured, later executed Psamtik III.

Female figure, Louvre Museum. The name of Psammetichus I is inscribed under the feet.

Dynasty 26th pharaohs

The 26th Dynasty may be related to the 24th Dynasty. Manetho begins the dynasty with:

• Ammeris the Nubian, 12 (or 18) years
• Stephinates, 7 years
• Nechepsos, 6 years
• Necho, 8 years.

When the Nubian King Shabaka defeated Bakenrenef, son of Tefnakht, he likely installed a Nubian commander as governor at Sais. This may be the man named Ammeris. Stephinates may be a descendant of Bakenrenef. He is sometimes referred to as Tefnakht II in the literature. Nechepsos has been identified with a local king named Nekauba (678–672 BC). Manetho's Necho is King Necho I (672–664 BC) Manetho gives his reign as 8 years. Necho was killed during a conflict with the Nubian king Tanutamun. Psamtik I fled to Nineveh – capital of the Assyrian Empire – and returned to Egypt when Assurbanipal defeated Tanutamun and drove him back south. Scholars now start the 26th Dynasty with the reign of Psamtik I.

Dynasty XXVI pharaohs

Pharaoh	Throne name	Reign (BC)	Burial	Consort(s)	Comments
Psamtik I	Wahibre	664 - 610 BC	Sais	Mehytenweskhet	Manetho gives his reign as 54 years
Necho II	Wehemibre	610 - 595 BC		Khedebneithirbinet I
Psamtik II	Neferibre	595 - 589 BC		Takhuit
Apries	Haaibre	589 - 570 BC			Manetho gives his reign as 19 years
Amasis II	Khnemibre	570 - 526 BC	Sais	Tentkheta Nakhtubasterau	Herodotus claims that when Cambyses II invaded Egypt, realizing he was not able to exact revenge for Amasis's previous misdeeds and trickery, he exhumed his body, desecrated it and burned what remained of the mummy.
Psamtik III	Ankhkaenre	526 - 525 BC

Sextus Julius Africanus states in his often accurate version of Manetho's Epitome that the dynasty numbered 9 pharaohs, beginning with a "Stephinates" (Tefnakht II) and ending with Psamtik III. Africanus also notes that Psamtik I and Necho I ruled for 54 and 8 years respectively.

See also

• History of Ancient Egypt
• Twenty-sixth Dynasty Family Tree
• Twenty-sixth Dynasty Timeline
• Late Period of ancient Egypt
• Achaemenid Empire
• Saite Oracle Papyrus

Bibliography

• Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, London 2004
• Kenneth Kitchen, The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C. (Book & Supplement) Aris & Phillips. 1986 ISBN 978-0-85668-298-8
• Karl Jansen-Winkeln, Bild und Charakter der ägyptischen 26. Dynastie, Altorientalische Forschungen, 28 (2001), 165-182.