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Ancient Egypt / Late Period /
26th Dynasty of Egypt
Dynasty of Ancient Egypt 664-525 BCE, 139 years, consisting of 6 kings, belonging to the Late Period.
This period is also known as the Saite period, or the Saite Dynasty, reflecting that Sais was Egypt's capital for this period.
This dynasty had its origins with the short-lived 24th Dynasty, also of Sais. Psametik 1 was the great-grandson of Bakenrenef, last king of the 24th. He was originally a vassal king under Assyria, but benefited from internal conflicts in Assyria to establish himself as an independent king over a unified Egypt. He formed an alliance with Lydian king, Ardysus 2, to be strong enough to hold back a possible Assyrian attack.
Towards the end of the 7th century, Assyria was replaced by Babylonia, and Egypt soon faced new challenges along its borders. In the 6th century, Egypt was attacked by Babylonia. In 525, Egypt was no longer able to hold back Asian invasions, and fell to the Persians, at the Battle at Pelusium. The Egyptian king, Psametik 3, was brought to Susa by the Persian king, , in chains.
Information about this dynasty is considered among the most accurate of ancient Egyptian history.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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