cambyses Flashcards
impiety of cambyses?
epitaph of the apis bull - in herodotus 3 - impious killing of the sacred apis bull - but stele from Saqqara carries a contrasting epitaph in which Cambyses made all the offering himself which suggests a level of cultural respect and outward piety
cambyses installed troops in egyptian temple compound - profaned temple with their unclean things,. siexzed processions and festivals -0 temple left standing but no longer functional
potential explanations for the conquest of egypt
in Herodotus - revenge against king for a diplomatic insult (amasis) - arranged marriage where different women than expected were sent to cambyses (sounds like herodotus’ marriage hangups talking)
political/resource reasons? consolidated control over levant and expand further west, also a resource rich region
herodotus implies a pre-existing diplomatic relationship between nations - could facilitate the use of defectors from the enemy side so must have been some exchange of peoples
herodotus suggests defection by carian mercenaries from egypt to persia (parallel defection for cyrus in babylon)
cultural/religion patronage under cambyses (in egypt)
inscription from Udjahorresnet - cambyses clears the main temple of occupying intruders, gives benefaction and personally worships Neith on the suggestion of a client king
also aligns himself with phaeonic custom - adopts a full titulary in the style of a pharaoh to use in egypt with traditional throne names (horus smatawy mesutire)
