Cambyses II, Smerdis and the Accession of Darius Flashcards
What personality do the ancient historians give Cambyses?
Cruel tyrant
Where does Herodotus get his sources (probably)
Biased Egyptian sources
think closing time
When did Cambyses II become king?
August 530
What does Herodotus think of the three reasons he gives for the invasion of Egypt
The first is a ‘pretext’ and the others he dismisses out of hand
What is Herodotus’ first reason for the invasion of Egypt?
An Egyptian doctor advised Cambyses to marry Amasis’ daughter, as he knew it would create trouble.
Amasis sent Nitetis, daughter of a former king he had deposed, pretending she was his daughter.
Nitetis revealed the trick, and Cambyses decided to invade
Amasis
King of Egypt
Ally of Lydia
Father of Psammetheticus III
Why did Cambyses most likely invade Egypt?
Protect (Egypt was very interested in the Levant) and increase the empire. An invasion was probably thought of by Cyrus.
Amasis was also an ally of the Lydians during the war with Lydia.
Which two peoples allegedly voluntarily submitted to Persian rule, thus bringing a powerful navy to the empire
Phoenicia and Cyprus
What was the other naval power in the 530s?
Samos
King of Samos
Polycrates
Why might Samos have switched sides, joining Persia.
Amasis died, and Polycrates probably saw that Persia was going to win a war with Egypt
Who succeeded Amasis?
His son Psammetheticus III
What does this quote suggest the Persians thought of Cambyses?
“They had answered that he was better than his father, because he had kept all Cyrus’ possessions and acquired Egypt and command of the sea into the bargain”
He was seen as both conquerer of Egypt and someone who had created the Persian navy
Who acted as a guide to the Persians on the campaign in Egypt?
Phanes, a Greek mercenary and former advisor of Amasis
Where did the Persians first fight the Egyptians. Who won?
Pelusium, a port on the Nile delta. The Persians won
Which city did the Persians besiege in Egypt?
Memphis
What did Cambyses do once Egypt had been defeated?
Set up mercenaries to defend it
Outcome of the siege of Memphis
Egypt surrenders
Which three peoples to the west of Egypt surrendered to Persia after Egypt was conquered?
Libya Barca and Cyrene
Which three peoples did Cambyses try to conquer after Egypt?
Carthaginians, Ammonians, Ethiopians
What happened with the 3 invasions Cambyses made after Egypt
Carthage: Phoenicians refused to invade as Carthage was a Phoenician colony
Ammonia: 50,000 went to attack the oasis at Ammon, but were killed in a sandstorm
Ethiopia: Not enough supplies, lead by Cambyses, and in the end had to return due to resorting to canabalism
What was the first sign of Cambyses not being right in the head (Herodotus)
He disrespected the corpse of Amasis
what did (the mad) Cambyses think the celebration of the Apis Bull was really celebrating?
Celebrating his loss in Ethiopia
What did Cambyses do with the Apis Bull?
Fatally stabbed it in the thigh. He then laughed at it for having flesh and blood while being a god
What else did Cambyses do in his madness?
Organised the murder of his brother
(Smerdis/Bardiya)
Killed his sister-wife (had adopted Egyptian custom)
Jeered at sacred statues
Broke into tombs and examined the bodies