Persian Kings - Cambyses

Question 1

Succession of Kings (Cyrus -> Cambyses)

Answer 1

• Aug 530, smooth transition.
• Cambyses only son, Cyrus Cylinder.
• Persian and Babylonian sources name Smerdis, another brother.
• Change of king caused no unrest.

Question 2

Conquest of Egypt (Reason in circulation)

Answer 2

• Egyptian doctor at Cambyses court held a grudge against Amasis and tried to stir up trouble.
• He told Cambyses to ask for Amasis’ daughter in marriage.
• Amasis didn’t want to send his own daughter so sent the daughter of the King he deposed.
• His daughter Nitetis had no loyalty so told Cambyses.
• Cambyses was angry so decided to invade Egypt.
• This was a pretext.

Question 3

Actual reasons for conquest of Egypt

Answer 3

• Desire to protect the empire, Cyrus probably intended to attack in his reign. Egypt had invaded Levant in 580s. Cambyses may have felt rule of Levant threatened by Egypt.
• Revenge for Amasis’ alliance with Croesus of 540’s.
• It was ready to face Egypt, strong navy with Phoenicians, Cyprus and Samos.

Question 4

Stages of the Egyptian invasion

Answer 4

• An adviser to Amasis defected to Cambyses and helped him.
• Marched in spring 525 with Ionians and an alliance with desert Arabs who gave the army places to get water.
• Victory at Pelusium, port on the Nile.
• Moved south to besiege Memphis (capital) and the Egyptians surrendered.
• Cambyses set up military garrisons to defend it.

Question 5

Outcome of the invasion of Egypt

Answer 5

• Libya, Barca, Cyrene surrendered.

Question 6

Further expeditions

Answer 6

• The carthaginians, cancelled because they were Phoenician colonists.
• Oracle of Ammon, 50,000 men sent west into the desert but killed in a sandstorm.
• Ethiopians, Cambyses led the expedition, didn’t plan for proper supplies so had to eat pack animals and each other. He gave up and went back to Memphis.

Question 7

Why was he portrayed as a madman?

Answer 7

• Trying to fight Ethiopians without proper supply.
• Killed his brother Smerdis because he had a dream Smerdis would overthrow him.
• Kicked his pregnant wife-sister to death when she was sad at death of Smerdis.
• Was angered when he saw Egyptians celebrating a festival as he thought they were celebrating failure of Persian army.

Question 8

Why was he portrayed as disrespectful?

Answer 8

• disrespected the corpse of Amasis.
• When Apis bull appeared he summoned the leaders of Memphis to explain, he executed them. He then summoned the priests, he whipped them.
• Killed the Apis bull by stabbing it.
• broke open ancient tombs.

Question 9

Apis Bull Death

Answer 9

• People were celebrating the appearance of Ptah in an Apis bull. Cambyses asked the leaders what happened and they told him but he didn’t believe them and killed them. He asked the priests who said the same thing and had them whipped. He then stabbed the Apis bull in the thigh and it died.

Question 10

Cambyses death

Answer 10

• Two brothers launched a rebellion against Cambyses. Smerdis (looks like the other Smerdis) and Patizeithes (left in charge of royal household by Cambyses.)
• Smerdis pretended to be Cambyses brother and take control of the empire and sent a proclamation to the empire to obey Smerdis.
• Cambyses found out and asked Prexaspes who swore he killed Smerdis.
• Cambyses figured out and regretted killing his brother as his dream didn’t say which Smerdis would overthrow him.
• Cambyses rode to Susa but his cap fell off exposing the sword blade which pierced his thigh in the same place he stabbed the Apis bull.
• Cambyses died after 7.5 years on the throne.