| Psamtik III | |
|---|---|
| Psammetichus III | |
 Relief depicting Psamtik III from a chapel inKarnak | |
| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 526–525 BC |
| Predecessor | Amasis II |
| Successor | Cambyses II, Second Ruler of Persia |
| Children | Amasis |
| Died | 525 BC |
| Dynasty | 26th dynasty |
Psamtik III (Ancient Egyptian:ꜥnḫ-kꜣ-n-Rꜥ Psmṯk, pronouncedPsamāṯək[1]), known by the Graeco-Romans asPsammetichus orPsammeticus (Ancient Greek:Ψαμμήτιχος), orPsammenitus (Ancient Greek:Ψαμμήνιτος), was the lastPharaoh of theTwenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt from 526 BC to 525 BC. Most of what is known about his reign and life was documented by the Greek historianHerodotus in the 5th century BC. Herodotus states that Psamtik had ruled Egypt for only six months before he was confronted by a Persian invasion of his country led by KingCambyses II of Persia.[2] Psamtik was subsequently defeated at theBattle of Pelusium, and fled to Memphis where he was captured. The deposed pharaoh was carried off toSusa in chains, and later committed suicide.
Psamtik III was the son of the pharaohAmasis II and one of his wives, QueenTentkheta. He succeeded his father as pharaoh in 526 BC, when Amasis died after a long and prosperous reign of some 44 years. According to Herodotus, he had a son named Amasis and a wife and daughter, both unnamed in historical documents.
Psamtik ruled Egypt for no more than six months. A few days after his coronation, rain fell at Thebes, which was a rare event that frightened some Egyptians, who interpreted this as a bad omen. The young and inexperienced pharaoh was no match for the invadingPersians. After the Persians, under Cambyses, had crossed theSinai desert with the aid of theArabians, a battle was fought nearPelusium, a city on Egypt's eastern frontier, in the spring of 525 BC[2] and the Egyptians were defeated. Consequently, Psamtik and his army were compelled to withdraw toMemphis.[2] The Persians captured the city after a long siege, and, subsequently Psamtik himself. Shortly thereafter, Cambyses ordered the public execution of two thousand of the principal citizens, including (according to some sources) a son of the fallen pharaoh.
Psamtik's captivity and subsequent suicide are described inThe Histories by Herodotus, Book III, sections 14 and 15. Psamtik's daughter and the daughters of all the Egyptian noblemen were enslaved. Psamtik's son and two thousand other sons of noblemen were sentenced to death, in retaliation for the murder of the Persian ambassador and the two hundred crew of his boat. An "old man who had once been the king's friend" was reduced to beggary.[3] All these people were brought before Psamtik to test his reaction, and he only became upset after seeing the state of the beggar.
Psamtik's compassion for the beggar caused him to be spared, but his son had already been executed. The deposed pharaoh was then raised up to live in the entourage of the Persian King.[4] After a while, however, Psamtik attempted to raise a rebellion among the Egyptians. When Cambyses learned of this, Psamtik is reported by Herodotus to have drunkbull's blood and immediately died.[5]
