The Satrapies of the Persian Empire in Egypt

Abstract

AbstractFor a long time dominated by Egypt, the historiography of the African holdings of the Persian Empire has in recent years given a more prominent role to Nubia and especially to Libya. This chapter shows that Cambyses, after defeating the last ruler of the Saite Dynasty (Twenty-sixth Dynasty), likely did not limit his ambitions to Egypt. However, the difficulty that the Persian Empire experienced throughout the fifth and fourth centuries bc in maintaining their power in the region was arguably a factor in why the Persian authorities chose to concentrate on the Nile valley. The variety and wealth of written sources discovered in Egypt make it one of the few satrapies where the functioning of the imperial administration is best documented at all levels of its action. The political investment of the Persian Empire in Egypt matches the strong presence of Egyptians throughout the imperial lands, notably in the military forces but also in the heart of power in Susa and Persepolis.