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Objectives of Psamtik I's campaign to Wawat and its history
S.S. Sloviva
The article deals with the domestic and foreign policy of Psamtik I, the founder of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty. This problem must be investigated in a more in-depth scientific manner.
Our subject is the campaign of Psamtik I to Wawat in northern Nubia, located to the south of Egypt, between the first and second cataracts.
Much attention was given to the wat economy, which played an essential role in the Egyptian expansion into the southern lands starting from the Old Kingdom era. The Egyptian occupation reached its peak in the era of the New Kingdom in the period of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties.
The Egyptian invasions resulted in: a massive influx of material wealth and human resources; Seizing areas through the use of military force and building fortifications, and creating an effective administration that includes, in addition to Egyptian employees, local nobles. We must also note the cultural and religious Egyptianization of the region.
However, since the end of the second millennium, the speed of Egyptian expansion declined due to the decline of Egypt, revenge from the southern neighbors (Kush), who occupied part of the actual Egyptian territories, and finally, the severe depletion of the resources of the Wawat after twelve centuries of continuous invasions.
Of particular importance is the fact that after a long interruption, the Egyptians stripped the campaign to Wawat in the period of Psamtik I, as indicated by the inscription of Abi, the son of Ankhjur and the first overseer of the possessions of the king's daughter, Princess Nethykert, as well as the obelisk in the temple of Mut in Thebes, which shows the return of the governor of Hierakonpolis and the intimate companion of Psamtik I, Samtawi-Tefnaht, with his fleet from Nubia.
We are trying to approach the data of the Egyptian sources and complement them with data from the Greek writers (Herodotus and Didorus), who mention that the Libyan warrior-colonists (the Mahimites) rose up against Psamtik I and left Egypt for Meroe, pursued by the Egyptian military leaders and then the king with the aim of stripping them and returning them to Egypt.
While acknowledging the possibility of approaching Greek and Egyptian sources, the researcher assumes that Egyptian sources say little about the campaign because it ended in failure.
It can be dated to 654/653 BC, because it must have occurred after Psamtik I united all of Egypt under the authority of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty in 655 BC, and because the sharp clash with the Mahimwi occurred during the siege of Ashdod in 654 BC, when Egypt appeared again on the Asian stage after defeating the Assyrians from its lands.
In the concluding part of the article, the subsequent campaigns undertaken by the pharaohs of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty, Psamtik II, Ebri, and Amasis into Nubia, are discussed, which were primarily motivated by political and strategic motives of the Egyptians who were afraid of the rising power of their southern neighbors, especially Meroe. Military plunder was of secondary importance, if we take into account the previous plundering of the "border" areas, including the Wawat, over centuries.
The Aims and Dating of Psamtik I Expedition to Wawat
S.S.Solovyova
The article deals with the home and foreign policy of Psamtik I, the founder of the XXVI Dynasty. This problem should be investigated in a more profound manner by science.
Our subject is Psamtik I expedition to Wawat in Northern Nubia, located south of Egypt, between the first and second Catracts.
Much attention is given to the economy of Wawat which played a key role in the Egyptian expansion in southern lands beginning from the Old Kingdom epoch. Egyptian conquests in the south reached their climax in the New Kingdom epoch under the XVIII and XIX Dynasties.
Egyptian invasions were attended by: a considerable influx of material wealth and human resources; the acquisition of territories through the use of military force and building of fortresses; creation of an elaborate administration combining the Egyptian officials and local nobility. We should also note cultural and religious Egyptianization of the area.
However, from the end of the second millenium, Egyptian expansion slowed down primarily because of the decline of Egypt, the revenge taken by its southern neighbours (Kush), who occupied a section of Egyptian indegenous territory, and finally, the critical depletion of Wawat's resources after twelve centuries of incessant invasions.
It is of particular importance tht after a long break, the Egyptians mounted an expedition to Wawat under Psamtik I, as is suggested by the inscription of Ibi, the son of Ankhgor and chief super intendant of the prperty of King's daughter, Princess Neithikert, and by the stelae in the temple of Mut in Thebes, showing the return of the Nomarchus of Hieraonpolis and closest associate of Psamtik I, Samtauy-Tefnaht, with his fleet from Nubia.
We are trying to compare the data of the Egyptian sources and to complement them with data from Greek authors (Herodotus and Diodorus), who say that the Libyan warrior-colonists (the mahimoi) rebelled against Psamtik I and left Egypt for Meroe chased by the Egyptian military chiefs and then by the King in order to pacify them and make them return to Egypt.
In admitting the possibility of comparing the Greek and Egyptian sources, this author assumes the Egyptian sources say little about that expedition because it was failure.
It may be dated to 654/653 BC, because it should have occured after Psamtik I unified the entire Egypt under the authority of the XXVI Dynasty in 655 BC, and because the most sharp conflict with the mahimoi ocurred during the siege of Ashdod in 654 BC, when Egypt reemerged on the Asian scene after chasing away the Assyrians from its territory,
In the final section the article reviews the follow-up expeditions of later Pharaohs of XXVI Dynasty, Psamtik II, Apriy, and Amasis to Nubia, basically motivated by political and strategic considerations of the Egyptians who feared the strengthening of southern neighbours, especially Meroe. Military spoil was of second importance, given the earlier plundering of "bffer" territories, including Wawat, for many centuries.