Amasis

Family: Egyptian · Role: king · First appears: Book 1 · §28–33

After the Egyptians revolted and set Amasis up as king, he prepared to march against Apries. Apries’s remaining supporters joined the revolt, and at Momemphis Amasis defeated him and took him alive. He kept Apries in his palace at Saïs and treated him well for a time, but eventually handed him over to the Egyptians, who strangled and buried him. After Apries was overthrown, Amasis became king.

During his reign, Egypt became more prosperous than before. Amasis built a temple-gateway for Athene at Saïs and a temple for Isis at Memphis, established an annual declaration of livelihood, and granted Naucratis and other land to visiting Hellenes. He also married Ladike, dedicated offerings at Samos through his guest-friendship with Polycrates, and conquered Cyprus, which paid him tribute.

Amasis sent Nitetis to Persia dressed as his own daughter; after she revealed that she was actually Apries’s daughter, Cambyses marched against Egypt. Phanes, one of Amasis’s foreign mercenaries, fled Egypt and escaped to Persia despite Amasis’s pursuit. Amasis died after reigning for forty-four years. Later, when Aryandes sent an army with Pheretime, Amasis commanded the land forces; at Barca, he secured a treaty by concealing a trench beneath the agreement.