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How did Herodotus describe Cambysesâ conquest of Egypt?
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Herodotus
Herodotus, detail of a Roman herm probably copied from a Greek original of the first half of the 4th century bce; in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.
In his History, the Greek historian Herodotus characterizes the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses II as a ruthless and sacrilegious campaign. Herodotus attributes many of the atrocities Cambyses allegedly committed in Egypt to madness.123
According to Herodotus, the Persian conquest involved several key elements:
- Military Strategy: Cambyses successfully crossed the Sinai Desert and defeated the Egyptian forces under Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium in 525 BCE, leading to the fall of Memphis.234
- Failed Expeditions: Herodotus reports that subsequent military efforts were unsuccessful, including a campaign against the Oasis of Amon, which he claims was destroyed by a massive sandstorm.234
- Religious Conduct: Herodotus describes Cambyses as having desecrated Egyptian religious ceremonies and shrines.3
It is important to note that modern scholars often view these accounts with skepticism. Many of the negative portrayals of Cambyses are believed to stem from adverse propaganda by Egyptian priests who resented his policies, as well as the biases of Herodotusâs own informants.213