Saite dynasty

The Saite dynasty, also known as the 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt, ruled from 664 to 525 BCE. This period marked a significant revival in Egyptian culture and economy. The dynasty originated from Sais, a city in the Nile delta that was the center of worship for the goddess Neith.

The Saite rulers, beginning with Psamtik I, expelled their Assyrian overlords and unified Egypt. They established Sais as the capital and fostered trade, particularly with Greece. The dynasty's foreign policy generally aimed to maintain stability and avoid territorial expansion. They utilized foreign mercenaries, including Greeks and Carians, in their army.

Culturally, the Saite period saw a revival of older artistic and architectural styles, looking to past glories for inspiration. A new cursive script, demotic, emerged and spread. This era also witnessed a significant development in animal worship. The dynasty's rule ended with the Persian conquest in 525 BCE.12