DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12609#0105
the persian conquest.
89
Egypt. The communication between the two coun-
tries soon grew frequent, and hence at this point
Egyptian history emerges from obscurity and fable.
The 27th was the Persian dynasty. The 28th, 29th,
and 30th native dynasties held the throne by a pre-
carious tenure, and under continual alarms from Per-
sia. Together they ruled about 63 years. Persia
then once more compelled Egypt to submit to her
hated yoke. But Persia herself soon lay prostrate
before Alexander. Egypt became a province of the
new empire, and the inhabitants welcomed the Mace-
donian conqueror as their saviour* from Persian
barbarity.
No great edifices of these later dynasties remain.
They have perished in the general destruction of the
cities of Lower Egypt, then the seat of government.
Some additions to ancient buildings by the two last
native dynasties are, however, still seen, and the largest
tomb at Thebes was excavated shortly before the first
Persian invasion.
The Greek and Eoman dynasties which followed
built extensively, and on almost as grand a scale as
the ancient Pharaohs. Except the Pyramids and the
temples at Abydos, nearly every existing edifice in
Egypt, out of Thebes, was erected under their rule.
* Isaiah, xix. 20. " He shall send them a Saviour and a great
one." It is remarkable that the first Ptolemy, Soter, should have
assumed this prophetic title.
89
Egypt. The communication between the two coun-
tries soon grew frequent, and hence at this point
Egyptian history emerges from obscurity and fable.
The 27th was the Persian dynasty. The 28th, 29th,
and 30th native dynasties held the throne by a pre-
carious tenure, and under continual alarms from Per-
sia. Together they ruled about 63 years. Persia
then once more compelled Egypt to submit to her
hated yoke. But Persia herself soon lay prostrate
before Alexander. Egypt became a province of the
new empire, and the inhabitants welcomed the Mace-
donian conqueror as their saviour* from Persian
barbarity.
No great edifices of these later dynasties remain.
They have perished in the general destruction of the
cities of Lower Egypt, then the seat of government.
Some additions to ancient buildings by the two last
native dynasties are, however, still seen, and the largest
tomb at Thebes was excavated shortly before the first
Persian invasion.
The Greek and Eoman dynasties which followed
built extensively, and on almost as grand a scale as
the ancient Pharaohs. Except the Pyramids and the
temples at Abydos, nearly every existing edifice in
Egypt, out of Thebes, was erected under their rule.
* Isaiah, xix. 20. " He shall send them a Saviour and a great
one." It is remarkable that the first Ptolemy, Soter, should have
assumed this prophetic title.