Psamtik II (also transliterated as Psammetichus II) was a pharaoh of the Twenty‑sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, reigning approximately from 595 BC to 589 BC. He succeeded his father, Amasis II (Ahmose II), and was succeeded by Apries (Hophra).
Ascension and Reign
- Psamtik II inherited a relatively stable and prosperous Egypt that had successfully resisted Persian encroachment under his father’s rule.
- His reign was marked by a continuation of the policy of defending Egypt’s southern borders against the Kingdom of Kush (Nubia).
Military Campaigns
- In 595 BC, Psamtik II led an expedition into Nubia, reaching as far as Kushite territory near the Third Cataract of the Nile.
- Inscriptions and a now‑lost stela (recorded by later sources) claim that he captured the Kushite king Amanitore (also known as Alara, although the identification remains debated among scholars).
- The campaign resulted in the temporary re‑establishment of Egyptian control over the southern frontier, though Egyptian authority in Nubia waned after his death.
Domestic Affairs and Building Projects
- Psamtik II continued the construction and restoration of temples begun by his predecessors, notably contributing to the Temple of Amun at Karnak and the Temple of Osiris at Abydos.
- He is credited with commissioning a series of statues and reliefs that emphasize the king’s role as a guarantor of Ma’at (cosmic order).
Death and Succession
- Psamtik II died in 589 BC; the cause of death is not recorded in surviving Egyptian sources.
- He was succeeded by his son, Apries, who faced increasing internal strife and external threats, culminating in the eventual Persian conquest of Egypt in 525 BC.
Historical Assessment
- Modern Egyptologists consider Psamtik II’s reign a brief but significant interval of Egyptian military assertiveness in the south, showcasing the limited capacity of the late Saite dynasty to maintain territorial integrity without the extensive resources later employed by the Persians.
- Primary sources for his reign include contemporary inscriptions, stelae, and later historical accounts by Greek writers such as Herodotus, though the latter must be used cautiously due to chronological distance.
