Apries

Apries (Hebrew Hophra ) belonged to the ancient Egyptian pharaoh (king) and the fourth ruler of the 26th dynasty of the strings Dynasty. He ruled from 10 Februarjul. 589-570 BC

Life

After the death of his father Psamtik II Apries began an aggressive foreign policy, which differed from that of his predecessors. He focused mainly on the expansion of the Egyptian dominion on the northeastern border. To achieve this goal, he initiated with moderate success in military operations in Phoenicia, Palestine and Cyprus.

The first of these operations was the attempt in the year 588 BC to end the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II. However, this thwarted the plan by which he first withdrew his troops and the siege continued a year later. The subsequent capture by his troops led to the downfall of the kingdom of Judah and the deportation of a large number of its inhabitants in the Babylonian exile. It is puzzling to this day, what role Apries played in this process and why he had withdrawn his troops.

Another allegedly initiated by Apries operation was the siege of Tyre by the Egyptian fleet. The report of Herodotus of this naval victory is in contradiction to other sources, which is why this attack has perhaps never occurred.

In the year 576 BC mutinied the garrison of the city of Elephantine. The soldiers had the intention to move to Ethiopia, but could be moved at the last minute by their commander Neshor by skilful negotiations to repentance.

Despite the military failures, which suffered Apries, he led the expansion of the temple of the strings in Memphis, as well as the donation of lands, servants and cattle from the legacy of his father Psamtik II to Priests of the local temple of the deity Ptah. So he left an impression of prosperity in later generations.

In the last year of his reign, Apries saw a revolt of the entire Egyptian army with the exception of the Greek mercenaries face, which he had caused by the strategic misjudgment, 571 BC to undertake a campaign against the Greek city-state of Cyrene itself.

The expedition to Cyrene ended with a heavy defeat of the Egyptian troops. The survivors suspected Apries then betraying them. The king ordered the commander Amasis, the revolt, the ( Greek mercenaries against native soldiers (Greek Machimoi ) ) meant an open outbreak of hostilities in the Egyptian troops to quit.

Since the rebels, however, local soldiers and thus the greater part of the Egyptian army posed, Amasis ran over to them and let yourself cry to Pharaoh. Amazingly, still stood only the Greek mercenaries under the command of Apries. In the battle of Momemphis Apries ' mercenary army was defeated. Apries was lack of other soldiers no other option but to flee from the Nile Delta 569 BC.

Herodotus reported that Apries 567 BC with a renewed army from Upper Egypt came in the fourth year of the reign of Amasis towards the Nile Delta to defeat Amasis and retake the throne of Egypt. Apries to have been delivered and strangled after his defeat and capture to the people. In contrast, the report of the Elephantine Stele of a military conflict between Amasis and Asian armies are talking about. Apries handle accordingly to an alliance Amasis, but fell during the battle. Sure is occupied its place in all honors funeral in the capital city Sais.

Ruins of a palace Apries (Memphis )

Apries stele in the open-air museum in Memphis