Arsames (satrap of Egypt)

Arsames (Persian Aršāma, Greek Ἀρσάμης, Aramaic ארשם ) was a Persian satrap of Egypt in the Achaemenid Empire in the second half of the 5th century BC. It is not excluded that Arsames was himself a member of the Achämenidendynastie.

Arsames was used after the defeat of the Egyptian uprising under Inaros by the Persian commander Megabyzos in the year 454 BC as governor of Egypt. 423 BC Darius II, he supported the overthrow of Sogdianos.

Out of Egypt numerous documents on papyrus and leather are obtained which relate to the time of the Arsames. A comprehensive dossier containing letters of Arsames for his steward during his absence from Egypt from the years 410-407 BC Arsames held at that time in Susa and Babylon at the court of the Persian king Darius II on. In this period also the destruction of the Temple of Yahu Elephantine falls. About the future life Arsames ' after the fall of Egypt by the Achaemenid Empire under Amyrtaeus ( 404/402 BC) is not known.