Psammetichus, or Psamtik I, was the first of three kings of the Saite, or Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt (664 - 610 BC). The name is frankly written so as to mean the man of methek, or mixed drink, whether as a tippler or as a vendor of strong drink. The Egyptian scribes do not conceal the opprobrious elements, but it has been suggested that the name may be due to false etymology of a foreign name (though all the names throughout the dynasty appear to be Egyptian), or that Methek may have been an unknown deity.
The story in Herodotus of the Dodecarchy and the rise of Psammetichus is fanciful. It is known from cuneiform texts that twenty local princelings were appointed by Esarhaddon and confirmed by Assurbanipal to govern Egypt. Necho I, father of Psammetichus, was the chief of these kinglets, but they seem to have been quite unable to hold the Egyptians to the hated Assyrians against the more sympathetic Nubians. The labyrinth built by a king of the Twelfth Dynasty is ascribed by Herodotus to the Dodecarchy, or rule of 12, which must represent this combination of rulers. If the dynasties were numbered thus before Manetho, the numeral may be the cause of Herodotus's confusion. After his father's death, Pasammetichus I was able to defy the Assyrians and the Nubians, and during a long reign marked by intimate relations with the Greeks restored the prosperity of Egypt.
Psammetichus, or Psamtik I, was the first of three kings of the Saite, or Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt (664BC-610 BC).
Psamtik I effectively reunified Egypt in his 8th Year(656 BC) when his naval fleet sailed into Upper Egypt and compelled the existing God's Wife of Amun at Thebes to adopt his daughter Nitocris as her Heiress in the so-called Adoption Stela.
Psamtik's success destroyed the last vestiges of the Nubian Dynasty's control over Upper Egypt under Tantamani since Thebes now accepted his authority.
Psamtik I was the first to be recognised by them as the King of the whole of Egypt, and he brought increased stability to the country in a 50 year reign from the city of Sais.
Pharaoh Psamtik III had succeeded his father Ahmose II scarcely a year before he had to face the might of Persia at Pelusium.
Psamtik was defeated and briefly escaped to Memphis, but ultimately he was imprisoned at Susa, capital of the Persian emperors, who now assumed the title of Pharaoh.
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