20Jan

Battle of Pelusium

The decisive battle of Pelusium was between ancient Egypt empire led by Pharaoh Psametik III (526-525 BCE) and the Achaemenid Empire (The First Persian Empire) led by Cambyses II (525-522 BCE) and played a crucial part in shaping the future of both kingdoms as the throne of the pharaohs was transferred to Cambyses II of Persia. This battle ended with the victory of the Persian army due to using the religious beliefs of the Egyptian civilization against them which involved a very abstract tactic as the Persian army used cats as hostages. Here are some information that will surprise you about the battle of Pelusium:

Discover What’s the Reasons that Led to Battle of Pelusium

Battle of Pelusium Facts - Trips In Egypt

The battle of Pelusium started due to the irritating, foolish and aggravating actions of Pharaoh Amasis II the father of Psametik III. The cause of the battle started when king Cambyses asked Amasis’S daughter for marriage but he didn’t want to marry his daughter to a Persian who was considered to be less in stature even if he was a king so instead Amasia II send another girl named Nitetis to take her place as the future wife of Cambyses but when she stood in front of him, she explained Asamis’s wickedness and trickery and so Cambyses vowed to avenge his insult.

Amasia II bitterness towards phanes of Halicarnassus who was a wise councilman, mercenary, tactician and one of the most respected men in the military and royal community of Egypt for some unknown reason, led phanes to become his enemy as he escaped to Persia and assisted the Cambyses II’s army in their conquest of conquering Amasis II by conveying all the strategy and tactics of the Egyptian army and was the true mastermind in the defeat of Egyptian empire.

The Catastrophic Diplomatic Relations of Amasia II

Amasia II’s habit of making enemies and creating bad diplomatic relations with his neighboring countries led to his defeat like the king of Arabia who granted safe passage to the Cambyses army and supplied him with his personal troops which facilitated and contributed to the destruction of the Egyptian empire.

Amasis died six months before Cambyses reached Egypt which left his son Psamtik in charge who hoped to save his country by entirely depended on his army and his limited military experience despite the fact that all of Egypt’s allies like the Greek forces, the grand fleet of Polycrates of Samos and Egypt’s most prominent tactical advisor phanes of Halicarnassus, switched sides to the Persian.

The Bulletproof Winning Strategy of the Persian Army

Battle of Pelusium Reasons - Trips In Egypt

This battle of Pleusium was an extremely unique battle because it was based on an early form of psychological warfare as told by Herodotus (a Greek historian). The Persians had a brilliant tactic to use the Egyptian religious belief against them. The Persians put cats in front of them while attacking, the Egyptians didn’t dare to shoot an arrow or even attack in any form as feared they might hurt the cats.

This strategy was based on the concept that the ancient Egyptian worshiped the goddess Bastet (the cat goddess of beauty, protection, household, and fertility), during this period, Bastet was one of the most loved and honored goddesses in Egypt. And because of that casts were viewed as a symbol of Bastet which resulted in them being very protected and highly regarded plus the punishment for killing a cat was the death sentence and absolute damnation in the afterlife.

The Outcome of the Battle of Pelusium

The Egyptians lost about fifty thousand men while the Persians army only lost seven thousand men which led to the Egyptian army to retreated to the city of Memphis. Cambyses took his troops to Memphis and was able to defeat what is left from the Egyptian army which made Psamtik surrender the city and live under the watch of the Persian emperor but he was later died when he attempting a failed revolt against the Persian Empire.

End of the Persian Empire in Ancient Egypt

The Persians would rule Egypt as an autonomous nation for about 200 years until the arrival of Alexander the Great‘s armies and conquering Egypt in 331BCE and later on ruled by a Greek emperor until annexed by the Roman kingdom in 30BCE.

Explore the Last Moments of the ancient Egyptians with “Trips in Egypt”

Finally, Egypt has many historical mysterious temples & tombs which contains hidden secrets about the battles of ancient Egyptians, so ancient Egypt is worth an adventurous trip to unlock these secrets with an Egyptologist tour guide through our fabulous Egypt tour packages, or transfer to the capital of Pharaohs “Luxor”, or even discover the land of myths “Aswan” by our gorgeous Nile cruises.

Trips in Egypt Team
About the author

Trips In Egypt Team

Trips In Egypt team is composed of diverse individuals from all over the world who are the guardians of the ancient knowledge, magnificent attractions, and secrets of Egypt. They are travel enthusiasts, Egyptologists, Archaeologists, and history passionates who know every corner about the historical, geographical, geopolitical, and cultural nature of Egypt that trace back to more than 5000 years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

  • What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?

    You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.

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    You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.

  • Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?

    Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.

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  • Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

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  • What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?

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  • What is the Weather is Like?

    The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

  • Should I Give Tips in Egypt?

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  • What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?

    It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.

  • Can I Enter the Pyramids?

    Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.

  • How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?

    Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.

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Trips In Egypt was founded in 2002 when it launched, since then the company specialized in providing trips in Egypt only which includes tour packages, vacations, Nile cruises, day trips, shore excursions, and any kind of trips in Egypt.

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