# Psammetichos — Histories character guide

> Psammetichos in Histories by Herodotus.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Egyptians Psammenitos

**First appearance:** 0004-book-iii-thaleia

## Snapshot

The last native pharaoh of Egypt in Herodotus' account, who watches his allies slaughter their own children's blood and then loses his kingdom to Cambyses.

## Who they are

Psammenitos rules a Egypt already hollowed out by the defection of the Greek mercenary captain Phanes, whose children are butchered in front of both armies to break his nerve. He fights hard at Pelusium but is routed, and his fall is measured in small humiliations: a daughter sent to fetch water, a son led to execution, a friend begging in the streets. His story anchors Herodotus' Egyptian logos and sets up the Persian conquest as a lesson in how quickly fortune turns.

## Relationships

### [Cyrus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters/cyrus)

_rivalry_

Psammetichos, an Egyptian pharaoh, is conquered and deposed by Cyrus's forces.

### [Cambyses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters/cambyses)

_rivalry_

Cambyses conquers Egypt and humiliates Psammetichos, the deposed pharaoh.

### [Cambyses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters/cambyses)

_rivalry_

Cambyses conquers Egypt and humiliates Psammetichos, the deposed pharaoh.

### [Cyrus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters/cyrus)

_rivalry_

Psammetichos, an Egyptian pharaoh, is conquered and deposed by Cyrus's forces.

## In the story

### [Book II: Euterpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/chapters/book-ii-euterpe)

Egyptian king who conducted an experiment to determine the oldest civilization by isolating children.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters/psammetichos
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/histories_se/characters