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{{Short description|Egyptian pharaoh from 526 BC to 525 BC}}
{{Infobox pharaoh
| Name= Psamtik III 
| Image=Psamtik III in Karnak.jpg
|Caption=Relief depicting Psamtik III from a chapel in [[Karnak]]
| NomenHiero=<hiero>p-s-m-T:k</hiero>
|Nomen=''Psamtik''
| PrenomenHiero=<hiero>ra-anx-kA:n</hiero>
|Prenomen=''Ankhkaenre'' 
| Golden= 
| Nebty=
| Horus= 
| HorusHiero= 
| Reign=526&ndash;525 BC 
| Died=525 BC 
| Predecessor=[[Amasis II]] 
| Successor=[[Cambyses II]], Second Ruler of Persia 
| Alt= Psammetichus III
| Dynasty=[[Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt|26th&nbsp;dynasty]] 
| Spouse= 
| Children= Amasis
}}
'''Psamtik III''' ([[Egyptian language|Ancient Egyptian]]: {{Transliteration|egy|ꜥnḫ-kꜣ-n-Rꜥ Psmṯk}}, pronounced {{Transliteration|egy|Psamāṯək}}<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ray |first=J. D. |date=1990 |title=The names Psammetichus and Takheta |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3822031 |journal=The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology |volume=76 |issue= |pages=196–199 |doi=10.2307/3822031 |jstor=3822031 |access-date=19 August 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref>), known by the Graeco-Romans as '''Psammetichus''' or '''Psammeticus''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: {{lang|grc|Ψαμμήτιχος}}), or '''Psammenitus''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: {{lang|grc|Ψαμμήνιτος}}), was the last [[Pharaoh]] of the [[Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt]] from 526 BC to 525 BC. Most of what is known about his reign and life was documented by the Greek historian [[Herodotus]] in the 5th century BC. Herodotus states that Psamtik had ruled Egypt for only six months before he was confronted by a Persian invasion of his country led by King [[Cambyses II]] of Persia.<ref name=Britannica>''The New Encyclopædia Britannica: Micropædia'', Vol.9 15th edition, 2003. p.756</ref> Psamtik was subsequently defeated at the [[Battle of Pelusium (525 BC)|Battle of Pelusium]], and fled to Memphis where he was captured. The deposed pharaoh was carried off to [[Susa]] in chains, and later committed suicide.

==Family==
{{see also|Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt family tree}}
Psamtik III was the son of the pharaoh [[Amasis II]] and one of his wives, Queen [[Tentkheta]]. He succeeded his father as pharaoh in 526 BC, when Amasis died after a long and prosperous reign of some 44 years. According to Herodotus, he had a son named Amasis and a wife and daughter, both unnamed in historical documents.

==Defeat and imprisonment==
{{further|Battle of Pelusium (525 BC)|First Achaemenid conquest of Egypt}}
Psamtik ruled Egypt for no more than six months. A few days after his coronation, rain fell at Thebes, which was a rare event that frightened some Egyptians, who interpreted this as a bad omen. The young and inexperienced pharaoh was no match for the invading [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]]. After the Persians, under Cambyses, had crossed the [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]] desert with the aid of the [[Arabs|Arabians]], a battle was fought near [[Pelusium]], a city on Egypt's eastern frontier, in the spring of 525 BC<ref name=Britannica/> and the Egyptians were defeated. Consequently, Psamtik and his army were compelled to withdraw to [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]].<ref name=Britannica/> The Persians captured the city after a long siege, and, subsequently Psamtik himself. Shortly thereafter, Cambyses ordered the public execution of two thousand of the principal citizens, including (according to some sources) a son of the fallen pharaoh.

[[File:Meeting Between Cambyses II and Psammetichus III.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|Meeting Between Cambyses II and Psammetichus III.]]

==Captivity and suicide==
[[File:Cambyses and Psammetichus.jpg|thumb|Psamtik III surrendering to Cambyses (19th century illustration).]]
Psamtik's captivity and subsequent suicide are described in ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|The Histories]]'' by Herodotus, Book III, sections 14 and 15. Psamtik's daughter and the daughters of all the Egyptian noblemen were enslaved. Psamtik's son and two thousand other sons of noblemen were sentenced to death, in retaliation for the murder of the Persian ambassador and the two hundred crew of his boat. An "old man who had once been the king's friend" was reduced to beggary.<ref>The Histories, by Herodotus, Book III.14, Penguin Classics</ref> All these people were brought before Psamtik to test his reaction, and he only became upset after seeing the state of the beggar.

Psamtik's compassion for the beggar caused him to be spared, but his son had already been executed. The deposed pharaoh was then raised up to live in the entourage of the Persian King.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:3.15.1|title=Herodotus, The Histories, book 3, chapter 15, section 1|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> After a while, however, Psamtik attempted to raise a rebellion among the Egyptians. When Cambyses learned of this, Psamtik is reported by Herodotus to have drunk [[bull's blood]] and immediately died.<ref>The Histories, by Herodotus, Book III.15, Penguin Classics</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/detail.aspx?id=7709 Cartouche of Psammetichus]
*[http://www.bostonleadershipbuilders.com/herodotus/book03.htm Herodotus histories]

{{Pharaohs}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:6th-century BC pharaohs]]
[[Category:Pharaohs of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:520s BC deaths]]
[[Category:Dethroned monarchs]]
[[Category:Heads of state who died by suicide]]
[[Category:Royalty who died by suicide]]