The messengers sent by Cambyses arrived too late to save the life of Psammenitus’ son. He had been chosen as the first among the condemned and had already been killed in a brutal manner. Nothing could now be done for him. However, the messengers did succeed in saving Psammenitus himself. They took the former Egyptian king and brought him before Cambyses, the ruler of Persia.
This moment marked a turning point in Psammenitus’ fate. Although he had lost his kingdom and his family had suffered greatly, his own life was spared.
Cambyses Shows Restraint
Cambyses did not treat Psammenitus harshly after this. Instead, he allowed him to live in his presence and showed him a measure of respect. Psammenitus was no longer king, but he was not thrown into prison or tortured. In fact, had he been able to remain quiet and avoid interfering in political matters, he might have regained a position of authority in Egypt Cambyses Plans New Campaigns.
It is said that Cambyses may even have allowed him to govern Egypt as a Persian-appointed ruler. This would not have been unusual, because the Persians had a custom of treating the sons of kings with honor, even when their fathers had been defeated or had rebelled.
Persian Policy Toward Defeated Kings
The Persian rulers often followed a practical and forgiving policy. Instead of destroying royal families, they sometimes restored power to them under Persian control. In many cases, the sons of defeated or rebellious kings were allowed to inherit their fathers’ lands and rule as governors loyal to Persia.
There are several examples that support this practice. Two well-known cases are those of Pausiris and Thannyras. Thannyras was the son of Inarus the Libyan, who had caused serious trouble for the Persians. Even so, Thannyras was allowed to succeed his father. Pausiris, the son of Amyrtaeus, was treated in the same way.
This is remarkable because Inarus and Amyrtaeus had done great harm to Persian rule. Few men ever caused the Persians more difficulty than these two, yet their sons were still shown mercy and given authority. This shows that Persian policy was not driven only by revenge, but also by a desire for stability and control Private Guided Ephesus Tours.
Psammenitus Plots Revolt
Unfortunately for Psammenitus, he did not follow this path of caution. Instead of accepting his situation and living quietly, he began to plot rebellion against Persian rule. He secretly tried to stir up revolt among the Egyptians, hoping to regain power.
These actions did not remain hidden for long. The Persians discovered his plans, and clear evidence of his guilt came to light. Once Cambyses was certain that Psammenitus was working against him, his attitude changed completely.
A Harsh and Final Punishment
Because of this betrayal, Cambyses ordered a severe punishment. Psammenitus was forced to drink the blood of a bull. This act was believed to be deadly, and indeed it caused his death soon afterward. In this way, Psammenitus met a tragic end.
The story of Psammenitus shows both the mercy and the cruelty of Persian rule. Cambyses was willing to spare a defeated king and even give him a future, but he demanded loyalty in return. When Psammenitus chose rebellion instead of patience, he lost his final chance. His death marked the true end of Egypt’s resistance under its native kings.
