Karomemphitai. Origin stories of Karians in Egypt and their role in the rise of the Saite dynasty

Scolnic, Benjamin (2025) Karomemphitai. Origin stories of Karians in Egypt and their role in the rise of the Saite dynasty. ACTA ANTIQUA ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM HUNGARICAE, 65 (3-4). pp. 367-376. ISSN 0044-5975

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Abstract

Anecdotes in Polyaenus, Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus concerning oracles that both predicted and played a role in Psammetichus I’s rise to power in 664–658 BCE may reflect later etiologies. After attempting to reconstruct the historical context of the rise of the Saite dynasty in the seventh century BCE Egypt, we will evaluate the possible role of Karians in the defeat of the Nubians by their Saite rivals. A century later, the Karians may have played a role in another significant event, the coup d’état of Amasis. In magnifying their role in the earlier conflict, the Karians who lived in the Karikon district of Memphis may have created a foundation story for their community.

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