There was another important reason, separate from all others, that helped lead to the Persian expedition against Egypt. This reason involved a man named Phanes. Phanes was a mercenary soldier from Halicarnassus who served under the Egyptian king Amasis. He was known as a man of intelligence, experience, and courage in war. For reasons that are not fully explained, Phanes became dissatisfied with Amasis and decided to abandon his service.
Phanes secretly left Egypt by ship and fled to Persia, hoping to meet Cambyses, the Persian king. Because Phanes was an important leader among the mercenaries and knew Egypt very well, his defection was a serious loss for Amasis. He possessed valuable knowledge about Egyptian defenses, military habits, and political weaknesses Egyptian Claims About Cambyses’ Origin.
A Failed Attempt to Capture Phanes
When Amasis learned of Phanes’ escape, he was deeply troubled and eager to bring him back. He feared that Phanes might give dangerous information to the Persians. To recover him, Amasis sent one of his most trusted eunuchs with a warship to capture the runaway mercenary.
The eunuch eventually caught up with Phanes in Lycia. However, he failed to return him to Egypt. Phanes proved to be clever and resourceful. He managed to make the guards drunk and escaped during the night. After this daring escape, he continued his journey safely into Persia, where he was finally able to meet Cambyses.
Phanes Advises Cambyses
At the time Phanes arrived, Cambyses was already considering an invasion of Egypt. However, he faced a major problem: how to move his army across the great desert that lay between Persia and Egypt. The desert was wide, dry, and dangerous, and armies could not survive there without water and guidance.
Phanes became extremely valuable to Cambyses. He shared detailed information about Egypt, including its military strength, political situation, and internal weaknesses. More importantly, he advised Cambyses on how the Persian army could cross the desert safely.
Phanes suggested that Cambyses should send an ambassador to the king of the Arabs. He explained that the Arabs controlled the desert route and that no army could pass through the region without their cooperation. Only with their permission and assistance could water be provided along the way Customized Turkey Tour.
The Geography of the Route to Egypt
According to the ancient understanding of the land, Egypt could only be entered from this desert route. The land from Phoenicia to the city of Cadytis was controlled by the people known as the Syrian Palestinians. Cadytis itself was a large and important city, almost as big as Sardis.
From Cadytis along the coast to the city of Jenysus, the territory belonged to the Arabian king. Beyond Jenysus, Syrian lands appeared again and stretched as far as Lake Serbonis. Near this lake stood Mount Casius, which reached out toward the sea. At Lake Serbonis, Egypt was believed to begin.
The Dangerous Desert Crossing
The stretch of land between Jenysus and Lake Serbonis was a vast desert. It took about three days to cross and contained no natural water sources. This made it extremely dangerous for travelers and armies alike. Without help from the Arabs, an army attempting to cross this desert would surely perish.
Thus, the guidance of Phanes and the cooperation of the Arabian king played a crucial role in making the Persian invasion of Egypt possible.
