These different ethnic groups lived in their own quarters at Memphis, the capital city. In pursuit of these goals, however, the Saite pharaohs had to rely on foreign mercenaries-Carian (from southwestern Asia Minor, modern Turkey), Phoenician, and Greek-as well as Egyptian soldiers. There were even echoes of the bygone might of Egypt’s New Kingdom in Saite military campaigns into Asia Minor (after the collapse of the Assyrian empire in 612 B.C.) and Nubia.

Under Saite rule, Egypt grew from a vassal of Assyria to an independent ally. Later generations would remember this dynasty as representative of Egyptian history, and would in turn recapitulate Saite forms. The long and rich traditions behind them, however, fortified the culture, which saw a new phase of artistic expression in stone monuments and statuary. Elevated to power by the invading Assyrians, Dynasty 26 faced a world in which Egypt was no longer concerned with its role in international power politics but with its sheer survival as a nation. For the next 130 years, Egypt enjoyed the benefits of rule by a single strong family, Dynasty 26. that the Saite ruler Psamtik I was able to reassert control over the southern area of the country, dominated by Thebes. When the Assyrians withdrew after their final invasion in 664 B.C., Egypt was left in the hands of the Saite kings, though it was actually only in 656 B.C.

March of empires war of lords vassalage