Die Siegesstele des Amasis

Summary Republication of the ‘Elephantine stela’ of Amasis, formerly Cairo 13/6/24/1, now in the Nubian ­Museum, Aswan. The inscription, in the Königsnovelle tradition, reports two episodes of the war between Apries and Amasis. The first part, dated to year 1 of Amasis, ­describes the counter-attack of Apries, with the help of Greek mercenaries, against the usurper Amasis (Oct./Nov. 570). Contrary to earlier assumptions, Apries’ fleet did not start from an ‘island’ (jw) but rather traveled down the Canopic arm (ᶜnw) of the Nile. The attackers were defeated by Amasis’ troops at Jmʿw. The second part concerns repulsing an invasion by Babylonian (‘Asiatic’) troops trying, in year 4 (March 567), to reinstall Apries as king, who was killed in the course of the battle.