Petubastis III
Encyclopedia
Seheruibre Padibastet, better known as Petubastis III, is a proposed Egypt
ian ruler, c. 522 – 520 BCE, who revolted against Persian rule
and satrap
Aryandes
. His name Padibastet, means Given by Bastet. This ruler was a native, local prince
, dynast and probably a member of the old royal Saitic
line, who attempted to take control of Egypt and seize power. Although he assumed royal titles and titulary of a pharaoh
, he has been a largely unknown character and a shadowy figure in Egyptian history
.
The ruler revolted in late 522 BCE or early 521 BCE. What caused him to rebel is not certain, but according to the words and writings of the Ancient Greek
military author Polyaenus
, who wrote about this revolt, it was oppressive taxation. The Behistun Inscription
, which offers great insight for the events during this period, mentions a rebellion in Egypt which occurred at the same time as other rebellions in the eastern quarters of the Persian Empire
. Darius, the author of the Behistun Inscription
, does not go into any detail about how he dealt with the rebellion in Egypt. It is most likely that the satrap Aryandes quelled the rebellion, though we cannot know for certain. Certainly Egypt was pacified by 518 BCE when Darius arrived and authorised the codification of local Egyptian laws.
The existence of this shadowy and rebel ruler whom we know very little about, was confirmed by inscriptions found on two seal
s and one scarab that bear his name written in a royal form inside a cartouche
. From the inscriptions we can see that Seheruibre was the birth name of this ruler while he took the throne name Padibastet (Petubastis). There also exists a document that has been dated to the year 552, which was the first year of his reign.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian ruler, c. 522 – 520 BCE, who revolted against Persian rule
History of Achaemenid Egypt
The history of Achaemenid Egypt is divided into two eras: an initial period of Achaemenid Persian occupation when Egypt became a satrapy, followed by an interval of independence; and a second period of occupation, again under the Achaemenids....
and satrap
Satrap
Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires....
Aryandes
Aryandes
Aryandes was the Persian satrap of Egypt in the late sixth century BCE. He was first appointed in c. 525 BCE by Cambyses, the Persian conqueror of Egypt. In 521 BCE, Aryandes probably dealt with a rebellion led by a local dynast named Petubastis. By 510, Aryandes fell foul of the reigning Persian...
. His name Padibastet, means Given by Bastet. This ruler was a native, local prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, dynast and probably a member of the old royal Saitic
SAIS
SAIS can refer to:* Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, part of The Johns Hopkins University.* Sharjah American International School* Southern Association of Independent Schools...
line, who attempted to take control of Egypt and seize power. Although he assumed royal titles and titulary of a pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
, he has been a largely unknown character and a shadowy figure in Egyptian history
History of Ancient Egypt
The History of Ancient Egypt spans the period from the early predynastic settlements of the northern Nile Valley to the Roman conquest in 30 BC...
.
The ruler revolted in late 522 BCE or early 521 BCE. What caused him to rebel is not certain, but according to the words and writings of the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
military author Polyaenus
Polyaenus
Polyaenus or Polyenus vs. e]]; , "many proverbs") was a 2nd century Macedonian author, known best for his Stratagems in War , which has been preserved. The Suda calls him a rhetorician, and Polyaenus himself writes that he was accustomed to plead causes before the emperor...
, who wrote about this revolt, it was oppressive taxation. The Behistun Inscription
Behistun Inscription
The Behistun Inscription The Behistun Inscription The Behistun Inscription (also Bistun or Bisutun, Modern Persian: بیستون The Behistun Inscription (also Bistun or Bisutun, Modern Persian: بیستون...
, which offers great insight for the events during this period, mentions a rebellion in Egypt which occurred at the same time as other rebellions in the eastern quarters of the Persian Empire
Achaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
. Darius, the author of the Behistun Inscription
Behistun Inscription
The Behistun Inscription The Behistun Inscription The Behistun Inscription (also Bistun or Bisutun, Modern Persian: بیستون The Behistun Inscription (also Bistun or Bisutun, Modern Persian: بیستون...
, does not go into any detail about how he dealt with the rebellion in Egypt. It is most likely that the satrap Aryandes quelled the rebellion, though we cannot know for certain. Certainly Egypt was pacified by 518 BCE when Darius arrived and authorised the codification of local Egyptian laws.
The existence of this shadowy and rebel ruler whom we know very little about, was confirmed by inscriptions found on two seal
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
s and one scarab that bear his name written in a royal form inside a cartouche
Cartouche
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an ellipse with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu, replacing the earlier serekh...
. From the inscriptions we can see that Seheruibre was the birth name of this ruler while he took the throne name Padibastet (Petubastis). There also exists a document that has been dated to the year 552, which was the first year of his reign.