46 MINES OF 



CHAP. II. 



them, by the help of some Greeks, gained the 

 sole command about 630 years before our era. 



As the usurpation of Psammetichus had been 

 attained by the aid of the mercenaries, whose 

 numbers were increase^ by additions from Phoe- 

 nicia and from Caria, who became regular settlers 

 and citizens *, the natives were dissatisfied, but 

 more especially those of the military caste ; and 

 at length the greater part of the national troops, 

 in spite of the endeavours of Psammetichus, aban- 

 doned their country, and, with their families, 

 wandered into Ethiopia, where they established 

 themselves. 



Under the impulse given by the newly settled 

 warriors, the Egyptian monarch s, who succeeded 

 to the throne of Psammetichus, changed their 

 policy, and, from being the defenders of their own 

 dominions, became the assailants of the neighbour- 

 ing states. Psammetichus himself attacked Syria, 

 and after a long siege and many repulses cap- 

 tured at last the city of Azotus 2 . His successor, 

 Necho, met with more rapid success at first. He 

 took Jerusalem after a battle, in which the king 

 Josiah fell 3 , imposed on his successor a heavy 



1 Herodotus, book ii. cap. 152 and 154. Diod. i. c. 77- 



2 Herodotus, book ii. c. 157. 



3 2 Kings, chap, xxiii. v. 29. ; also Herodotus (book ii. 

 c. 159.), who notices the capture of Jerusalem, to which he 

 gives the name Cadytis. 



