The Twitter Herodotus

3.1 Cambyses invaded Egypt bc Amasis sent him the wrong girl as a bride. But actually Cambyses’ ophthalmologist was behind the whole thing.

3.2 So the Persians say. The Egyptians say Cambyses was the grandson of Apries. Not true: he was Cyrus' son by a Persian woman, Cassandane.

3.3 I doubt a 3rd story told, that as a boy Cambyses promised his mother he would one day make Egypt's bottom its top & its top its bottom.

3.4 One of Amasis' bodyguards, Phanes, deserted Egypt and made his way to Persia. He gave Cambyses advice about how to cross the desert.

3.5 The only land route into Egypt is through the desert.

3.6 The Egyptians import wine from Greece & Phoenicia, but you won't see any empty jars around: they're filled w/water & sent to the desert.

3.7 That was later; in Cambyses' day there was no water in the desert. Cambyses asked the Arabian king for safe conduct through his country.

3.8 Arabian pledge-giving involves cutting the palms of the two involved parties and smearing seven stones with their blood.

3.9 Per their agreement the Arabian king contrived to have camel skins of water waiting in the desert for Cambyses.

3.10 Amasis' son Psammenitus waited for Cambyses' attack. Amasis, by the way, had died by this time. He had ruled Egypt for 44 years.