Inaros I
Inaros I of Athribis (fl. c. 674–657 BC) was an ancient Egyptian prince who rebelled against the Assyrians during their short-lived occupation of Egypt. His struggle against the Assyrians gave rise to a whole cycle of stories, known as The Inaros Stories, the latest of which date to the 2nd century AD, about 750 years after his death.
Biography
[edit]Little is known about the historical events surrounding his rebellion, except that he came from a prominent family. He was the son of Prince Bakennefy of Athribis, mentioned in the annals of Assyrian king Assurbanipal, and his grandfather was Prince Padiaset of Athribis, mentioned on the Stele of Piye.[1]
The Inaros Stories suggests that Inaros and the king of Saïs, Necho I, were involved in a battle in 674 BCE between the Assyrians led by Assarhaddon and the Napatheans led by Taharqa. Inaros may have played a major role in this battle, which would have allowed him to acquire the profile of a national hero.[2]
In 667/666 BCE, Assurbanipal invaded Egypt and deported several leaders of Lower Egypt to Nineveh, including apparently Inaros' father, Bakennefy, who was executed there. It may be at this time that he began to rule his territory of Athribis.[3]
Strabo indicates that Psammetichus I, then a simple king of Saïs, defeated a certain Inarôs who was probably the prince of Athribis Inaros I with the help of Milesian mercenaries. In any case, in the 8th year of his reign (around 657 BCE), Psammetichus was master of Lower Egypt.[4]
The Inaros Stories
[edit]The main works identified are The fight of Inaros against the Griffin, the Epic of Inaros against the Assyrians, the Tale of Bes (which takes place during the life of Inaros) and, for those taking place after the death of the hero, the War for the cuirass, the War for the prebend of Amun, King Ounamun and the kingdom of Lihyan and The competition for the diadem and the lance of Inaros.[5]
Inaros I is often confused in both ancient and modern literature with his namesake Inaros II, who rebelled against the Persians about 200 years later.
References
[edit]- ^ Payraudeau 2020, p. 211.
- ^ Payraudeau 2020, p. 214.
- ^ Payraudeau 2020, p. 219.
- ^ Payraudeau 2020, p. 231.
- ^ Payraudeau 2020, p. 464.
- Payraudeau, F. (2020). PUF (ed.). L'Égypte et la Vallée du Nil - Les époques tardives. Vol. 3. Paris. ISBN 978-2130591368.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Ryholt, K. ‘The Assyrian Invasion of Egypt in Egyptian Literary Tradition’, Assyria and Beyond: Studies Presented to Mogens Trolle Larsen, edited by J.G. Dercksen, Leiden, Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 2004, pp. 384–511.
- Quack, J.F. ‘Inaros, Held von Athribis.’Altertum und Mittelmeerraum: Die antike Welt diesseits und jenseits der Levante. Festschrift für Peter W. Haider zum 60. Geburtstag, edited by R. Rollinger and B. Truschnegg, Oriens et Occidens 12, Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 2006, pp. 499–505.
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