Apries

King 589-570 BC.

    Apries, son and successor of *Psammetichus II, adopted a change of policy from that pursued by his predecessors. Instead of following a defensive and peaceful course, he became involved in the Judaean revolt against *Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon in 588 BC, which ended with the sacking of Jerusalem in 587/6 BC. He appears in the Bible as the Pharaoh 'Hophra', although the extent of his support and involvement against *Nebuchadrezzar's forces is uncertain.

    However, it was another expedition which brought about his own downfall. A large and prosperous colony of *Greeks had been established at Cyrene on the North African coast and this caused considerable resentment amongst the local *Libyan population. In 570 BC, a *Libyan chief, Adicran, asked for Apries' help and protection, and the king sent an army which was resoundingly defeated. His Egyptian subjects blamed Apries for this and, as a result of the ensuing civil war, Apries was deposed and replaced by *Amasis, an army general whom the people chose as pharaoh.

    Amasis took Apries alive and at first treated him well, establishing him at the capital city of Sais, but later he was thrown to the populace. Nevertheless, he was apparently accorded the final honour of being buried as a king.

BIBL. Herodotus, The Histories Bk. ii, 161-3, 169.

Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David

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   See Wahibre.

Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier