Wahibre Psamtik I was the first pharaoh of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt, the Saite period, ruling from the city of Sais in the Nile delta between 664–610 BC. He was installed by Ashurbanipal of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, against the Kushite rulers of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, but later gained more autonomy as the Assyrian Empire declined.
Bust of Psamtik I, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Assyrian capture of an Egyptian city from the Kushite Pharaoh Taharqa or Tantamani, possibly Memphis in 663 BCE. British Museum.
7th century statue found in Kale mentioning Psamtik I. The Ionian Greek inscription reads, "Amphimeos' son Pedon brought me from Egypt and gave as a votive; Psammetichos, the king of Egypt gave him a city for his virtue and a golden diadem for his virtue."
Legend of the linguistic experiment by Psamtik I.
Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt
The Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt was the last native dynasty of ancient Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC. The dynasty's reign is also called the Saite Period after the city of Sais, where its pharaohs had their capital, and marks the beginning of the Late Period of ancient Egypt.
Portrait of a Pharaoh of the Saite Dynasty
Pottery vessel showing the face of god Bes from the 26th Dynasty. Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
Female figure, Louvre Museum. The name of Psamtik I is inscribed under the feet.
Sphinx of Apries, from the collection of Anne Claude de Caylus
