Years before the sack of Thebes, a new family of rulers began emerging in the Delta, which paid tribute to the Assyrians until they withdrew from Egypt to defend their empire from the Babylonians, leaving a vacuum that was filled by Psammetichus I , the fourth ruler of the XXVI Dynasty (664-525 BC). Known as the Saïte Dynasty after its capital at Saïs in the Delta, this was the last great age of pharaonic civilization, harking back to the glories of the Old Kingdom in art and architecture, but also adopting new technologies and allowing colonies of Greek merchants at Naucratis, and Jewish mercenaries at Elephantine.

 

Necho II (610-595 BC) defeated Josiah, King of Judah, at Megiddo, but was routed by the Babylonians. He is also credited with starting to build a canal to link the Nile with the Red Sea. Though Psammetichus II (595-589 BC) enjoyed several victories, his successor Apries was overthrown following defeat in Cyrenacia, the throne passing to Amasis "the Drunkard", who relied on Greek allies to stave off the Persian empire.