Darius I

Twenty-Seventh Dynasty

Though a Persian who took the throne of Egypt by conquest, Darius was always remembered with approval by the Egyptians for having scrupulously observed the immemorial customs and beliefs of the Two Lands; he observed the animal cults respectfully. He was a benefactor of the temples, building on a large scale, and reordered the administration, introducing a new legal code for the country, the result of sixteen years' deliberation by the commission appointed to carry out the task. He was, however, diverted from his concern for Egypt by the Persian defeat by the Greeks at Marathon, and despite his reputation for magnanimity, the Delta cities revolted. He was succeeded by Xerxes, whose reputation, by contrast with that of Darius, was grim.

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Last Updated: June 20th, 2011