Herodotus 3.16: Cambyses Desecrates Amasis' Body

Questions and Answers

Attack the Ethiopians immediately with an overwhelming force.

Wait until the Persians can draw a bow of similar greatness before attacking. (correct)

Prepare for war, as the Ethiopians are planning to invade Persia.

Be grateful for the gifts sent and establish a peaceful relationship.

Because they were not familiar with the Ethiopian terrain

Because he did not want them to witness the failure of his expedition

Because they were not skilled in archery

Because he wanted a smaller, more mobile army (correct)

The Ethiopians launched a surprise attack on the Persian army

The army was diverted to attack a different region

The soldiers began to eat the sumpter beasts and eventually resorted to cannibalism (correct)

The army was forced to retreat back to Persia immediately

<p>A retreat by the Persians, with significant losses</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Memphis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cambyses entered the palace of Amasis in Sais and ordered the body of the king to be brought out of the tomb
He commanded that the body be whipped, pricked, and insulted, but it resisted due to embalming
Cambyses then ordered the body to be burned, which was considered impious by both Persians and Egyptians
Persians believe fire is a god and never burn their dead, while Egyptians believe fire is a live animal that eats everything it can seize
Egyptians embalm their dead to prevent them from being eaten by worms in the grave

Cambyses sent spies to Ethiopia with gifts, but the Ethiopian king perceived them as spies
The Ethiopian king refused Cambyses' gifts and advised him to only attack when he could draw a bow as easily as the king could
Cambyses was stirred to anger by the Ethiopian king's words and set out to attack Ethiopia without preparing for his army's sustenance
His army ran out of provisions, and the men began to eat their sumpter beasts, then grass and herbs, and eventually resorted to cannibalism
Cambyses gave up the attack on Ethiopia and retreated back to Thebes, losing many soldiers along the way
He eventually reached Memphis, where he dismissed the Greeks and allowed them to sail home