Apries

Apries, known in biblical texts as Hophra and in Greek as Apries, ruled Egypt from 589 BC to 570 BC, with dates uncertain by about a year. He succeeded his father, Psamtik II. Apries pursued an aggressive foreign policy in the Levant, attempting to aid the kingdom of Judah against the Babylonian forces of Nebuchadnezzar II, though he was unable to prevent the fall of Jerusalem.

He constructed a monumental palace at Memphis and made donations to the temple of Neith at Sais. His reign faltered after a catastrophic military expedition to Cyrene in modern Libya. The surviving Egyptian soldiers rebelled, suspecting their king of treachery. Apries dispatched his general Amasis to quell the revolt, but the soldiers proclaimed Amasis pharaoh instead. Apries was defeated in the ensuing civil war and later killed.

Scholars document his life through the surviving remains of his palace at Memphis, Saite inscriptions, and classical historical records.

Monuments

• Palace of Apries at Memphis
• Temple of Neith at Sais

Explore further

Try the name on the Cartouche Desk, or see where the reign falls on the timeline.