Psammuthes

Psammuthes reigned in 393 BC, holding power for less than a year during a period of dynastic instability, with dates known within a year. Following the death of Nepherites I, a succession conflict divided the ruling house of Mendes. Psammuthes took the pharaonic titles and ruled briefly in both Lower and Upper Egypt.

Despite the very short duration of his reign, he managed to sponsor construction at the Karnak temple complex in Thebes, where he began work on a stone bark shrine for the god Amun. His reign ended quickly when he was overthrown by Hakor, who subsequently erased many of Psammuthes's royal cartouches from surviving monuments. Psammuthes left no known tomb, and his burial place remains unknown. Egyptologists know of his rule from modified temple inscriptions at Thebes and surviving Demotic and Greek king lists.

Monuments

• Karnak bark shrine

Explore further

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