MINES OF
ciiap. ii.
them, by the help of some Greeks, gained thesole command about 630 years before our era.
As the usurpation of Psammetichus had beenattained by the aid of the mercenaries, whosenumbers were increased by additions from Phoe-nicia and from Caria, who became regular settlersand citizens 1 , the natives were dissatisfied, butmore especially those of the military caste ; andat length the greater part of the national troops,in spite of the endeavours of Psammetichus , aban-doned their cotintry, and, with their families,wandered into Ethiopia , where they establishedthemselves.
Under the impulse given by the newly settledwarriors, the Egyptian monarchs, who succeededto the throne of Psammetichus , changed theirpolicy, and, from being the defenders of their owndominions, became tlieassailantsofthe neighbour-ing states. Psammetichus himself attacked Syria ,and after a long siege and many repulses cap-tured at last the city of Azotus 2 . His successor ,Necho , met with more rapid success at first. Hetook Jerusalem after a battle, in which the kingJosiah fell 3 , imposed on his successor a heavy