This study reexamines the chronology and circumstances of the Assyrian withdrawal from Egypt in the mid-7th century BCE, challenging the scholarly consensus that Assyria peacefully departed immediately after Ashurbanipal’s conquest in 664 BCE. Through analysis of Assyrian royal inscriptions, Egyptian documents, and biblical sources, this research demonstrates that Assyrian control persisted until approximately 644 BCE and ended through Egyptian rebellion rather than voluntary withdrawal. This revised chronology demonstrates that Egypt’s independence resulted from military rebellion supported by foreign allies during Assyrian weakness, marking a significant imperial defeat rather than strategic withdrawal. These findings have important implications for understanding both Assyrian imperial decline and the foundations of the Saite renaissance.
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