of the region of KHARGA OASIS. The capital was Balat in
the historical period of the Old Kingdom (2575–2134
B.C.E.), and there was a necropolis. Mut is the newest
capital. The necropolis at Dakhla has yielded 80 mum-
mies, some displaying symptoms of leprosy, a disease
found in Egypt in the very late eras. A shrine at the oasis
was discovered, and representations of 47 deities were
displayed within the structure. There were Sixth Dynasty
(2323–2150 B.C.E.) mastabas near Balat. There are also
tombs from the First Intermediate Period (2134–2040
B.C.E.) and a temple of MUTfrom the Ramessid Period
(1196–1070 B.C.E.) at Dakhla. Sites uncovered at Dakhla
include MASARA, Bashendi, and Sheikh Mufta. Prehistoric
documentation of habitation is also available there.
Dakka Asite in NUBIA(modern Sudan), on the west
side of the modern High Aswan Dam, started by the
Meroitic ruler ARKAMANI, r. c. 220 B.C.E. The Ptolemaic
Period (304–30 B.C.E.) rulers completed temples on the
site. Dakka was a cultic center for the deities THOTHand
ISIS. The temples honoring these gods were elaborate.
Dal Island Asite overlooking the second cataract of
the Nile, where it enters the gorge called BATN EL-HAGAR,
or “the Belly of Stones.” SENWOSRET IIIand other mem-
bers of the Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1783 B.C.E.)main-
tained canals near the site. Such waterways provided safe
passage for military and trade vessels. Later pharaohs,
such as TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), reopened the
canals and improved them for rapid descent to the
Nubian territories (modern Sudan).
See also MILITARY.
Damanhur (Timinhor) A site in the western Nile
Delta, no longer standing but in ruins. The Egyptians
called the site Timinhor, the City of HORUS. In the Ptole-
maic Period (304–30 B.C.E.) the site was called Daman-
hur Hermopolis Parva.
Damietta (1) This is the modern name given to the
branch of the NILERiver on the eastern side of the Delta.
Damietta (2) (Dumyat) Asite located on a narrow
strip of land between the Phatnitic arm of the Nile and
Lake Manzala, Damietta thrived in early Egyptian times
as a port city.
Danaus The legendary clan leader and son of Belus,
Danaus was supposedly a ruler of Egypt and brother of
the legendary Aegyptus. Driven out of Egypt by his
brother, Danaus took his 50 daughters, the Danaids, to
Argo in Greece. The 50 sons of Aegyptus followed and
wed Danaus’s daughters. He had commanded these
women to slay their husbands, and all obeyed, except
Hypermesta, who spared her spouse, Lycneus. The
Danaids were punished for their cruelty by eternally hav-
ing to fill bottomless vats with water.Darius I (Selutré)(d. 486 B.C.E.)Persian emperor and
ruler of Egypt in the Twenty-seventh Dynasty
Darius I reigned from 521 B.C.E. until his death, with the
throne name of Selutré, which meant “the Likeness of
Ré.” Egypt was part of the Sixth Persian Satrapy, along
with the Libyan Oases and Cyrenaica. Darius I was the
successor and probably the son of CAMBYSESand had to
put down rivals who vied for the throne. One historical
document states that Darius avenged his father’s murder
at the hands of a Magi named Gaumata before visiting
Egypt. His favorite wife was ARTYSTONE, who bore him
two sons.
Darius I was militarily trained, having campaigned in
India and Syria. His reign was beneficial to Egypt because
of his administrative concerns. He used the CARTOUCHE
of Egypt and other pharaonic traditions to keep peace,
and he was firmabout the authority of his officials and
about maintaining a mercenary garrison on the ELEPHAN-
TINEIsland. He also aided the temples, restoring their
annual incomes and coded laws. Darius I erected a tem-
ple to HIBISin the KHARGA OASISand completed NECHO II’s
canal linking the Red Sea and the Nile. In 490 B.C.E., the
Greeks defeated the Persians at Marathon, prompting an
Egyptian revolt as well. Darius I set out to put down the
rebels but died and was buried in the cliff site of Nagh-i-
Rustam at Persepolis (in modern Iran) and was suc-
ceeded on the throne by XERXES I.
He is mentioned in the Petition of Pete’ese. An Egyp-
tian style statue of Darius I was discovered in Susa, in
western Iraq.Darius II(Ochus)(d. 405 B.C.E.) Persian emperor and
ruler of Egypt in the Twenty-seventh Dynasty
He was the successor of ARTAXERXES I as the Persian
emperor and as a ruler of Egypt, reigning from 423 B.C.E.
until his death. Darius II was the son of Artaxerxes I by a
Babylonian concubine, thus considered illegitimate in
matters concerning the throne. When Artaxerxes I died
in 424 B.C.E., Darius II, then called Ochus, was a satrap in
a remote part of the empire.
He was married to his half sister, PARASITES, an ambi-
tious and energetic woman with a personal fortune. Dar-
ius II usurped the throne of Persia from the rightful heir,
his brother Xerxes, and then faced other relatives who
rebelled against him. He killed aristocratic clans and
maintained control, earning a reputation for cruelty and
the name “Nothus,” or bastard.
Egypt, meanwhile, showed some resistance in the
region of SAIS. The Nile Delta was far enough removed
from Persian intrigues to function in a semi-independent
fashion. Darius II completed the temple of HIBISin theDarius II 93