KHARGAOasis and installed Persian style tunnels and pipes
for delivering water. Darius II also added to the codified
laws of Egypt. During his reign, the Jewish temple on ELE-
PHANTINEIsland was razed. Darius II’s satrap, or governor,
one ARSAMIS, investigated and discovered that the priests
of the Egyptian god KHNUMhad arranged the devastation
by bribing the local commander of the Persian forces.
Darius II continued his efforts to stem the rising
Greek ambitions and to put down sporadic revolts
throughout the empire. He was on a campaign north of
Media when he became ill and died. His successor was
ARTAXERXES II.
Darius III Codoman (d. c. 332 B.C.E.)Persian emperor
and ruler of Egypt in the Thirty-first Dynasty
He ruled Egypt from 335 B.C.E. until his death. A cousin
of ARSES(Artaxerxes IV), Darius III was installed on the
throne when BAGOAS, the murdering eunuch of the court,
killed the rightful heir, a prince of the line. Darius III,
however, forced Bagoas to drink his own poison, ridding
the empire of the slayer.
MAZEUSwas the Persian satrap of Egypt appointed by
Darius III. Darius ruled only three years in Egypt before
hefaced ALEXANDER III THE GREATat ISSUS. He fled from
the field, abandoning his mother, wife, and children to
the Greeks. Darius III then tried to make peace and to
ransom his family, but his efforts were in vain, as the
Greeks continued to conquer former Persian areas,
including Egypt. He faced Alexander again at GAUGAMELA
and once again fled from the battle. The satrap of Bactria,
Bessus, murdered Darius III. This last Persian ruler of
Egypt was buried at Persepolis. Mazeus, Darius III’s Egyp-
tian satrap, welcomed Alexander into Egypt.
Dashur A site on the Libyan Plateau, south of SAQQARA,
that served as a necropolis for early Egyptian royal clans,
two massive stone pyramids of SNEFRU (r. 2575–2551
B.C.E.) of the Fourth Dynasty are at Dashur, as well as the
pyramidal complexes of SENWOSRET III (r. 1878–1841
B.C.E.), AMENEMHETII(r. 1929–1892 B.C.E.), and AMEN-
EMHET III(r. 1844–1797 B.C.E.) of the Twelfth Dynasty.
The northern pyramid of Snefru, called “Snefru
Gleams,” was built out of local limestone and enclosed
with the higher grade Tureh limestone. Once higher than
the famed PYRAMIDof KHUFUat GIZA, this is the Red Pyra-
mid, considered the first successful structure of its type.
The square of the pyramid was 721 feet and it was
designed to stand 341 feet in height. There are three
chambers within, all with corbelled roofs, but there are
no signs of a royal burial present. The valley and mortu-
ary complex have not been uncovered.
The southern pyramid complex of Snefru is called
“the Bent Pyramid” or “Rhomboidal Pyramid.” It was
constructed out of local limestone and encased with Tura
limestone, laid in sloping courses. Many theories have
evolved concerning the change in angle evident in the
mortuary structure. The pyramid’s original angle was
obviously too steep and had to be altered. There is a
descending passage inside, with a corbelled roof and
lower chambers in which cedar beams were used. A mor-
tuary complex was found beside Snefru’s southern pyra-
mid, consisting of a small shrine, a limestone slab, and an
elaborate offering table. Two large stelae flanked the tem-
ple, which was surrounded by a mud-brick wall. The VA L-
LEY TEMPLE, part of the complex, is a rectangular building
with sculpted friezes and a tenemos wall.
The pyramidal complex of Senwosret III has a MOR-
TUARY TEMPLEand a valley temple, linked by a causeway.
The complex, now in ruins, was built of mud brick and
encased with bonded limestone blocks. The interior
burial chamber was lined with red granite, and the sar-
cophagus was made of the same stone. A gallery on the
northeast side leads to the royal tombs of family mem-
bers. There are four ruined MASTABASon the northern
side and three on the southern side. Individual burial
chambers provided a cache of jewelry from Senwosret
III’s female relatives. Three cedar boats were also uncov-
ered, and a stone wall surrounded the site.
The pyramidal complex of AMENEMHET IIwas built of
brick, designed with a foundation of compartments that
were filled with sand. There is a vast causeway and a
mortuary temple that contains slabs inscribed with the
name of the god AMUN. The pyramid was once covered
with limestone, and a sandstone sarcophagus was found
in the interior burial chamber. To the west are the pyra-
mids of Amenemhet II’s queen and four princesses.
The pyramidal complex of AMENEMHET III, called
“Amenemhet Is Beautiful” by the Egyptians and now
listed as the Black Pyramid, is the last major structure in
Dashur. The pyramid was made out of mud brick with a
black basalt pyramidion. A causeway paved with lime-
stone slabs, a valley temple, and a residence for mortuary
priest officials complete the complex. The pyramid, a
CENOTAPH, was originally 26 and a half feet in height and
344 feet square. This complex was also the burial site of
the mysterious AWIBRÉ HOR.death See ETERNITY.“Debate of a Man with His Soul” This is a didactic
text found in the BERLIN PAPYRUS3024, sometimes called
“The Man Who Tired of Life.” Dated probably to the
Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1783 B.C.E.) and the work of an
unknown sage, the text is not complete but clearly delin-
eates the troubles of an Egyptian of that period who fears
death but wants to exit from his world. The terrors of
death and the blessedness of the world beyond the grave
are beautifully demonstrated. The soul becomes recon-
ciled with the man as he perceives death as the true
homeland of all created beings.94 Darius III Codoman