Читать книгу The Herodotus Encyclopedia - Группа авторов - Страница 781

CHRISTOPHER BARON

University of Notre Dame

Herodotus states that the Asmach were Egyptian deserters (Gk. automoloi), supposedly 240,000 members of the warrior class whose name indicates “those who stand to the left of the king.” During the reign of PSAMMETICHUS I (Psamtik I, r. 664–610 BCE), they revolted due to overextended guard duty at the three key Egyptian border FORTIFICATIONS (ELEPHANTINE, DAPHNAE, MAREA) and set out for ETHIOPIA. When Psammetichus attempted to persuade them not to abandon their gods and families, they pointed to their genitals and responded that wherever those went, they would find wives and CHILDREN. The Ethiopian king utilized the Asmach to drive out his enemies and then settled them on the land; their presence brought civilized ways to Ethiopia (2.30).

A recently published papyrus fragment contains part of an Egyptian narrative written in Demotic in which “those on the right” and “left” of the army revolt from the king, probably Psamtik I (Ryholt 2012). The demotic term for “left,” smḥ, is almost certainly the derivation for Herodotus’ term Asmach (Quack 2013, 75). Other ancient authors relate the story (including Strabo 17.1.2/C786; Plin. HN 6.191), referring to the Asmach by various names (Lloyd 1976, 126–32).

SEE ALSO: Egypt; Gestures; Short Stories