After completing his conquest of Egypt, Cambyses began to think about further expansion of his empire. He carefully considered his options and finally planned three major expeditions. Each of these campaigns was aimed at a different region of North Africa and beyond Cambyses Travels from Memphis to Sais.
The first expedition was planned against Carthage, a powerful city located on the western coast of North Africa. The second was directed toward the Ammonians, who lived in the desert region near the famous oracle of Ammon. The third plan concerned the Ethiopians, a people said to be very long-lived, who lived in the southern part of Libya near the southern sea.
Cambyses decided that these three expeditions should not all be carried out in the same way. Instead, he chose different methods for each one.
Strategy for Carthage and the Ammonians
Cambyses decided that the attack on Carthage should be made by sea. For this reason, he ordered his fleet to prepare for a naval expedition against the city. At the same time, he planned to send part of his land army across the desert to fight against the Ammonians.
These plans show that Cambyses wanted to use both his army and his navy to expand Persian control. However, events did not unfold as he expected Ephesus Daily Tours.
Spies Sent to Ethiopia
Before launching a full military campaign against the Ethiopians, Cambyses wanted more information. Instead of sending an army immediately, he decided to send spies. These men were instructed to pretend that they were messengers bringing gifts to the Ethiopian king. In reality, their true mission was to observe the land, the people, and their customs.
One of their main tasks was to investigate a mysterious place known as the “Table of the Sun.” Many strange stories were told about this place, and Cambyses wanted to know whether they were true.
The Story of the Table of the Sun
According to the accounts given, the Table of the Sun was a meadow located near the city of the Ethiopians. Every night, the local rulers placed large amounts of boiled meat from many kinds of animals on this field. During the day, anyone who wished could come and eat freely.
The people of the land claimed that the earth itself produced this food, without human labor. This belief made the place seem magical and sacred. Whether true or not, the story greatly fascinated Cambyses and increased his desire to learn more about Ethiopia.
Trouble with the Fleet and the Phoenicians
After deciding to send spies to Ethiopia, Cambyses sent messengers to Elephantine to bring men known as the Ichthyophagi, or “fish-eaters.” These people knew the Ethiopian language and could help the spies communicate.
At the same time, Cambyses ordered his fleet to sail against Carthage. However, this plan soon failed. The Phoenicians, who formed an important part of the Persian navy, refused to take part. They explained that they were bound to the Carthaginians by ancient and sacred oaths. They also said it would be wrong to fight against Carthage, because the Carthaginians were their own descendants.
Because the Phoenicians refused, the remaining ships were too few to carry out the attack. As a result, the expedition against Carthage was abandoned.
Why Cambyses Accepted the Refusal
Cambyses decided not to force the Phoenicians to fight. He believed it would be unjust, since they had willingly submitted to Persian rule. More importantly, the Persian navy depended heavily on the Phoenicians, and he did not want to risk losing their support.
The Cyprians, on the other hand, had joined the Persians willingly and had already helped them during the campaign against Egypt.
These events show that even a powerful king like Cambyses faced limits. Cultural ties, political loyalty, and practical concerns all affected his plans. While Egypt fell to Persian power, Carthage escaped conquest, and the Ethiopian expedition began not with war, but with curiosity and spies.
