Ama'sis

Ama'sis, a king of Egypt, of humble origin, who rose to be general, and when sent to put down an insurrection, joined the rebels, and was proclaimed king (570 B.C.). He cultivated the friendship of the Greeks, opened up to them the commerce of Egypt (previously confined to Nau-cratís), married a Greek wife, and took a bodyguard of Greeks into pay. Pythagoras and Solon are said to have visited him. For his alliance with Polycrates, see POLYCRATES. During his reign of 44 years, he greatly promoted the prosperity and adornment of Egypt.