The Ancient Historians on Egypt

Herodotus

Psamtik I [1, p. 32]:

Psammetichus ruled Egypt for fifty-four years, during twenty-nine of which he pressed the siege of Azôtus without intermission, till finally he took the place.

Necho II [1, p. 34]:

After having reigned in all sixteen years, Necôs died, and at his death bequeathed the throne to his son Psammis.

Psamtik II and Apries [1, p. 36]:

Psammis reigned only six years. He attacked Ethiopia, and died almost directly afterwards. Apries, his son, succeeded him upon the throne, who, excepting Psammetichus, his greatgrandfather, was the most prosperous of all the kings that ever ruled over Egypt. The length of his reign was twenty-five years,

Amasis: [1, p. 59]:

Psammenitus, son of Amasis, lay encamped at the mouth of the Nile, called the Pelusiac, awaiting Cambyses. For Cambyses, when he went up against Egypt, found Amasis no longer in life: he had died after ruling Egypt forty and four years, during all which time no great misfortune had befallen him.

Psammenitus: [1, p. 62]:

Ten days after the fort had fallen, Cambyses resolved to try the spirit of Psammenitus, the Egyptian king, whose whole reign had been but six months.

Manetho

There are three different sources for Manetho concerning the 26th dynasty; one from Africanus, and two from Eusebius [2, p. 171]:

According to Africanus.

The Twenty-sixth Dynasty consisted of nine kings of Sais.
1. Stephinatês, for 7 years.
2. Nechepsôs, for 6 years.
3. Nechaô, for 8 years.
4. Psammêtichus, for 54 years.
5. Nechaô the Second, for 6 years: he took Jerusalem, and led King Iôachaz captive into Egypt.
6. Psammuthis the Second, for 6 years.
7. Uaphris [Apries], for 19 years: the remnant of the Jews fled to him, when Jerusalem was captured by the Assyrians.
8. Amôsis, for 44 years.
9. Psammecheritês, for 6 months.
Total, 150 years 6 months.

According to Eusebius.

The Twenty-sixth Dynasty consisted of nine kings of Sais.
1. Ammeris the Ethiopian, for 12 years.
2. Stephinathis, for 7 years.
3. Nechepsos, for 6 years.
4. Nechaô, for 8 years.
5. Psammêtichus, for 45 [44] years.
6. Nechaô the Second, for 6 years: he took Jerusalem, and led King Iôachaz captive into Egypt.
7. Psammuthis the Second, also called Psammêtichus, for 17 years.
8. Uaphris, for 25 years: the remnant of the Jews fled to him, when Jerusalem was captured by the Assyrians.
9. Amôsis, for 42 years.
Total, 163 years.

Armenian Version of Eusebius.

The Twenty-sixth Dynasty consisted of nine kings of Saīs.
1. Ameres the Ethiopian, for 18 years.
2. Stephinathes, for 7 years.
3. Nechepsos, for 6 years.
4. Nechao, for 8 years,
5. Psametichus, for 44 years.
6. Nechao the Second, for 6 years: he took Jerusalem, and led King Ioachaz captive into Egypt.
7. Psamuthes the Second, also called Psammetichus, for 17 years.
8. Uaphres, for 25 years: the remnant of the Jews took refuge with him, when Jerusalem was subjugated by the Assyrians.
9. Amosis, for 42 years.
Total, 167 years.

Comparison

We can see that Herodotus and the Egyptian Stelae in agreement with the exception of Apries, although Herodotus is not necessarily incorrect; Apries did not die in his 20th year, but rather entered into a co-regency with Amasis, ruling together for at least 3 further years [3, p. 589].

Cambyses

Manetho also records [2, p. 175]

According to Africanus.
1. Cambysês in the fifth year of his kingship over the Persians became king of Egypt, and ruled for 6 years.

According to Eusebius.
1. Cambyses in the fifth year of his kingship became king of Egypt, and ruled for 3 years.

Armenian Version of Eusebius.
1. Cambyses in the 15th year of his kingship became king of Egypt, and ruled for 3 years.

References