The Unknown Ancient Egyptian Migration to the Greek Islands

Evidence indicates that ancient Egyptians migrated to Greek territory, including the Greek islands and possibly the mainland, following a large Babylonian invasion. This is corroborated by archaeological evidence and historical accounts, such as from the Greek historian Herodotus and the Babylonian historian Berossus.

Ezekiel’s Writings Concerning the Egyptians

In the Bible’s Book of Ezekiel, there are various messages of judgment against the nations surrounding Israel. These judgment messages were mostly related to the activities of the ancient Babylonians in the late seventh and early sixth centuries BCE. For example, historians have confirmed that the Babylonians attacked the Ammonites and the Philistines.

One particularly interesting judgment message in the Book of Ezekiel is the message against the Egyptians. The primary source for this is Ezekiel 29 to 32. In this passage, there is a description of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invading Egypt, devastating it, and killing innumerable Egyptians.

Those who survived were scattered among the nations for decades, leaving the land severely depopulated until their return, which would restore Egypt’s population to its former state.

Babylonian Records

The Bible’s account does not give a specific date for this attack, but it does clearly place it some time after the fall of Jerusalem. That happened in Nebuchadnezzar’s 18th year.

An ancient tablet from Babylon records that Nebuchadnezzar attacked Egypt in his 37th year. This was in the second half of the sixth century BCE. Interestingly, a record from Egypt dating to that very same year records a massive invasion from the east.

Unfortunately, neither of these records are very detailed. Nevertheless, they confirm that Nebuchadnezzar attacked Egypt at that time. Archaeology has confirmed the presence of various destruction layers in Egypt from that era. One example is at Tell el-Maskhuta.

The scattering of the Egyptians to Greek lands

Given normal Babylonian policy, it is likely that at least some of them were taken captive in Babylon. Indeed, there is evidence of a strong Egyptian presence in Babylon in this era. For example, there is a Babylonian record from the reign of Nabonidus of an Egyptian settlement in Babylonian.

We can also gain some insight into this matter by examining the writings of ancient historians. For example, the Babylonian historian Berossus claimed that Nebuchadnezzar deported at least some of the Egyptians to the area near the Black Sea.

Ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about this era in some detail. Notably, he did not mention Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion. Yet, the more contemporary records confirm that it happened, so we can interpret what Herodotus tells us in light of the fact that the invasion did occur.

Amasis was the pharaoh whose rule began shortly before the Babylonian invasion of Egypt. Interestingly, Herodotus emphasizes the connections between Amasis and other lands in this era when describing his reign. It would seem that the ancient Egyptians became very closely associated with Greek lands during Amasis’ reign.

Amasis and his connections to the Greeks

According to Herodotus, Amasis subdued the island of Cyprus. The idea that Amasis grew so powerful that he engaged in a conquest of Cyprus is untenable. For one thing, we know that he experienced a devastating attack at the beginning of his reign.

Furthermore, the evidence from land leases involving a certain class of priests called choachytes shows that Egypt struggled throughout Amasis’ reign. Incidentally, this goes directly against Herodotus’ claim that Egypt was prosperous during Amasis’ rule.

A more plausible conclusion is that many Egyptians fled to the Greek island of Cyprus during Amasis’ time. Herodotus’ claim that Amasis had subjugated it can easily be understood as a result of Egyptian propaganda based on the scores of Egyptians who fled there.

Similarly, Herodotus reports that Amasis became good friends with the people of Cyrene, the Greek settlement to the west of Egypt. He even tells us that Amasis sent an Egyptian statue to Cyrene as a gift. As in the case of Cyprus, these claims indicate that many Egyptians had fled to that Greek land, thus heightening the diplomatic connections between the two locations.

Archaeology of the Egyptians on the Greek islands

Herodotus makes similar claims regarding other Greek territories, such as Rhodes and Samos. Archaeology supports the conclusion that many Egyptians had fled to these Greek islands at this time.

For example, archaeologists have discovered a black basalt Egyptian statuette on Rhodes with a sixth-century BCE inscription. Also, a head from a larger Egyptian statue was found and dates to the right era, although the precise date is unknown.

As well as these isolated finds, notice the following statement regarding this era:

“Faience workshops on Rhodes produced Egyptianizing statuettes and vessels that were practically indistinguishable from faience statues produced in Egypt.”

While the connection between Egypt and Rhodes extends back before Amasis’ time, scholars note that it was during Amasis’ reign that the links between the two territories thrived. This supports the conclusion that many Egyptians fled to that Greek island in Amasis’ reign because of the Babylonian attack on the country.

The possibility that the same Egyptians fled as far as Greece itself is indicated by the evidence of a temple of Ammon in Sparta dating back to at least the fifth century BCE.