After the spies had seen all that the Ethiopians wished to show them, they returned to Egypt. There they reported everything to King Cambyses. Instead of thinking carefully about what he had heard, Cambyses became very angry. The words of the Ichthyophagi filled him with pride and rage rather than wisdom Cambyses Questions the Egyptian Priests.
Without careful planning, Cambyses immediately decided to march against the Ethiopians. He did not stop to consider how far away their land was, nor did he make proper preparations to supply food for his army. He behaved rashly, as if driven by madness rather than reason.
A Reckless March Begins
As soon as he received the report, Cambyses began his march. He ordered the Greek soldiers who were with his army to stay behind, and he continued forward using only his land forces. This decision weakened his army and reduced his chances of success from the beginning.
While passing through Thebes, Cambyses divided his forces. He sent fifty thousand men away from the main army with orders to attack the Ammonians. These men were instructed to take the people prisoner and to destroy the oracle of Jupiter. Meanwhile, Cambyses himself continued his march southward toward Ethiopia with the rest of his troops.
Hunger and Desperation
The campaign quickly turned into disaster. Before the army had completed even one-fifth of the journey, all their food supplies ran out. The soldiers were then forced to eat the pack animals that carried their loads. Soon, even these animals were gone Ephesus Day Tours.
At this point, Cambyses should have admitted his mistake and led his army back. Doing so would have saved many lives and shown wisdom after his earlier error. However, he refused to turn back and stubbornly continued the march.
As long as the land provided grass or herbs, the soldiers survived by eating whatever they could find. But when they reached the empty desert, where there was only sand and no food at all, the situation became desperate.
A Horrible Act in the Desert
In the worst moment of suffering, some of the soldiers committed a terrible act. Groups of ten men cast lots to choose one among them. The chosen man was killed so that the others could eat his flesh and survive. This act of cannibalism showed how completely the army had been broken by hunger and poor leadership.
When Cambyses learned of what was happening among his troops, he was finally filled with fear. Realizing the horror of the situation and the destruction of his army, he at last abandoned his plan to conquer Ethiopia.
Retreat and Failure
Cambyses ordered a retreat and led his remaining soldiers back along the same route. By the time he reached Thebes again, he had lost a great number of men. The expedition had failed completely, and nothing had been gained except suffering and death.
From Thebes, Cambyses continued his march back to Memphis. There he dismissed the Greek soldiers who had remained behind, allowing them to return safely to their homes by sea.
The End of the Ethiopian Campaign
Thus ended the expedition against Ethiopia. It was marked by poor planning, reckless pride, and great human loss. The campaign serves as a warning about the dangers of anger, arrogance, and ignoring practical wisdom. Cambyses’ failure was not caused by the strength of his enemies, but by his own refusal to think carefully and act responsibly.
