Artistic reconstruction of a temple at Sais — not a historical image.
The Last Pharaohs · 664 – 332 BCE
In these three centuries the world around Egypt changed: empires rose, and Greeks became neighbours, traders and soldiers. Egypt tried to remain itself, looking to its distant past, imitating its art, and holding to its gods more closely than ever.
The Late Period runs from 664 to 332 BCE, covering the Twenty-sixth to Thirty-first Dynasties, including two periods of Persian rule.
Editorial status: Published — Editorial draft built from the cited sources, awaiting review by a specialist in the Late Period. (Last reviewed: 2026-11-15)