Lost Army of King Cambyses II Found

Once again, as a military history buff, I find this incredibly cool. Archeologists may have solved one of the great mysteries of military history: the lost army of Persian King Cambyses II. Loss 2,500 years ago, it is believed to have been found — or what is left of it — by Italian researchers in the western Egyptian desert.

The researchers found hundreds of bleached white bones, bronze weapons, a silver bracelet, and other artifacts. They believe that 50,000 warriors were buried by a massive sandstorm in 525 B.C.

The only account of the disaster comes from the Greek historian Herodotus (484-425 B.C.) who wrote “A wind arose from the south, strong and deadly, bringing with it vast columns of whirling sand, which entirely covered up the troops and caused them wholly to disappear.”

Cambyses, the son of Cyrus the Great, sent 50,000 soldiers from Thebes to attack the Oasis of Siwa and destroy the oracle at the Temple of Amun. He was peeved when they refused to legitimize his claim to Egypt. It must have been viewed as divine intervention given the mission of the Lost Army.

Twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni are already famous for their discovery of the Berenike Panchrysos — the ancient Egyptian “city of gold.”

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