During the lybian anarchy (VIII century), the head of the Libu and of the Mashawash unified around Sais the nomoi of the western Delta, while the rest of the country remained divided. This vast and compact territory, next to Lybia and the Mediterranean, was able to recruit foreign reinforcements (Lybians and then the Greek) to oppose to the attaks by the conquerors who came from far, Ethiopian or Assiri.
Whit Tefnakht and Boccoris (XXIV dynasty), then with the firts obscure representatives of the XXVI dynasty, this reign, between the 730 and 665, hindered the Ethiopian undertakinds to the point they contended Manfi with them. In memory will be kept the wise Boccoris, of Nechepsos, who was an expert in astrology, and Nechao I, who died in a bottle Psammetico I, Nechao’s son, will reunite Egypt in 656. From being a regional dynasty, the XXVI becomes the only nation dynasty.
Faithful to their centre, its members will build their own tombs in Sais, and Neith, their matron will become a dominating figure in the royal pantheon. The real capital is established in Menfi, but even a “Saitic epoch” is mentioned to characterize the regime and the culture of the time when the Psammetico, the Nechao, the Apries and Amasis reigned (664-625).
Periods of peace, of economical prosperity, of beautiful artistic works when innovation penetrates in the archaic model. The “saitic renaissance” seas Egypt take its place in a new international ambit: the use of jewish auxiliaries, of phoenix shipowners, a maritime vocation and trades with the Greek cities. Confrontations with the Kushiti and the Babylon, a long fight, thanks to which the Pharaoh can’t permanently expand in Asia, will be able to keep the land of Egypt intact and prestigious. The Persian knocked down the sais clan only with a superior military force, but the first Iranian pharaohs, proclaimed Neith’s children, kept the sacred form and the richness inherited from the Saiti. In the V century, a man of Sais, Amyrteos, will lead the revolt against the Persians, and a second Amyteos will form the XXIX dynasty (404-398).