Pelusium

The Greek name of an ancient Egyptian city situated on the northeastern angle of the Delta, and important as the key of Egypt on the Asiatic side. Pelusium is called Sin in the Old Testament. It first figures in semi-authentic history as the scene of Sennacherib’s defeat, when (according to the Egyptian tradition, as reported by Hero dot us) the camp of the A yrians was invaded at night by a host of field-mice, who gnawed their bow-strings and shield-straps, so that in the morning, when the Egyptians fell upon them, they were defensele . In 525 B.C. , Cambyses overthrew, near Pelusium, the forces of Pharaoh-Psammetichus. It surrendered to Alexander in 333 B.C. The city was also taken by the Persians in 309 B.C. ; and in 173 B.C. , it was the scene of the defeat of Ptolemy Philometor by Antiochus Epiphanes. Mark Antony captured it 55 B.C. , and it opened its gates to Octavian after his victory at Actium, 31 B.C. It was taken after a protracted resistance by Amrou, the Saracen, in 618.