The Sheikh Fadl inscription in its literary and historical context

The fragmentary Sheikh Fadl inscription from the first half of the fifth century B.C.E. comprises the earliest narratives about the Inaros of Athribis who took part in an Egyptian rebellion against the Assyrians in the seventh century, and who is known especially from the much later 'Cycle of Inaros' in Demotic from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. This Inaros is not to be confused with the Libyan rebel of the same name who led a revolt against the Persians in 464-454 B.C.E.; it may be significant, however, that the stories about Inaros of Athribis were perhaps written down in his time.