This will sound strange but for once I think you are on the right tack. Egypt in the first millennium was a declining power far from its glory days in the New Kingdom. They, too, were overrun by Assyrians and Persians and Greeks. All of this stuff was common knowledge through the region and would have been adopted and adapted by all of the cultures involved.
The fixation on Egypt probably revolves around the early 20th century Egyptomania brought on by Tut's tomb and its artifacts.
The fixation on Egypt probably revolves around the early 20th century Egyptomania brought on by Tut's tomb and its artifacts.
