Nectanebo I

Long ago, a man named Nectanebo led Egypt.

He was a leader in the army first. He became a king and started a new group of rulers.

Nectanebo was a great builder. He built many big stone temples for the gods. He also gave money to help the temples. He had to fight a large army from a far land. He won the fight to keep his land safe. He had two sons. He chose one son to rule with him. It was a busy time for Egypt.

Nectanebo I was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt.

He started the 30th Dynasty. This was the last group of native rulers in Egypt. Before he was king, he was a general in the army. He came to power by taking over from the last ruler of the 29th Dynasty. Some say a Greek general helped him.

Nectanebo was a great builder. He worked on many temples across the land.

He started a temple for the goddess Isis on the island of Philae. He also began work on a large gate at Karnak.

He gave much money to priests and religious sites. This helped the temples stay strong.

Nectanebo also had to defend his land. A large Persian army tried to take Egypt. The enemy had 200,000 soldiers and 500 ships. Nectanebo used the Nile River to help him. The yearly flood and his brave soldiers helped him win.

He had two sons named Teos and Tjahapimu. He let Teos rule with him near the end. This was to make sure the next king was ready. However, Tjahapimu later took the throne for his own son.

Nectanebo I was a very important ruler in ancient Egypt. He was the founder of the 30th Dynasty. This was the last group of native Egyptian rulers. His Egyptian name was Nḫt-nb.f, which means "the strong one of his lord."

Before he became pharaoh, he was an army general. He came from a place called Sebennytos. His father, Djedhor, was also an important military officer. Nectanebo took power by overthrowing the last ruler of the 29th Dynasty. Some historians think a Greek general named Chabrias helped him with this.

Nectanebo was a very busy builder and restorer. He ordered work on many temples across the whole country.

On the island of Philae, he began the temple of Isis. This site became one of the most important religious places in Egypt. He also started the First Pylon at the Precinct of Amun-Re in Karnak.

At a place called Dendera, he may have built the earliest known mammisi. He also supported the worship of sacred animals in many different cities. This helped keep religious traditions alive during his time.

Being a pharaoh meant Nectanebo had to be very generous. He gave a lot of money to the priests of Egypt. For example, a stone called a stele was found at Naucratis. This stone said that 10 percent of local taxes would go to the temple of Neith. He also made donations to local gods at Hermopolis. He gave benefits to the priests of Horus at Edfu as well. This money helped support the country and its defense. It also helped the people who held the most wealth in Egypt.

Nectanebo had to fight a huge war to protect his land. In 374/3 BC, the Persian King Artaxerxes II tried to take Egypt. The Persian army was very large and powerful. It had over 200,000 troops and about 500 ships. These troops included Persian soldiers and Greek mercenaries. Nectanebo built strong walls along a branch of the Nile to stop them. The yearly Nile flood and the bravery of his soldiers helped him win. This victory kept Egypt free from the Persian Empire for a while.

Nectanebo ruled for many years before he died in 361/60 BC. He died during his 19th year as the ruler. We have never found his tomb or his mummy. Near the end of his rule, he tried to make the next transition easier. He started a practice called co-regency with his son, Teos. This meant Teos ruled alongside his father to prepare for the throne. However, Teos's brother, Tjahapimu, betrayed him later. Tjahapimu put his own son, Nectanebo II, onto the throne instead.

Nectanebo I was a powerful pharaoh of ancient Egypt. He founded the 30th Dynasty, which was the final dynasty of native Egyptian rulers. His Egyptian personal name was Nḫt-nb.f, which translates to "the strong one of his lord."

Historians often refer to him by the Greek version of his name. He was a significant leader because he successfully defended Egyptian independence during a period of great external pressure. His reign marked a period of intense building and religious devotion throughout the Nile Valley.

Before he became king, Nectanebo was an army general from the city of Sebennytos. He was the son of Djedhor, an important military officer. Nectanebo rose to power by overthrowing the last pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty, Nepherites II. Some historical accounts suggest that an Athenian general named Chabrias assisted him in this coup. After taking control, Nectanebo held coronation ceremonies in the cities of Sais and Memphis around 379/8 BC. He also moved the capital of Egypt from Mendes to his home city of Sebennytos.

Nectanebo I is remembered as a prolific builder and restorer of religious sites. He ordered massive construction projects across many parts of the country. On the sacred island of Philae, he began the temple of Isis by building its vestibule.

This site eventually became one of the most vital religious centers in Egypt. He also began work on the First Pylon in the Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak.

Additionally, archaeological evidence suggests he built the earliest known mammisi, or birth house, at Dendera.

Religious life flourished under his rule through his support of various cults. He specifically supported the worship of sacred animals at sites like Hermopolis, Mendes, and Saft el-Hinna. Nectanebo was also very generous to the Egyptian priesthood. He issued a decree at Naucratis stating that 10 percent of local taxes and import duties would go to the temple of Neith at Sais. He also provided donations to local deities at Hermopolis and granted benefits to the priests of Horus at Edfu. This spending helped support the wealthiest groups in the country and funded national defense.

One of the greatest challenges of his reign was a massive Persian invasion. In 374/3 BC, the Achaemenid King Artaxerxes II attempted to retake Egypt. The Persian force was enormous, consisting of over 200,000 troops and roughly 500 ships. This army included both Persian soldiers and Greek mercenaries led by the generals Iphicrates and Pharnabazus. Nectanebo used clever tactics to defend his land by building fortifications along the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. This forced the enemy fleet toward the less-defended Mendesian branch of the river.

Nectanebo’s defense strategy proved successful due to both human and natural factors. A lack of trust between the Persian and Greek generals prevented them from reaching Memphis. Furthermore, the annual Nile flood and the determination of the Egyptian defenders turned the invasion into a total victory. Following this, Nectanebo used his influence to support rebellions in other western parts of the Achaemenid Empire. He also worked to re-establish political ties with the Greek cities of Sparta and Athens to strengthen his position.

Nectanebo I died in 361/60 BC during his 19th year of rule. To prevent future family conflicts, he restored the practice of co-regency in 364/3 BC. This meant he shared his power with his son, Teos, to prepare him for leadership. However, this plan did not ensure a smooth transition. After Teos took power, his brother Tjahapimu betrayed him. Tjahapimu eventually placed his own son, Nectanebo II, onto the throne. Despite his many achievements, the tomb and mummy of Nectanebo I have never been found.