Nectanebo II

Nectanebo II was the final native pharaoh of ancient Egypt. He ruled during the Thirtieth Dynasty from 358 to approximately 340 BC. His Egyptian name was Nakht-hor-hebyt, which translates to "victorious is Horus of Hebyt."

While he was a native ruler, his name is often known through the Greek form, Nectanebo. His reign was a period of great tension between Egypt and the Achaemenid Empire. This empire was a massive power that repeatedly attempted to conquer Egyptian lands. Nectanebo II spent much of his time defending his country's independence.

To protect Egypt, Nectanebo II used several different military strategies. He built up a new army and hired Greek mercenaries to fight alongside his troops. This was a common practice for leaders during this era. In 351 BC, he faced a major attempt by the Achaemenids to reclaim Egypt. Along with his generals and the Spartan leader Lamius, he won a major victory.

Following this success, his people gave him a special title. They called him "Nectanebo the divine falcon" and established cults in his honor.

However, his military success was eventually undone by betrayal. In 345/44 BC, Nectanebo II sent 4,000 Greek mercenaries to help a Phoenician rebellion. These soldiers were led by a man named Mentor of Rhodes. Instead of remaining loyal, Mentor conspired with the Persians and the king of Sidon, Tennes.

This collusion weakened the Egyptian defenses. In the winter of 343 BC, the Persian King Artaxerxes III marched against Egypt. Nectanebo II led a massive force of 60,000 Egyptians, 20,000 Libu, and many Greek mercenaries. Despite his fortifications and flat-bottomed boats, he was defeated in 342 BC.

After the defeat, the Persians occupied the city of Memphis and took control of Egypt. Nectanebo II fled south toward Upper Egypt and eventually into Nubia. He was granted asylum there and managed to hold some power for a short time. He even attempted to regain his throne with the help of a man named Khabash.

Ultimately, his attempt failed, and his final fate remains unknown to history. His loss marked the end of native Egyptian rule.

Religion was a central part of Nectanebo II's domestic policies. He was a very active builder who improved temples across the entire country. He built a temple for Khnum in Abu and one for Amun at Sekhtam.

He also dedicated a diorite naos, which is a small shrine, to Anhur-Shu. Some historians suggest his intense building was a way to prove he was a legitimate ruler. Because he was seen as a usurper, showing devotion to the gods helped secure his status.

Nectanebo II left a lasting mark on Egyptian art and architecture. He built extensively in Sebennytos, specifically at the site of Behbeit El Hagar. The relief decorations created during his reign influenced the art of the later Ptolemaic Kingdom. His name appears at many major religious sites, including Heliopolis, Athribis, and Bubastis.

He even issued a decree to protect the "Mysterious Mountains" in Abydos by forbidding stone quarrying there. This shows his deep connection to the sacred landscape of Egypt.

One of the most famous objects associated with him is a large stone sarcophagus. This seven-ton container was found in Alexandria by Napoleon's forces in 1798.

For a long time, people mistakenly believed it belonged to Alexander the Great. However, once experts deciphered the hieroglyphics, they found Nectanebo II's name on it. The inscriptions were from the "Book of What is in the Underworld." The sarcophagus is now kept in the British Museum in London. It serves as a physical link to the final years of native Egyptian pharaonic rule.