The reign of Nectanebo II marked the conclusion of indigenous rule in ancient Egypt, closing the Thirtieth Dynasty. Serving as pharaoh from 358 to approximately 340 BC, he governed during a period of sustained pressure from the Achaemenid Empire, ultimately losing control of the territory after military defeat and the subsequent occupation of Memphis by Persian forces under Artaxerxes III.
Ascension and Consolidation
Nectanebo II rose to prominence while serving under his uncle, the pharaoh Teos, during a campaign against Persian incursions. Following the departure of Teos to the Achaemenid court, Nectanebo secured his position by suppressing a revolt led by an unnamed rival from the town of Mendes. Supported by the Spartan military leader Agesilaus, he successfully defended his claim to the throne in the Nile Delta in 360 BC.
Religious Patronage and Artistic Influence
His administration prioritized traditional religious structures, maintaining extensive ties with cults across Egypt. He supervised the funeral of an Apis bull at Memphis and decorated the temples there with new reliefs. His building projects included a temple for Khnum in Abu and a sanctuary for Amun at Sekhtam. These efforts fostered a distinct stylistic development in relief art that influenced the later Ptolemaic Kingdom.
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The state faced repeated attempts at reconquest by the Achaemenid Empire. After successfully repelling a Persian invasion around 351 BC with the help of Greek generals Diophantus and Lamius, Nectanebo was styled as the divine falcon. However, his support for a Phoenician rebellion led by Tennes backfired when the mercenary commander Mentor of Rhodes defected to Artaxerxes III, providing the Persians with strategic knowledge of Egypt's eastern border.
Defeat and Exile
In the winter of 343 BC, Artaxerxes III launched a final offensive. Despite organizing a defense involving 60,000 Egyptian infantry and substantial mercenary support, Nectanebo II was defeated. By the summer of 342 BC, the Persians occupied Memphis and established a satrap. Nectanebo retreated to Upper Egypt and eventually sought asylum in Nubia, where he reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the throne with the aid of Khabash.
Fast facts
- Born: -400
- Died: -342
- Dynasty: Thirtieth
- Title: Pharaoh
- Key ally: Agesilaus
- Key adversary: Artaxerxes III
- Regnal span: 358–340 BC
- Final refuge: Nubia
Questions readers ask
What does the name Nectanebo mean?
Derived from the Egyptian Nḫt-ḥr-Ḥbt, it translates to 'victorious is Horus of Hebyt'.
Why was his reign significant for Egyptian art?
His patronage facilitated a unique style of relief decoration that left a lasting visual impact on the subsequent Ptolemaic Kingdom.
What led to his downfall?
His defeat was accelerated by the betrayal of the mercenary leader Mentor of Rhodes, who provided the invading Achaemenid forces with intelligence on Egypt's defenses.
Achievements
- pharaoh
