Nectanebo II

Nectanebo II ( ancient Egyptian Nechethorenhebit ) was the last native Pharaoh (King) of Ancient Egypt. He ruled as the third ruler of the 30th Dynasty from the summer of 359 BC, probably until the spring of 341 BC Nectanebo II was the successor and nephew of speedos, which plunged after the betrayal of his brother Tjaihepimu by Nectanebo II been.

Takeover

Nectanebo II accompanied speedos on his campaign against the Persian king Artaxerxes II, as the rebel as governor backward Tjaihepimu in Egypt and his son Nektanbebos II proclaimed as the new Pharaoh. This received support II, who had fallen away from speedos also from the old Spartan king Agesilaus. Speedometers had to flee, perhaps to the court of his previous Persian nemesis. But Nectanebo II was unable to accept his rule unchallenged, as a unknown identity, originating from Mendes rival throne arose, the Nectanebo II, but was able to defeat Agesilaus ' help. Agesilaus then wanted to go home and was discharged richly rewarded by Nectanebo II, but died on the way home.

Government

In the first years of his reign seems Nectanebo II ruled relatively uncontested to have; also on the southern border of Egypt it would have remained quiet. The Pharaoh developed an extensive construction activity, and presented the Temple of Horus at Edfu, with extensive lands.

In the winter of 351/50 BC started the Persian Great King Artaxerxes III. an attack on Egypt, but hardly over the more is known than that he failed. Greek generals, namely the Athenians and the Spartans Diophantus Lamios should have contributed significantly to the Egyptian victory. Nectanebo II supported then which is about 346/345 BC excavated in Phoenicia and Cyprus rebellion against the Persian supremacy by sending Mentor of Rhodes, with 4,000 Greek mercenaries the rebellious king Tennes of Sidon to help. However, it is not certain that the collection - as often assumed - was a result of the Persian defeat against Egypt of 351/50 BC.

After initial setbacks could Artaxerxes III. defeat the rebels. He campaigned According to the ancient historian Diodorus at 10,000 Greek mercenaries. Sidon fell through the treachery of the mentor and Tennessee; The latter was nevertheless executed by order of the Persian king. Also, the revolt in Cyprus was crushed. This was Artaxerxes III. able to focus entirely on the conquest of Egypt.

Fall of Nectanebo II ( 341 BC)

Diodorus dated the attack on Egypt, both in the 18th year of the reign of Artaxerxes III. as well as of Nectanebo II, starting from a in 362 BC made ​​takeover of Artaxerxes III. On this basis, it was for the campaign against Egypt a heading for the year 343 BC From the demotic papyrus Dream of Nectanebo shows that the summer of 343 BC, the 16th year of the reign of Nectanebo II equate is. From the sixth year of the reign of Artaxerxes III. 353 BC is a lunar eclipse on the 22th of November. His first year of reign therefore did not begin before December 359 BC After correcting the dating of Diodorus the attack on Egypt can be done no earlier than 342 BC in December, especially since the flood of the Nile ended in September or October.

Diodorus was based on his information in the form of greatly shortening the maybe 29bändige universal history of living in the fourth century BC Greek historian Ephorus of Kyme, of his anti -Persian attitude in his remarks has incorporated. An analysis showed that Diodorus continuously used the information provided by the Ephorus of Kyme for his stories repeatedly. To display the size information given by Diodorus in connection with the attack on Egypt regarding the armies of Artaxerxes III. and Nectanebo II striking parallels with the Diodorus figures from other battles.

The details of Diodorus' report on the successful Persian attack on Egypt are controversial in their credibility. The Persian king divided his troops into three therefore commanded each a Greek and a Persian army units. The commander of the first troop contingent were Lakrates and Rhosakes, who possessed besides foot soldiers considerable cavalry units. Nikostratos and Aristazanes commanded 5,000 elite soldiers and 80 triremes, which should go through the sea on the offensive. Mentor and Bagoas were the leaders of the Third Division; also they had many ships. Artaxerxes III. led as commander overseeing the entire Persian army. The Egyptian army is, according to Diodorus have included a total strength of 100,000 men: 20,000 Greeks, 20,000 Libyans and 60,000 Egyptians.

Nikostratos came with his fleet one over a canal in Egypt, and defeated an army of Clinias of Kos, what Nectanebo II is said to be so scared that he retired to Memphis. Lakrates could not conquer equal to the frontier fortress of Pelusium, the Greek defenders insured but after negotiations, that they might go away unmolested at surrender of the city. As Bagoas now occupied Pelusium, to his people have robbed the retreating Greeks. Lakrates have avenged the offense, which in retrospect of Artaxerxes III. had been approved. Diodorus then writes the Mentor and Bagoas to the intake of Bubastis by a stratagem, whereupon were more Egyptian cities. Then Nectanebo II was apparently the power struggle over Egypt lost and fled to Nubia, where he verscholl. The last evidence of Nectanebo II come from his 18th regnal year and date to the month Mecher ( April 341 BC).

During the Egypt campaign of Napoleon, the French believed they had discovered the empty sarcophagus of Nectanebo II and wanted to ship it to France, but the English were able to intercept the transport 1801. Today, the sarcophagus is in the British Museum.

Reception

The demotic literature stems from the motif of the novel-like legend of the so-called Greek-speaking Alexander romance, the ancient Egyptian ideas regarding the "king birth" took over and Nectanebo II had become the " father of Alexander ". The text type of the ancient Egyptian tales associated reports were processed in the work of Pseudo- Callisthenes, which transferred the story of the paternity of Nectanebo II to Alexander. Another representative of the demotic literature, the stories The Dream of Nectanebo and the fallacy of Nectanebo are known.