Necho II

Necho II was the third pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled from 610 to 595 BC. He was the son of Psamtik I and Mehtenweskhet, and the father of Psamtik II, Takhuit, and Nitocris I. He is best known for his military campaigns in Syria and Mesopotamia, his construction projects such as the Suez Canal, and his sponsorship of an expedition that circumnavigated Africa. He was also involved in the religious reforms of his dynasty, which restored the worship of the ancient Egyptian gods after the Assyrian domination. Necho II was a powerful and ambitious ruler, who tried to expand his influence in the Near East and the Mediterranean. He supported the remnants of the Assyrian Empire against the rising Neo-Babylonian Empire, and fought several battles with the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. He also clashed with the Kingdom of Judah, and killed its king Josiah at the Battle of Megiddo. However, he suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, and lost control of Syria and Palestine to the Babylonians. He retreated to Egypt, where he focused on his domestic affairs and his maritime ventures. He initiated the construction of a canal that would link the Nile River to the Red Sea, but he abandoned the project after receiving a negative oracle. He also sent a fleet of Phoenician sailors to explore the coast of Africa, and according to the Greek historian Herodotus, they managed to sail around the continent and return to Egypt after three years. Necho II was a patron of the arts and sciences, and he encouraged the development of astronomy, geography, and literature in his kingdom. He died in 595 BC, and was buried in his capital city of Sais. He was succeeded by his son Psamtik II, who erased his father’s name from some monuments. Necho II was one of the most influential and innovative pharaohs of ancient Egypt, and his legacy is still remembered today.