Nectanebo I

Nectanebo I was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, founder of the last native dynasty of Egypt, the 30th. He successfully opposed an attempt by the Persians to reimpose their rule on Egypt in 373 BCE. He was an army general from Sebennytos, son of an important military officer named Djedhor and of a lady whose name is only partially recorded, …mu. He came to power by overthrowing, and possibly putting to death, the last pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty, Nepherites II. He was assisted by the Athenian general Chabrias in his coronation ceremony. He showed little regard for both Nepherites II and his father Achoris, calling the former inept and the latter a usurper. He seemed to have had a higher regard for Nepherites I, who was formerly believed to be Nectanebo’s father or grandfather. Nectanebo had two known sons: Teos, who was his appointed successor, and Tjahapimu. Nectanebo was a great builder and restorer, to an extent not seen in Egypt for centuries. He ordered work on many of the temples across the country, such as Philae, Edfu, Hermopolis Magna, Karnak, and Dendera. He also supported the cult of sacred animals, which became prominent between the two Persian occupation periods. He was generous towards the priesthood, and decreed that 10 percent of taxes collected from imports and local production in Naucratis were to be used for the temple of Neith at Sais. He died in 361,60 BCE, either of natural causes or by assassination. He was succeeded by his son Teos, who faced another Persian invasion and was eventually dethroned by his own brother Tjahapimu.