Editing Nectanebo II (section)

==Reign==
[[File:Gold Stater of Pharaoh Nektanebo II.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Egyptian gold stater]] of Nectanebo II. The design on the reverse consists of [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]] meaning "good gold": pectoral necklace ([[wikt:nbw#Egyptian|''nebu'']], "gold") crossing horizontally over a windpipe and heart ([[wikt:nfr#Egyptian|''nefer'']], "good").<ref>{{cite book |title=American Journal of Numismatics |date=1989 |publisher=American Numismatic Society |page=26 |isbn=9780897222969 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkdmAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Forbes |first1=R. J. |title=Studies in ancient technology. 5 |date=1965 |publisher=Brill Archive |page=184 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAw4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA184 |language=en|quote=It is worth noting that a series of gold staters apparently issued by Tachos' successor, Nectanebo II (361/60 – 343) bear hieroglyphs meaning 'good gold' (nefer nub)}}</ref>]]

Religion played an important part in Nectanebo's domestic policy. He began his reign by officiating over the funeral of an [[Apis (deity)|Apis bull]] in [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]. There, Nectanebo added a relief decoration to the eastern and western [[Egyptian temple|temples]] of Apis.{{Sfn | Myśliwiec | 2000 | p=171}} Among notable sanctuaries erected under Nectanebo II are a temple of [[Khnum]] in [[Elephantine|Abu]] and a temple of [[Amun]] at [[Siwa Oasis|Sekhtam]]. He also dedicated a [[diorite]] ''[[Cella|naos]]'' to [[Anhur|Anhur-Shu]] (a fragment of it was found in the temples of [[Sebennytos|Tjebnutjer]]).{{Sfn | Myśliwiec | 2000 | p=173}} Nectanebo II was responsible for the increasing popularity of the [[Buchis]] cult.<ref name ="Grimal"/> Under Nectanebo II a decree forbidding stone quarrying in the so-called "Mysterious Mountains" in [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]] was issued.<ref>{{cite book | last =Assmann| first =Jan |title =Death and salvation in ancient Egypt| publisher =Cornell University Press|year = 2005| page = 190| isbn =0-8014-4241-9}}</ref>

Foreign affairs under Nectanebo II were thwarted by repeated Achaemenid attempts to reconquer Egypt. Before the accession of Nectanebo II to the throne, the Persians attempted to reclaim Egypt in 385, 383, and 373 BC. Nectanebo used the peace to build up a new army and employed Greek mercenaries, which was a common practice at the time. In about 351 BC, the Achaemenid Empire embarked on a new attempt to reclaim Egypt. After a year of fighting, Nectanebo and his allied generals, {{ill|Diophantus of Athens|ca|Diofant d'Atenes}} and [[Lamius of Sparta]], managed to defeat the Achaemenids. Having scored a resounding victory, Nectanebo II was acclaimed "Nectanebo the divine falcon" by his people, and cults were set up in his name.<ref>{{cite book | last = Blyth| first =Elizabeth| title =Karnak: evolution of a temple| publisher =Taylor & Francis|year = 2006| page = 222|isbn=0-415-40486-X}}</ref>[[File:Ushabti del faraone Nectanebo II 1 F1231 C2509.tif|thumb|left|upright=0.5|[[Ushabti]] of Nectanebo II, [[Egyptian faience]]. [[Museo Egizio]], Turin]]In 345/44 BC, Nectanebo supported the [[Phoenicia]]n rebellion against the Achaemenid Empire, led by the king of [[Sidon]], Tennes,<ref name="Brosius">{{cite book | last =Brosius| first =Maria |title =The Persians: an introduction| publisher =Taylor & Francis|year = 2006| page = 29| isbn =0-415-32089-5}}</ref> and dispatched military aid in the form of 4,000 Greek mercenaries, led by Mentor of Rhodes.<ref name="Hall">{{cite web|url=http://www.third-millennium-library.com/readinghall/UniversalHistory/OLD_GREECE/4OI-3OI_BC/6-EGYPT.html|title=Cambridge's Ancient History of Greece|author=H. R. Hall|publisher=Third Millennium Library|access-date=March 4, 2011|archive-date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315132615/http://www.third-millennium-library.com/readinghall/UniversalHistory/OLD_GREECE/4OI-3OI_BC/6-EGYPT.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> However, having heard of the approach of the forces of [[Artaxerxes III]], Mentor opened communication with the Persians in collusion with Tennes.<ref name="Hall" />
At the end of 344 BC, ambassadors of Artaxerxes III arrived in Greece, asking for the Greeks' participation in a campaign against Egypt.<ref name ="Dandamaev2">Dandamaev, p. 309</ref> Athens and Sparta treated the ambassadors with courtesy, but refrained from committing to an alliance against Egypt.<ref name ="Dandamaev2"/> Other cities, however, decided to support the Persians: [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] sent 1,000 [[hoplite]]s and [[Ancient Argos|Argos]] 3,000.<ref name ="Dandamaev2"/>

In the winter of 343 BC, Artaxerxes set off for Egypt. The Egyptian army, headed by Nectanebo, consisted of 60,000 Egyptians, 20,000 [[Libu]], and as many Greek mercenaries.<ref>Dandamaev, p. 310</ref> In addition, Nectanebo had a number of flat-bottomed boats intended to prevent an enemy from entering the Nile mouths.<ref name ="Maspero">{{cite book | last =Maspero| first = G.|title =History of Egypt| publisher =Kessinger Publishing|year = 2003| page = 309| isbn =0-7661-3512-8}}</ref> The vulnerable points along his Mediterranean sea border and east boundary were protected by strongholds, fortifications and entrenched camps.<ref name ="Maspero"/> Persian forces were strengthened by Mentor and his men, well acquainted with the eastern border of Egypt, and by 6,000 [[Ionians]].<ref name ="Hall"/>

Nectanebo II was ultimately defeated and, in the summer of 342 BC, Artaxerxes entered Memphis<ref>Brosius, p. 30</ref> and installed a [[satrap]].<ref>{{cite book| last =Watterson| first =Barbara| title =The Egyptians| publisher =Wiley-Blackwell| year =1998| page =[https://archive.org/details/egyptianspeoples00barb/page/182 182]| isbn =0-631-21195-0| url =https://archive.org/details/egyptianspeoples00barb/page/182}}</ref> Nectanebo fled to [[Upper Egypt]] and finally to [[Nubia]], where he was granted asylum. He, however, preserved a degree of power there for some time. With the help of [[Khabash]], Nectanebo made a vain attempt to regain the throne.{{Sfn | Myśliwiec | 2000 | p=177}}
[[File:The black siltstone obelisk of Pharaoh Nectanebo II, c.350 BCE. From Cairo, Egypt. British Museum.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Black [[siltstone]] [[obelisk]] of Pharaoh Nectanebo II. According to the vertical inscriptions he set up this obelisk at the doorway of the [[sanctuary]] of [[Thoth]], the Twice-Great, Lord of [[Hermopolis]]. Today, it is located in the [[British Museum]], [[London]].]]