mysteries zone

Ancient Egypt > Egyptian Dynasties > Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt

Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt

image of Teos
Sarcophagus cover of Teos (Djedhor, Djedher, Takhos), Louvre. Teos was Pharaoh of Egypt between the years of 362 to 360 BC; he had been co-regent with his father Nectanebo I from about 365.

image of Nectanebo II
Granodiorite head of Nectanebo II, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Nectanebo II (ruled 360 - 343 BC), also known by the name Nakhthoreb, was the third and last king of the Thirtieth dynasty of Egypt and also the last native Egyptian ruler of the country in antiquity.

The 30th Dynasty of ancient Egypt followed Nectanebo I's deposition of Nefaarud II, the son of Hakor. This dynasty is often considered part of the Late Period of Egypt.

Nectanebo I had gained control of all of Egypt by November of 380 BC, but spent much of his reign defending his kingdom from Persian reconquest with the occasional help of Sparta or Athens. In 365, Nectanebo made his son Teos co-king and heir, and until his death in 363 father and son reigned together. After his father's death, Teos invaded the Persian territories of modern Syria and Israel and was beginning to meet with some successes when he lost his throne due the machinations of his own son Tjahepimu. Tjahepimu took advantage of Teos' unpopularity within Egypt by declaring his son and Teos' grandson (King Nectanebo II). The Egyptian army rallied around Nectanebo which forced Taos to flee to the court of the king of Persia.

Nectanebo II's reign was dominated by the efforts of the Persian rulers to reconquer Egypt, which they considered a satrapy in revolt. For the first ten years, Nectanebo avoided the Persian reconquest because Artaxerxes III was forced to consolidate his control of the realm. Artaxerxes then attempted an unsuccessful invasion of Egypt in the winter of 351/350 BC; the repercussions of his defeat prompted revolts in Cyprus, Phoenicia, and Cilicia. Although Nectanebo gave support to these revolts, Artaxerxes would eventually suppress these rebellions and was once again able to invade Egypt in 343 BC. This second invasion proved successful, and Nectanebo was forced to withdraw from his defenses in the Nile Delta to Memphis, where he saw that his cause was lost. He thereupon fled south to Nubia, where he is assumed to found refuge at the court of King Nastesen of Napata. Nectanebo, however, may have managed to maintain some form of independent rule in the south of Egypt for 2 more years since a document from Edfu is dated to his eighteenth year.

Although a shadowy rebel Khababash proclaimed himself king (338 - 336 BC), Nectanebo has been considered the last pharaoh of Egypt, and his flight marked the end of Egypt as an independent entity.

The known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the 30th Dynasty of Egypt are as follows:


Thirtieth Dynasty
Prenomen Pharaoh Name Dates
Kheperkare Nectanebo I 380 - 362 BC
Irmaatenre Teos 362 - 360 BC
Senedjemibra Setepeninhur Nectanebo II 360 - 343 BC