Nectanebo I c. 380–362 BC
A general from Sebennytos who took the throne in 380 BC, founded the last native dynasty and in 373 BC drove back a Persian invasion. He built across Egypt: his kiosk and gateway on Philae are the oldest buildings standing on the island, the earliest known birth house (mammisi) is his at Dendera, and the avenue of sphinxes between Luxor and Karnak carries his name.
Throne name: Kheperkare
ḫpr-kꜣ-rꜥ: “The ka of Ra comes into being”
Sign by sign
- Sun N5rꜥ The sun, the sun god Ra. Day.
- Scarab beetle L1ḫpr To become, to come into being.
- Raised arms D28kꜣ The ka, a person's life force.
Birth name: Nakhtnebef
nḫt-nb.f: “Strong is his lord”
Sign by sign
- Ripple of water N35n The sound n. Also means 'of, to'.
- Branch M3ḫt Wood, tree.
- Placenta Aa1ḫ The sound ḫ.
- Bread loaf X1t The sound t. Also the feminine ending.
- Forearm holding a stick D40 Determinative for force and effort, as in nḫt 'strong'.
- Basket V30nb Lord. All, every.
- Horned viper I9f The sound f. Also means 'he, his'.
Where to see Nectanebo I's name today
Karnak Temple
Karnak has more royal hieroglyphs in one place than anywhere else in Egypt: battle texts, obelisks, chapels and the cartouches of dozens of pharaohs. It was the great temple of the god Amun, built and rebuilt for about 2,000 years.
SiteLuxor Temple
Luxor Temple shows how one temple collected the names of its builders: Amenhotep III's cartouches in the sun court, Tutankhamun's festival reliefs, Ramesses II's pylon and obelisk, and Alexander the Great written as a pharaoh.
SiteDendera Temple Complex
Dendera's Temple of Hathor is one of the most complete temples in Egypt, covered inside and out with late hieroglyphs. Here you can find Cleopatra VII's cartouche, an astronomical ceiling and texts in hidden crypts.
SitePhilae Temple
Philae, the island Temple of Isis near Aswan, is where hieroglyphic writing ended: its last dated inscription was carved here in AD 394. Its walls also helped Champollion decipher the script.
Read more about Nectanebo I
- Nectanebo I in hieroglyphs: how to read the name and where to see them Nectanebo I in hieroglyphics: read his throne name Kheperkare and birth name Nakhtnebef, then find monuments linked to him.
Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).