Nekauba

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Almost nothing is known of Nekauba or Nechepsos as he is also called except that he is listed as one of the early kings of the 26th Saite Dynasty in Manetho's Epitome and is assigned a reign of 6 Years. Manetho writes that he succeeded Stephinates the founder of the 26th Dynasty--probably Shepsesre Tefnakht II--and was, in turn, followed by the well known Necho I, father of Psamtik I. Nekauba would have reigned as a local Saite king under the Nubian Dynasty between 678 BC to 672 BC.(see Priese below)

The Egyptologist Kenneth Kitchen has suggested that Nekauba's reign be raised by a decade from 6 to 16 Years, but this seems overly generous for such an obscure king. It appears far more economical to adopt--at face value--Manetho's far shorter figure of only 6 years since Nekauba's predecessor, Tefnakht II is now attested by a donation stela which is virtually identical in style, design and epigraphy with a newly discovered Year 2 donation stela from Necho I's reign.(see Perdu, CRAIBL 2002, pp.1215-1244) This would suggest that only a small amount of time passed between the reign of Shepsesre Tefnakht II and the accession of Necho I.

It is probable that Nekauba and Necho I were both sons of Tefnakht II.

[edit] External references

• Olivier Perdu, "De Stéphinatès à Néchao ou les débuts de la XXVIe dynastie," Compte-rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres(CRAIBL) 2002, pp.1215-1244
• Karl-Heinz Priese, "Der Beginn der Kuschitischen Herrschaft in Ägypten," ZÄS 98(1970), pp.16-32

Preceded by Tefnakht II

Pharaoh of Egypt 678 – 672 BC Twenty-sixth Dynasty

Succeeded by Necho I