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Neko 2
Other spellings: Necho; Nekau
King of Ancient Egypt 610- 595 BCE, 15 years, the 2nd ruler of the 26th Dynasty.
Neko is ranked number 2 since his grandfather, Neko, was a local king in Sais 672-664 BCE. In most accounts, Neko 1 is not listed as neither king nor ruler of Egypt.
We know little about his actual reign home in Egypt — it is possible that his many foreign projects allowed him little time to deal with this. We know that he was the son of King Psametik 1.
The first great war that Neko is remembered for was against Assyria. During his campaign his army was first stopped at Megiddo by the Judean king Josiah. The Judeans were beaten and Neko could march on with his army on to Carcehmish. Here he defeated the Assyrian army, and their lands came under his control.
Only 4 years after this successful campaign did he lead his army on to the Chaldeans and their king Nebuchadnezzar 2. But this time resistance was far stronger, and the Chaldeans drove the Egyptians back, and continued to march into the former Assyrian territories, and even towards the lands of the Nile. Neko died not long after this.
It is generally believed that the information from the Greek historian Herodotus, taht Neko sent out an expedition that circumnavigated the entire continent of Africa, is credible.
Neko was succeeded by his son, Psametik 2.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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