Naos of King Nectanebo II

This granite naos—a sacred shrine-like container often used to house a divine statue—once belonged to King Nectanebo II, the final native ruler of ancient Egypt. He reigned during the 30th Dynasty, around 360–343 BCE, and his name is forever linked to one of the last chapters of Egypt’s independence before it fell under foreign rule. Naoi like this one were intricately carved from stone and placed in temples as focal points of worship. This particular example was found at the ruins of Hermopolis Magna, near modern-day El Ashmunein in Middle Egypt, which was a major center for the worship of Thoth, the god of wisdom, writing, and the moon. The naos carries inscriptions and motifs linked to divine iconography and ritual practices. It was discovered among the ruins of a once-grand temple complex that had served as the main necropolis of the region, on the edge of the desert near the mountain at Tuna el-Gebel. These shrines often bore scenes of the king making offerings to gods, reinforcing his divine legitimacy. Nectanebo II is remembered not just as a builder of temples and naoi, but also as a determined leader who attempted to defend Egypt from the looming threat of Persian reconquest. Despite his efforts, the Persian king Artaxerxes III invaded in 343 BCE, marking the end of native Egyptian rule until modern times. Thus, this naos is more than a religious artifact—it is a relic of resistance, memory, and identity. It captures a moment when Egypt, through one final pharaoh, tried to hold on to its ancient sovereignty.