A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1148. NECO. NECTANABIS.
voyage, Nearchus had written a separate history of was constructing it only for the use of the barthe wars of Alexander: but there is certainly no barian invader. But the greatest and most interestoccasion for such a supposition. If, as appears ing enterprise with which his name is connected, is
probable, he began his narrative from the first con- the circumnavigation of Africa by the Phoenicians,
struction of the fleet on the Hydaspes, it would in his service, and acting under his directions, who
naturally include an account of Alexander's wars set sail from the Arabian Gulf, and accomplishing
against the Malli, as well as his subsequent march the voyage in somewhat more than two years,
through Gedrosia; and it is evident that he pre- entered the Mediterranean, and returned to Egypt
fixed to his work a general account of India, its through the Straits of Gibraltar. His military
inhabitants and their customs, from which both expeditions were distinguished at first by brilliant
Strabo and Arrian have borrowed largely. Geier success, which was followed, however, by the most
(1. c. p. 113-115) has justly pointed out that all rapid and signal reverses. On his march against
the facts cited frem Nearchus are such as would the Babylonians and Medes, whose joint forces
naturally be comprised in a work thus limited, or had recently destroyed Nineveh, he was met at
might readily have been introduced in digressions. Megiddo, ill the tribe of Manasseh, by Josiah,
All the questions, both literary and geographical, king of Judah, who was a vassal of'Babylon. In
connected with the Paraplus of Nearchus, are fully the battle which ensued, Josiah was defeated and
discussed in the work of Dr. Vincent above cited mortally wounded, and Necho advanced to the
(4to. London. 1807); in the preface, notes, and Euphrates, where he conquered the Babylonians
dissertations appended by Schmieder to his edition and took Carchemish or Circesium, where he apof Arrian's' Indica" (8vo. Hal. 1798); and in pears to have established a garrison. Herodotus
Geier's Alerxancdri 1/lagni Historiarutlz Scriptores, tells us that, after the battle at Megiddo, he took
pp. 108-150. The last author has brought together the town of Cadytis, which, therefore, it has
all the fragments of Nearchus, that is to say, all been argued, can hardly be identified with Jeruthe passages where he is cited by name either by salem, according to the usual opinion, since that
Strabo or Arrian; but there is no doubt that be- place lay far out of the line of his progress (See
sides these his work is the sole authority followed Ewing in the Classical Museum, vol. ii. p. 93, &c.)
by the latter writer throughout the narrative of his But the objection vanishes if we suppose it to have
voyage. [E. H. B.] been taken by one of his generals immediately
NEARCHUS, painter. [ARISTARETE.] after the battle with Josiah, or afterwards by himNEBRO'PHONUS (Negpodpo'vo), a son of self on his triumphant return homeward from the
Jason and Hypsipyle, and brother of Euneus. Euphrates, when we know that he deposed Je(Apollod. i. 9. ~ 17.) [L. S.] hoahaz and placed Eliakim (Jehoiakim) on the
NEBRUS (NeOpoJ), the thirteenth in descent throne of Judah, as the tributary vassal of Egypt,
from Aesculapius, the son of Sostratus III., and B.C. 610. In the fourth year of the reign of
the father of Gnosidicus and Chrysus, who lived Jehoiakim, B. c. 606, Nebuchadnezzar attacked
in the seventh and sixth centuries B. c. (Jo. Carchemish, defeated Necho, who had marched
Tzetzes, Ciil. vii. Hist. 155, in Fabric. Bibl. Gr. thither to meet him, and, advancing onward with
vol. xii. p. 680, ed. vet.; Poet. Epist. ad Artax. uninterrupted success, reduced to subjection all the
in Hippocr. Opera, vol. iii. p. 770; Thessal. Orat. country between " the river of Egypt" and the
ctd Aram, ibid. p. 835, &c.) He was a native of Euphrates. He would appear also to have invaded
the island of Cos, and the most celebrated physician Egypt itself. From this period certainly Necho
of his time. During the Crissaean war he joined made no effort to recover what he had lost, if we
the camp of the Amphictyons (as has been men- except a preparation for war with Babylon (B. c.
tioned in the article CHRYSUS), taking with him 603, the third year of Jehoiachim), which was soon
his son Chrysus, and a penteconter fitted up at his abandoned in fear. In B. c. 601, Necho died afte,
own expence with both medical and military ap- a reign of sixteen years, and was succeeded by his
paratus. Here they were of great use to the be- son Psammis or Psammuthis (Herod. ii. 158, 159,
siegers, and Nebrus is said to have poisoned the iv. 42; Larch. ad 11. cc.; Diod. i. 33; Wess. ad
water used by the town, though, according to loe.; Strab. i. p. 56, xvii. p. 804; Plin. H.N.
Pausanias (Ploc. c. 37. ~ 5), this barbarous expe- vi. 29; Joseph. Ant. x. 5, 6; 2 Kings xxiii. 29,
dient was adopted in consequence of the recom- &c., xxiv. 7; 2 Chron. xxxv. 20, &c., xxxvi.l- 4;
mendation of Solon, a. c. 591. (Penny Cyclopaedia, Jerem. xlvi.; comp. Heeren, African Nations, vol.
art. Nebrus.) [W. A. G.] ii. pp. 374, 389, &c.; Bunsen, Aegyptens Stelle in
NECO, or NECHO (NescI, NEXr, NeLcais, der Weltgeschichte, vol. iii. p. 141, &c.) [E. E.]
NeXacos, NEXac'). 1. Father of Psammetichus, NECTA'NABIS, NECTA'NEBUS, or NECwas put to death by Sabacon, the Aethiopian TA'NEBES (NeKCTadvaes, NeKT'aveeos, NEICTausurper of the Egyptian throne (Herod. ii. 152). Pv49s).
2. Son of Psammetichus, whom he succeeded on 1. King of Egypt, the first of the three sovethe throne of Egypt in B.C. 617. His reign was reigns of the Sebennite dynasty, succeeded
marked by considerable energy and enterprise, Nepherites on the throne about a. c. 374, and, in
both in following up the career of conquest towards the following year, successfully resisted the invasion
the north-east, for which his father had opened the of the Persian force under Pharnabazus and Iphiway by the capture of Azotus, and also (as con- crates, owing partly to the natural advantages of
nected with this) in the formation of a navy, and the country for defence, and partly to the dilatory
the prosecution of maritime discovery. It was and over-cautious conduct of Pharnabazus. Nectaprobably with a view to war at once, and to com- nabis died after a reign of ten years, according to
merce, that he began to dig the canal intended to Eusebius, and was succeeded by Tachos. (Diod. xv.
connect the Nile with the Arabian Gulf. ie 41-43; Nep. Iph. 2; comp. Rehdantz, Vit. Iph.
desisted, however, from the work, according to Chabr. Tim. iv. ~ 3; Bunsen, Aegyptens Stelle in
Herodotus, on being warne) by an oracle, that he der Weltgesch. vol. iii. Urkundenbuch, pp. 40, 41.)