king of Egypt, began his reign 69 B.C. and was killed eight years after by Sabacon king of Ethiopia. Plammiticus his son succeeded him, and was the father of Necho II. who reigned in the 616 B.C. This Necho II. is celebrated in history for attempting, though in vain, to cut a canal from the Nile to the Arabian gulf. He sent the Phoenicians to sail round Africa by sea, defeated Josias and the Babylonians, and gained many victories; but he was conquered in his turn by Nebuchadnezzar, who confined him within his ancient kingdom.