=Amāsis II= treated his former master with kindness, but, as Ḥophra persisted in raiding the country, further fighting ensued. In the end, Ḥophra was slain by his own soldiers on board his boat. During the reign of Amāsis II Nebuchadnezzar II attempted to invade Egypt, with what success is unknown. During this long reign of about 44 years the country in general enjoyed peace and prosperity, and the quarries were re-opened and many temples restored; remains of his building activity are visible on the sites of all the great sanctuaries of Egypt. He was a generous patron of the Greeks, and granted them lands and many privileges. Among the monuments of his reign are: Two granite tablets for offerings, or =altars= (Bay 16, No. =806=; Bay 17, No. =807=); a stele, dated in his eighth year, recording the dedication of a building to Neith, goddess of Saïs (Bay 24, No. =808=); a =weight= inscribed with his prenomen (Wall-case 180, Fourth Egyptian Room), and handles of two =sistra= (Wall-case 187, same room). Amāsis II married Thent-kheta, by whom he became the father of Psammetichus III. He was also the official husband of the famous high-priestess of Ȧmen, =Ānkhnes-neferȧb-Rā=, the daughter of Psammetichus II and the Lady =Takhauath=, and the adopted daughter of Nit-Ȧqert (Nitokris), high priestess of Ȧmen.[39] The magnificent =sarcophagus= in the Southern Egyptian Gallery was made for her (Bay 24, No. =811=). It is undoubtedly one of the finest monuments of the XXVIth dynasty in the British Museum. (See =Plates XLIII=, =XLIV=). The reliefs and figures are carefully executed, and the hieroglyphics are well cut. In the Ptolemaïc Period this sarcophagus was used for a royal scribe named Ȧmen-ḥetep, or Pi-Menth, his name being inserted in the cartouches and the feminine suffixes being changed to masculine. Ānkhnes-neferȧb-Rā built a chapel at Thebes, from which came slabs Nos. =812=, =813= (Bay 24). Worthy of note also are two fine bronze figures of =Harpokrates-Ȧmen= and =Menu=, which were dedicated to Queen Ānkhnes-neferȧb-Rā by priests in her temple (see Table-case H, Third Egyptian Room). Amāsis II had a daughter, =Ta-Khart-Ȧst= (for a portion of a statue of her see Bay 24, No. =814=). [Illustration: PLATE XLIII. Queen Ānkhnes-neferȧb-Rā, daughter of Psammetichus II and Queen Takhauath, wearing the head-dress of Isis-Hathor. From the cover of the sarcophagus of the queen. About B.C. 600. [Southern Egyptian Gallery, Bay 24, No. 811.]] [Illustration: PLATE XLIV. The Sky-goddess Nut. From the inside of the sarcophagus of Queen Ānkhnes-neferȧb-Rā. [Southern Egyptian Gallery, Bay 24, No. 811.]] [Illustration: PLATE XLV. Kneeling statue of Uaḥ-ȧb-Rā, a prince, governor, and commander-in-chief, about B.C. 600. XXVIth dynasty. [Southern Egyptian Gallery, Bay 21, No. 818.]]