Nubia: Lost Civilizations

188 Pages·2023·8.386 MB·English

by  Sarah M. Schellinger

nubiA
lost civilizations
The books in this series explore the rise and fall of the great civilizations
and peoples of the ancient world. Each book considers not only their
history but their art, culture and lasting legacy and asks why they remain
important and relevant in our world today.
Already published:
The Aztecs Frances F. Berdan
The Barbarians Peter Bogucki
Egypt Christina Riggs
The Etruscans Lucy Shipley
The Goths David M. Gwynn
The Greeks Philip Matyszak
The Inca Kevin Lane
The Indus Andrew Robinson
The Maya Megan E. O’Neil
Nubia Sarah M. Schellinger
The Persians Geoffrey Parker and Brenda Parker
The Phoenicians Vadim S. Jigoulov
The Sumerians Paul Collins
NUBIA
LOST CIVILIZATIONS
SARAH M. Schellinger
reaktion books
For Mom and Dad
Published by Reaktion Books Ltd
Unit 32, Waterside
44–48 Wharf Road
London n1 7ux, uk
www.reaktionbooks.co.uk
First published 2022
Copyright © Sarah M. Schellinger 2022
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publishers
Printed and bound in India by Replika Press Pvt. Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
isbn 978 1 78914 659 2
Contents
Chronology 7
1 The ‘Lost’ Land of Nubia 13
2 From Nomads to Leaders 29
3 Nubia and Egypt 54
4 When Nubia Ruled the (Ancient)
World 76
5 The Nubian Pantheon 101
6 Meroe and the Kandakes 120
7 Moving into the Iron Age 136
8 From Nubia to Sudan 144

References 153
Bibliography 169
Acknowledgements 179
Photo Acknowledgements 181
Index 183

Chronology
c. 11,,000000,,000000–– PPaallaaeeoolliitthhiicc ppeerriioodd:: ssttoonnee ttoooollss uusseedd ffoorr
10,000 bp hunting, gathering and fi shing
c. 88000000––55000000 bc Mesolithic period: seasonal, semi-sedentary
camps
c. 44990000––33000000 bc Neolithic period: beginnings of animal
husbandry and farming
c. 33880000––22990000 bc A-Group: increase in social stratifi cation
c. 2244//22330000––11660000 bc C-Group: documented Egyptian Old Kingdom
expeditions to Nubia
c. 33000000––22550000 bc Pre-Kerma period
c. 22550000––11445500 bc Kerma period: fi rst Nubian capital and kingdom
c. 22005555––11665500 bc Construction of Egyptian Middle Kingdom
fortresses to control riverine traffi c between
Egypt and Nubia
7
nubia
c. 1550–1070 bc Egyptian New Kingdom colonization of Nubia
c. 1070–800 bc Nubian ‘dark age’: evidence of lavish burials at
Hillat el-Arab
c. 800–300 bc Napatan period in Nubia: pyramid construction
begins at royal cemetery of el-Kurru; possible
reign of Queen Katimalo
c. 760–747 bc Reign of Kashta, fi rst Nubian ruler to attempt
conquest of Egypt; installation of his daughter
Amenirdis i as God’s Wife of Amun in Th ebes
c. 728 bc Piye begins his second march north and
defeats Egyptian rebels; documents conquest
on his Great Triumphal Stela; installation of
his daughter Shepenwepet ii as God’s Wife of
Amun
c. 716 bc Shabaqo crowned at Memphis, marking offi cial
beginning of Nubian rule in Egypt, known as
Dynasty 25
690–664 bc Reign of Taharqo; movement of royal burial
grounds from el-Kurru to Nuri; his daughter
Amenirdis ii serves as last Nubian God’s Wife
of Amun
c. 664–656 bc Reign of Tanwetamani; ousting of Nubians by
Assyrian invasion of Egypt led by Assurbanipal
Last 3rd of Possible reign of Queen Sakhmakh, widow of
4th century bc King Nastaseñ
8
chronology
c. 300 bc–ad 350 Meroitic period: capital moved from Napata to
Meroe; advent of Nubian ironworking
c. 270–260 bc Burial of King Arkamani in South Cemetery at
Meroe
Late 3rd century bc Royal burial ground moved from South to
North Cemetery at Meroe by King Amanitikha
2nd century bc First appearance of Meroitic writing system
Last 3rd of Reign of Queen Amanirenas; defeat of Roman
1st century bc army and capture of bronze head of Augustus
(now in the British Museum)
21 bc Treaty of Samos between Rome and Meroe
ad 253 King Teqorideamani ends reign as last dated
Meroitic ruler
Mid-4th century ad Invasion of Meroe by Ezana, fi rst Christian king
of Aksum, and fall of Meroitic Empire
c. 350–550 Post-Meroitic period: rise of kingdoms at
Nobadia, Makuria and Alwa
Late 4th or early Inscription of Kharamadoye on Temple of
5th century Mandulis at Kalabsha, last known Meroitic
inscription
Mid-6th century Christianization of Nubia
9