Atinuke A. Adedeji
Wise English 105
10 October 2011
Professor Peterson
Cultural Analysis
Ancient Nubia
A Less Historicized Ancient Nubia
Ancient Nubia, one of the world’s most magnificent ancient cultures, is often forgotten or
overshadowed by its northern neighbor ancient Egypt. For centuries ancient Nubian society had
an unmistakable impact on the success of Egyptian culture, from agriculture, to architecture; yet
they receive none of the credit. Countless historical texts mention Nubia briefly and never delve
into the actual influence that it had over other ancient societies. As a center of trade Nubia held a
power over religion as outsiders wanted to appeal to Nubian merchants to make transactions
smoother. Nubia also was a militaristic nation that held a power that for centuries was in a
struggle with Ancient Egypt, invading there land, infiltrating Egyptian military, and enslaving
some of their people. At the very root of ancient Nubia unlike any other civilization were the
numerous active female leaders who led the civilization. Living in a world dominated by
patriarchal societies the true legacy of ancient Nubia could not be taught, if later societies wanted
to keep their hold over women. The question is then why ancient Nubia is less historicized than
other ancient civilizations? It was just as powerful if not at times more so than Egypt, it proved
to be a reliable and convenient trade partner with other ancient civilizations yet it is not nearly as
documented as a great ancient civilizations as the others.
Female rulers in Nubia were respected and praised by the people in sculpture and in
hieroglyphics similar to that of ancient Egyptians. Candaces ruled Nubia for centuries defeating
invaders and securing the prosperity of their people. “Perhaps as a result of the strong influence
of women figures in religion, Nubia and its Kushite rulers gave way to a number of strong
queens during its history.”1 But after the decline of the Nubian people, much of their history
vanished for centuries. That included the legacies of their queens, diminishing the legacy of
female rulers in the ancient world. It has been stated that quite “easily the most famous (though
fictional)event illustrating the esteem in which the candaces were held is the legendary tale from
Psuedo-Callisthenes of Alexander the Great being deftly turned aside from his attack on the
kingdom by a Candace of Meroe in 332 BCE.”2 Even though there is logical evidence that the
battle between Alexander and Amanirenas did actually occur, some historians have written of it
as a nothing more than a Nubian folktale. Candace Amanirenas the Nubian queen led her army to
defeat the Romans while they were under the command of Alexander the Great who has been
made famous as a great conqueror throughout history.
The information accessible for Cleopatra one of the few Egyptian queens who reigned
over ancient Egypt is dominant, while it takes serious and very precise research to find anything
about Amanirenas. Even with this parallel Amanirenas is not historicized nearly a percentage as
much as Cleopatra. The candace’s power matched if not rivaled the power of queen Cleopatra
yet there is no serious recognition of that fact.3 Candace Amanirenas led her army to defeat the
Romans who at the time were under the command of Alexander the Great. To defeat the Roman
army when it was supposedly at its peak demonstrates a truly powerful nation. That is exactly
1
Tara L. Kneller, “Role of Women in Nubia”. University of Pennsylvania- African Studies
Center.(1993): http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Role_Women.html
2
“Meroe.” 2010. Ancient History Encyclopedia Online. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Available
from (http://www.ancient.eu.com/Meroe/).
3
B.G. Haycock,“The Kingship of Cush in the Sudan”, Comparative Studies in Society and
History,Vol 7, No. 4(Jul., 1965), 461-480
what Ancient Nubia was but for later civilizations to admit that would mean taking away from
the legacy of the Roman Empire.
The beauty and depth of Nubian culture has only begun to be studied recently, in a
historical context. “Archeologists and other scholars have only recently begun to appreciate the
full significance of the salvaged Nubian treasures, having now had time to catalog and study
them”.4 Nubian artifacts are being restored as modern societies realize the true importance of
Nubia. Archaeologists Julie Anderson and Salah Ahmed travel through ruins in current day
Sudan dating architecture and art work back to a time that would suggest Nubian advancements
in technology preceded those in Egypt and even stood as an influence. The video also suggests
that some of Egypt’s greatest accomplishments, such as the pyramids and the sphinx, were
inspired by the Nubians. There is much debate over what other early civilization truly had impact
on the great Egyptian civilization. Although historical texts point to a Mediterranean and Middle
Eastern influence, archeologists’ findings make it quite obvious that the ancient Nubian society
is the actual source of influence. This furthers my point that historically Nubian culture has been
erased from history to null its importance and allow the male hierarchy of most civilizations to
continue with its repression of women.
A center for trade and also a hub for the militia of Nubia; the city of Meroe and its
namesake island that lay across from it were renowned during ancient times. Yet historically
representation of Meroe as a great city is scarce. The location of Meroe made it a corridor
4
John Noble Wilford, “Nubian Treasures Reflect Black Influence on Egypt”, February 11, 1992,
The New York Times, (1992): http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/11/science/nubiantreasures-reflect-black-influence-on-egypt.html
connecting the rest of Africa to its northern an eastern neighbors. Archaeologists note that
Ancient Nubia has been “forgotten by history and largely neglected by archaeology, its cities
have lain buried for centuries, harboring priceless secrets of a civilization that once rivaled
Egypt.”5 There is now proof through recent archeological findings of the presence of other noted
ancient civilizations through different forms of currency and materials not native to Nubia itself.
These findings would suggest active trade from these other ancient civilizations with Nubia in
the city of Meroe. None of which is made evident in historical recordings.
Ancient Nubian society unlike any other ancient civilization had a long chain of strong
female leaders. In Nubian society women were seen as a source of strength in their own right.
They were not discriminated against or deemed unworthy of leadership positions. Nubian queens
were a source of strength for the society, on their own, not standing behind a man. There is a
large contrast in the number of female leaders and time span in which they reigned, to that of
other ancient societies, showing how much more of a threat to the succession of a male
dominance society Nubia was.6 There have been instances where Nubian armies led by female
rulers defeated the armies of major militaristic societies, and invaded and plundered Egypt their
northern neighbor. These facts are erased from most textbooks and were lost for centuries
because men did not want the actuality of strong women leaders to stand against their claims to
power. Nubian truths have been overlooked for centuries as the leaders of patriarchal societies
refused to admit that women could lead such a great nation.
5
Nubia: The Forgotten Kingdom, directed by Amy Bucher,(New York: Engel Entertainment Inc,
2003), Documentary.
6
Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, Introduction in Nubian Queens in the Nile Valley and Afro-Asiatic
Cultural History, Boston: Ninth International Conference for Nubian Studies Museum of
fine Arts.