Scope: For two centuries, Egypt was ruled by Libyan kings, but now the Nubians had their turn. Nubians had been permitted to grow independent, with their leaders taking the title “pharaoh.” Because they were also devoted to Amun, in a sense Egypt was their spiritual home. We will see a warrior from the south (Kush) battle a confederation of Egyptian “kings” and unify Egypt once again.
Outline
I. Nubia (Kush) was the source of gold and had been under the thumb of Egypt for a thousand years. But with troubles in Egypt, the Nubians had been allowed to grow independent. Piye (called “Piankhy”) (747-716 BC) ruled at Napata in Nubia.
A. With skilled bowmen, Piye marched north and fought a northern confederation (year 21) that included the following: Osorkon IV at Tanis (Dynasty XXII), Iuput at Leontopolis (Dynasty XXIII), Teftnakht at Sais (Dynasty XXIV), and Nimlot at Hermopolis. Piye won!
B. He celebrated the traditional Opet Festival at Thebes.
C. His victory stela was found at the Temple of Amun at Gebel Barkal (in Nubia), a unique monument.
1. In the 1980s, Dr. Tim Kendall guessed that a rugged mountain outcropping in the form of a cobra had been sculpted by the Egyptians. He learned mountain-climbing techniques and went for a closer look.
2. Kendall found the remains of nail holes and scaffolding at a place where a carved metal plaque had been attached.
D. Piye was most concerned about horses when he defeated the Egyptians. Finding the animals poorly cared for, he punished their masters.
E. He made his sister, Amenirdis I, Divine Adoratrice of Amun at Kamak, keeping power in the family.
F. He continued to rule from Napata, which is perhaps why he left regional rulers to control their own territories.
G. He was buried at el Kuru, a pyramid cemetery north of Gebel Barkal. These were steep, small pyramids, but still in an Egyptian style suggesting the Old Kingdom.
1. Egyptian customs such as ushabtis and grave goods were continued.
1. Nubian burial customs were also incorporated. Piye was buried on a bed; his chariot and horses were buried in teams standing up.
II. Shabaka (716-702 BC) succeeded his brother Piye, as was the Nubian custom.
A. The “Shabaka Stone,” also called the “Philosophy of a Memphite Priest,” describes the creation of the world in rather abstract terms—a unique document.
B. Shabaka built temples at Thebes, Memphis, and Abydos—the traditional centers of Egypt.
C. He too was buried at el Kuru in a pyramid.
III. Shibitku (702-690 BC) was the nephew of Shabaka and son of Piye.
A. His daughter, Shepenwepet II, was appointed Divine Adoratrice of Amun to replace her mother.
B. Meanwhile, Assyria under Sennacherib was growing very strong.
IV. A new hero, Taharqa (690-664 BC), was the brother of Shibitku.
A. He built everywhere, but only the Taharqa Pillar at Karnak remains.
B. He battled the Assyrians at Judea.
1. The Bible (Kings) says the Angel of the Lord slew many Assyrians the night before the battle.
2. Herodotus says that on the night before the battle, mice ate the bowstrings of the Assyrians, forcing them to retreat.
C. Sennacherib was assassinated, and his son Esarhaddon replaced him as king of Assyria.
D. Taharqa defeated Esarhaddon at Ashkelon (year 17) but lost at Memphis (year 19) and had to flee to Thebes.
E. There was rebellion in the north as soon as Ashurbanipal, the new Assyrian king, left Egypt. He returned and executed all nobles except Necho.
F. Taharqa fled to Napata, and Ashurbanipal now controlled Thebes.
V. Tanuatamun (664-656 BC), Taharqa’s cousin, became coregent and later ruled on his own.
A. He entered Egypt to fight Ashurbanipal and got as far as Memphis, but after a defeat, he retreated to Kush.
B. Thebes was sacked and its were treasures looted. The Assyrians now controlled all of Egypt.
VI. The Nubian presence in Egypt has been the source of much controversy of late. “Afrocentrism” is the recent theory that holds that more of Western civilization is derived from Africa (Egypt) than is generally acknowledged.
A. The ancient Greek tradition (Herodotus) said Greece learned it all from Egypt.
1. Building in stone began in Egypt.
2. The Greek gods came from Egypt.
3. Greek philosophy is perhaps derived from Egypt.
B. The nineteenth-century classicists said that the ancient Greeks were mistaken about their heritage. Greek mathematicians, for example, didn’t study in Egypt. But there’s no question that much of Greek culture did derive from the land of the pharaohs.
VII. The question arises: Were the Egyptians black? One argument is that Africans are black; Egypt is in Africa; therefore, all Egyptians are black. The only part of that argument that is true is that Egypt is part of Africa.
A. Politically, we are supposed to see people in black and white. But there are no pure races; people come in all shades.
B. The Egyptians saw themselves as different from sub-Saharan peoples, including Nubians.
1. Tomb walls show Nubians with clearly different features.
2. Maiherpri’s Book of the Dead clearly reveals him to be black.
C. Afrocentrics claim that the “black” noses of Egyptian statues were knocked off by early Egyptologists. There may have been racists among early Egyptologists, but the statues were found that way in the first place.
D. Those interested in black pride should look for inspiration to the Nubian kings, sub-Saharan warriors who conquered all of Egypt.
Essential Reading:
Aidan Dodson, Monarchs of the Nile, Chapter XVI.
Supplementary Reading:
Peter A. Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, pp. 190-193.
Questions to Consider:
1. How did the Nubians view themselves in relation to the Egyptians?
2. What did the Nubian kings hope to achieve in Egypt?