Sun Baked Nubia
A so special culture & society

Nubians are the first lineage on the earth, people say. Most Egyptian traditions date back to the Nubian era.

Nubians ruled Egypt during its weakness period. The first one who controlled upper Egypt was Harhour from Nubia. He came under the pretext of curbing Thebes disputes.

The most important Nubian king ruling Egypt was "Kosh". Later coming pharaohs were the offsprings of Koshn Groups who immigrated to the north.

The oldest talks about Nubia were recorded in the Fourth Dynasty monuments.

Senefro, one of fourth dynasty kings, invaded Nubia and used the prisoners of war to extract copper in Sinai and built "Sakkara" pyramid. Nubian used Hieroglyphic as the main language recording their events besides their private language for talking.

In the 6th dynasty era, Egyptian leaders who went to south drew their magnificent achievements on walls near Aswan.

In the 12th dynasty era, the relations between Egypt and Nubia became powerful and flourishing once again.

The kings of the 12th dynasty sent three campaigns to Nubia; Ammnmhat I, Sysostres I and Sysostres III. Therefore, Nubia became part of Egypt.

The middle Old Kingdom kings were concerned about establishing castles and fortresses on the way between Aswan and Korma to guard the way and protect the contacts between the two countries. Korma was the Nubian General commander headquarter in that era.

Refuge in Nubia
1730 BC, "Hittites" invaded Egypt and had the authority. So, many Egyptians emigrated to Nubia. Nubia had stability and peace while Egypt was under Hittites colonialism. Ahmos I married the Nubian king's daughter and he helped Ahmos to expel the invaders.

Ahmos, one of Thebes princes, after he had expelled Hittites, became king of Egypt and founded the 18th dynasty. Thus, Thebes became Egypt's capital and Amon Raa' was Egypt's god.

Nbata era
The independent Nbata era appeared. Koshta was the first independent Nubian kings. He took Nbata as a capital for his country and known as king of Kosh and Thebes although his power didn't extend to lower Egypt.

Hieroglyphic was neglected, Nubian wrote by new local letters known as "Marowa writings" related to "Marowa" kingdom.

Nubian history dates back to 1000 BC since the appearance of Nbata (Nubia area). Such area kept Nubian origin since the 18th dynasty and subjected it to Pharaohs rule by the advent of the 21st dynasty.

Biankhi ruled Nubia after Kashta. He was one of powerful kings in Nbata. He was the founder of the Nubian empire. He was famous by architecture which is still in "Brkal mountain". He rebuilt the Egyptian temple and also erected many other temples.

After Biankhi death, Sbaka ruled Nubia. He was the first founder of Ethiopian 25th dynasty in Egypt. He was fair and erected many bridges, temples, besides he digged canals and managed administration.

Then Shabataka ruled the country. Tahraka, one of Nubian princes and Biankhi's son killed him. Tahraka was a famous Nubian king. He began his rule by getting rid of his enemies till Esarhaddon Ashor's kings invaded Egypt.

Tahraka retreated with army to Nbata but he returned to Egypt when he knew that Esarhaddon is ill. He occupied Manaf.

Esarhaddon abdicated the throne to his eldest son Achurbanpal who came to Egypt and expelled Nubians from Manaf then returned home but Tahraka occupied Thebes. He ruled Egypt more than 20 years and built a pyramid near the third gondola.

Wonderful relics
On the way from the first of the water falls to the island in Sudan, one finds the Nubian wonderful relics showing their skills and creativity in all arts.

The most important relics are Nbata and Marowa relics.

There are 13 pyramids and ruins built by Taharaka in Nbata. Marowa has Laon Temple, 80 pyramids and a pond surrounded by magnificent ruins.

In Norey near the third gondola there are Taharaka pyramid and a large temple inside it.

Tanutamon ruled the country (6611-63 BC). He moved to Upper Egypt and occupied it by assistance of Nubian group in Thebes and Manf.

In 6611, Ashor Banybal sent an army to Egypt to expel Nubians. Tanutamon withdrew to Thebes, Ashorean followed him and occupied it. Tanutamon returned to Nbata.

The Nubian reign of Egypt was over. Tanutamoun ruled Ethiopia till 653 BC.

Marowa Kingdom was established in the south while Nbata was the capital of the north region. Marowa's kings defeated Nbata kings. The country was unified. Marowa became the capital of the country to be safe from enemies. Marowa falls are on the River Nile near old Nbata city.

The rulers summoned a number of craftsmen; red pottery of black edge was developed, statutes were sculptured, bronze swords with ivory handles were made. In addition, they made kitchen utensils blue in colours and decorated houses by blue tiled floor.

When Grecian occupied Egypt, they called the next country to the south "Ethiopia".

The relations between Egypt and Nubia had been continued in Ptelomic era and increased under Ptelomy II who was concerned about bilateral relations and trade.

The Ptelomic monuments in Nubia are the ruins of "Fely island" which is known as "Anaass Alwogod".

Argeminis reigned Marowa. His era was the best for Ethiopian. Egyptians helped him in building new temples. Aregeminis had prominent wars, including one to change Nubian religion, introducing Grecian systems and laws and establishing structures in Dka finished by Ptelomics.

Nubians were subjected to the Romans in 29 BC. They governed Nubia till Emperor Neron sent a campaign to discover Nile spring heads, reached the dams area and Maraka was the last southern borders in Roman era.

Emperor Duofield Tisyan said that the taxes was not enough and gave it up to Nubia and returned the borders to Aswan.

Marowa reigned Ethiopia till 3500 AD. when it was occupied by king Aksom who came from Abesinia heights and took it over.
Christian Nubia

Christianity spread in Nubia since the first country AD. Christians witnessed great oppression, so, they escaped to Nubia and spread Christianity. In the Christian era, coptic letters were used in writing the Nubian language.

In the 6th century, empress Thueoda sent a priest called Golean to Nubia. He and Longneous succeeded in their mission and spread Christianity. Since that time, it has been the main religion in Nubia. The Christian Nubia had two powerful kingdoms:
1-Lower Nubian Kingdom from the first waterfall to the fourth waterfall, and old Donkola was its capital.
2-Upper Nubia Kingdom from the fourth waterfall to the top of Snar island, and Soba on Blue Nile was its capital.

Nubian Christians cared for erecting churches and monasteries. Also, they changed the worship temples to churches. They painted the Hieroglyphic drawings and old pictures by mud and drew the picture of Christ and some saints.

Moslem era
Al-Makara kingdom was occupied by Moslems in 1318. With the presence of Islam, the country was subjected to Arab Moslems, Therefore the Coptic letters and Nubian language were neglected.

"Fong" (Sinar Kingdom) overcome Aloe Kingdom in 1505, so Christianity there was ended completely after seven centuries.

Successive Arab emigrations to Nubia were continued till the Arabs dominated all the area especially after spreading of Islam. Nubia has 100% Moslem population.

Nubian traditions
The midwife comes during the pains, and the neighbours come with her to help the pregnant woman to avoid the curse. The pregnant woman walks between two friends leaning on their shoulders. They sing songs fitting with the woman difficult movement. The midwife puts the pregnant woman on her legs, so, the baby falls in a plate. Before the birth, they put a cloth on the woman's head during pains and when the child is born, they take the cloth from her head, cut it from the middle to be the place of child's head. The cloth becomes the first dress for the baby. The birth of boys has traditions, dances and songs. Seven days later, they make a party and offer dates and juices.

The young man tells his father about his desire to marry. The father proposes a list of prides' names and the advantages of each one. The father should praise the cousins first , then the daughters of glorious tribes. Although this step happens secretly, all the district knows it in the morning. They consider the girl chosen as his bride. If he changes his mind and chooses another one that means he broke the first engagement. The father extends invitations to some family members and go to the bride's house to ask for her hand. If the bride's father agree, he asks the bridegroom's father to give him time for taking family's opinion. If not, the bride's family gives a suitable excuse.

The girl can not marry another man if her cousin wants her, the young man could marry any other girl while his cousin is waiting him. When they agree, both parties determine the date of offering jewelry as a present from the bridegroom to bride. Therefore, celebrations start, both families meet at the bride's house. The bride's father says that one of the family will speak on behalf of him and also the bridegroom does the same. So, both speakers sit together and agree. Bridegroom's speaker talks first.