Wooden soldiers from the tomb of Mesehti, 11th Dynasty (c. 2000 BC)

Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, JE 30986

Image here: Udimu - Cairo Egyptian Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1412043

In the area between the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, in the modern-day nation of Sudan, there flourished a succession of ancient kingdoms over a period of nearly three millennia.

The ancient Egyptians knew the region as Nubia, and their relationship with the land and its people changed greatly over the long centuries. Nubia would endure periods of subjection and exploitation, but also periods of ascendancy, most notably the Empire of Kush from the 8th to the 6th centuries BC. For a time, Nubia even ruled Egypt, and there were black pharaohs on the Nile.

The region continued to flourish for centuries after, through periods of Persian, Greek, and then Roman overlordship. We will celebrate this fascinating culture and explore its vast array of archaeological treasures.

RJW F2611 Online (via Zoom)

A 5-hour short course, delivered via 2 x 2½-hour sessions on consecutive Saturdays (Saturday 4 & Saturday 11 April).

£40 (individual registration); £72 (for two people sharing one screen).