Kush

The Napatan and Meroitic Periods

The Napatan period lasted from 1000 to 250 B.C.E. The exact location of the administrative center of Napata is unknown, but it is known that Napata was associated with the area surrounding the Gebel Barkal Mountain. The Kushite people referred to it as the Dw w'b, meaning “holy mountain,” and it was there that they dedicated a temple to their primary deity, Amun. The location of the city near the sacred mountain must have been very significant because royal personages were still being buried there even after the capital was moved.

The Meroitic period is dated from 250 to 350 C.E. Incorrectly called an island, Meroe was a center of trade and one of several settlements located between the second and first cataracts of the Butanna Steepe, a triangular area formed by the confluence of the Atbara and Nile rivers. The first historical record of Meroe was when it was at the height of its power. It is surmised that some event of political significance precipitated the transfer of the capital of Kush from Napata to Meroe. This transfer marked the beginning of a cultural, economic, and artistic “Imhotepean” period in the history of Kush, that is, a rebirth of artistic and political excellence.

Kushite Rulers

The Kushite Pharaohs were regarded as divine. Pharaohs were viewed as divine because they were indispensable to the sacred order of the universe. The coronation of a Kushite Pharaoh was not considered to be an apotheosis; it was an epiphany. The divine creator was maintaining Maatian balance and order.

The 25th dynasty, which was known as the Kushite Rejuvenation Dynasty, lasted from 747 to 656 B.C.E. and was one of the most beloved dynasties in Kemetic history. It was a period in which the Pharaohs of Kush also ruled Kemet and restored many of the monuments, reintroduced cultural rituals, and expanded agriculture.

Piankhi (or Piye) came to the throne in about 747 B.C.E. He was the first Pharaoh from Kush to conquer Kemet, and he established the foundation for the 25th Dynasty of Kemet of 747 to 656 B.C.E. Piankhi also left a thorough, well-known historical document, known as The Victory Stele. Initially, Piankhi ruled southern Kemet from Kush. He was asked to come to Kemet in about 734 B.C.E. to help the Kemetians subdue a local ruler of Delta, Tefnakht, who wanted to conquer Kemet. Piankhi's narrative describes in detail how he came to rule the entire Nile Valley. Throughout The Victory Stele, Piankhi demonstrated impeccable piety, courage, and an unwavering belief that he was restoring Maat, order and balance, to Kemet. After each of his military conquests, he made contributions to the treasury and granary of the god Amun. This was to demonstrate his gratitude for divine assistance and to restore Amun's temples throughout Kemet. After helping to liberate Kemet from Tefnakhte, Piankhi returned to rule from Kush. He had a fondness for horses, and when he died, Piankhi was buried with his beloved horses.

...