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Today '''Nubia''' is the region south of ] along the ] |
Today '''Nubia''' is the region in the south of ], along the ] and in northern ], but in ancient times it was an ]n kingdom. | ||
],] ]] | ], ] ]] | ||
Its people spoke at least two varieties of the ] group, a ] subfamily which includes ], ], ] and several related varieties in the northern part of the ] in South ]. A variety |
Its people spoke at least two varieties of the ] group, a ] subfamily which includes ], ], ] and several related varieties in the northern part of the ] in South ]. A variety (]) was spoken (at least until 1970) north of ] in ] but is now extinct. Old Nubian was used in mostly religious texts dating from the 8th and 9th centuries AD. It is considered ancestral to modern day Nobiin. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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In later Roman times, Nubia was divided into three kingdoms: northernmost was ] between the first and second cataract of the ], with its capital at Pachoras (modern day ]); in the middle was ], with its capital at (Old) ]; and southernmost was ], with its capital at Soba (near ]). King Silko of Nobatia crushed the ], and recorded his victory in a ] inscription carved in the wall of the temple of Talmis (modern ]) around AD ]. | In later Roman times, Nubia was divided into three kingdoms: northernmost was ] between the first and second cataract of the ], with its capital at Pachoras (modern day ]); in the middle was ], with its capital at (Old) ]; and southernmost was ], with its capital at Soba (near ]). King Silko of Nobatia crushed the ], and recorded his victory in a ] inscription carved in the wall of the temple of Talmis (modern ]) around AD ]. | ||
While bishop ] of ] consecrated one Marcus as bishop of ] before his death in ], showing that ] had penetrated the region by the fourth century, ] records that a ] priest named Julian converted the king and his nobles of Nobatia around ]. John of Ephesus also writes that the kingdom of Alodia was converted around ]. However, ] records that the kingdom of Makuria was converted to ]ism the same year, suggesting that John of Ephesus might be mistaken. Further doubt is cast on John's testimony by an entry in the chronicle of the ] ], which states that in ] the church of Nubia transferred its allegiance from the ] to the ]. | While bishop ] of ] consecrated one Marcus as bishop of ] before his death in ], showing that ] had penetrated the region by the fourth century, ] records that a ] priest named Julian converted the king and his nobles of Nobatia around ]. John of Ephesus also writes that the kingdom of Alodia was converted around ]. However, ] records that the kingdom of Makuria was converted to ]ism the same year, suggesting that John of Ephesus might be mistaken. Further doubt is cast on John's testimony by an entry in the chronicle of the ] ], which states that in ] the church of Nubia transferred its allegiance from the ] to the ]. | ||
Christianity eventually faded from Nubia. While there are records of a bishop at ] in 1372, his see had come to include that located at Faras. It is also clear that the "Royal" church at Dongola had been converted to a mosque around 1350. | Christianity eventually faded from Nubia. While there are records of a bishop at ] in 1372, his see had come to include that located at Faras. It is also clear that the "Royal" church at Dongola had been converted to a mosque around 1350. | ||
Many Nubians were forcibly resettled to make room for ] after the construction of the ]s at ]. Nubian villages can now be found north of Aswan on the west bank of the Nile and on ], and many Nubians live in large cities such as ]. There was also a civilization in Nubia that was called ]. | Many Nubians were forcibly resettled to make room for ] after the construction of the ]s at ]. Nubian villages can now be found north of Aswan on the west bank of the Nile and on ], and many Nubians live in large cities such as ]. There was also a civilization in Nubia that was called ]. | ||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*http://www.napata.org | *http://www.napata.org | ||
* at the | * at the | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] |
Revision as of 21:16, 16 September 2004
For other uses, see Nubia (disambiguation).Today Nubia is the region in the south of Egypt, along the Nile and in northern Sudan, but in ancient times it was an African kingdom.
Its people spoke at least two varieties of the Nubian language group, a Nilo-Saharan subfamily which includes Nobiin, Kenuzi-Dongola, Midob and several related varieties in the northern part of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan. A variety (Birgid) was spoken (at least until 1970) north of Nyala in Darfur but is now extinct. Old Nubian was used in mostly religious texts dating from the 8th and 9th centuries AD. It is considered ancestral to modern day Nobiin.
History
In ancient times Nubia was a kingdom closely associated with Ancient Egypt, and occasionally conquered by their more powerful northern neighbours. Nubia adopted many Egyptian practices such as their religion and the practice of building pyramids. The kingdom of Nubia survived longer than that of Egypt and was never annexed by the Romans. The Nubians did trade with the Romans, and were also a source of mercenaries.
In later Roman times, Nubia was divided into three kingdoms: northernmost was Nobatia between the first and second cataract of the Nile River, with its capital at Pachoras (modern day Faras); in the middle was Makuria, with its capital at (Old) Dongola; and southernmost was Aloda, with its capital at Soba (near Khartoum). King Silko of Nobatia crushed the Blemmyes, and recorded his victory in a Greek inscription carved in the wall of the temple of Talmis (modern Kalabsha) around AD 500.
While bishop Athanasius of Alexandria consecrated one Marcus as bishop of Philae before his death in 373, showing that Christianity had penetrated the region by the fourth century, John of Ephesus records that a Monophysite priest named Julian converted the king and his nobles of Nobatia around 545. John of Ephesus also writes that the kingdom of Alodia was converted around 569. However, John of Bisclorum records that the kingdom of Makuria was converted to Roman Catholicism the same year, suggesting that John of Ephesus might be mistaken. Further doubt is cast on John's testimony by an entry in the chronicle of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria Eutychius, which states that in 719 the church of Nubia transferred its allegiance from the Greek Orthodox to the Coptic Church.
Christianity eventually faded from Nubia. While there are records of a bishop at Qasr Ibrim in 1372, his see had come to include that located at Faras. It is also clear that the "Royal" church at Dongola had been converted to a mosque around 1350.
Many Nubians were forcibly resettled to make room for Lake Nasser after the construction of the dams at Aswan. Nubian villages can now be found north of Aswan on the west bank of the Nile and on Elephantine Island, and many Nubians live in large cities such as Cairo. There was also a civilization in Nubia that was called Kush.