The Land Of Kush- Remnants of the civilization of the Yore

There had been a reminiscence of ancient glory and wisdom as we glance at the impoverished states of Africa. The past of this massive continent was shrouded in mystery. Researches into monuments, script and culture bring forth demystified truth. The geopolitical matrix of the land hints at her glorious past. It is imperative to bring to our attention the significance of geography in marking the birth of civilisation. Nature, one of the creations of God has reformed us greatly. Civilisations of the world owe to the bountiful nature. As curious enthusiasts of History, a transition from simple to complex is visible. From farming to advanced science, civilization magnifies its elements. From civilisation, governance, religion and wealth flourish. African nations in the past have a rich heritage to speak about. Until the fifteenth century, except Egypt and other states of North Africa, Interior regions were not explored. Hence, we received scant pieces of evidence on African civilisation. Whereas, The Egyptian civilisation belongs to the Mediterranean culture but they are not "un African" for there are Africans who laboured assiduously for building powerful empires. They are remarkably ace in science during the heydays of Egyptian civilization adaptive to changes and had better polity which is way advanced than the westerners. It has been believed that the withering away of Egyptian civilisation and foreign intrusions caused scientific achievements to perish. But in the polity, they fared well. Cheikh Anti Diop(1923-1986), a Segelase Historian puts it:

" In the fifteenth century, when European set up their trading posts in West Africa, the political organisation of of the African states was superior. Constitutional monarchies with a people's council on which various social strata were represented. The Prime Minister does things on behalf of the monarch"

Henceforth, before the advent of Europeans, African nations had a well-defined polity. He held that Africans were diffused after the fall of ancient Egypt. They were pushed back and to the interior regions developed their own culture and remained isolated for many centuries. During this period, they are more oriented toward the development of their social, political and moral organisation. Despite the boost in the polity, they may have forgotten the science in Dynastic Egyptian days. Somehow, Egyptian culture persists in her adjacent area as well. The legendary Kingdom of Kush is a startling example of this phenomenon. This mysterious kingdom flourished in late antiquity around about 700BC until the opening centuries of the Christian era. There are several allusions and references to the kingdom of Kush in the Holy Bible. Where was this fabled place located? The exact lie of The kingdom of Kush is between the southern part of Egypt and reach towards the northern territory of Sudan. The land is watered by the River Nile and its tributary, River Atbara. Like Egypt, it was splendid in culture religion and wealth. Kush is the province of ancient Egypt in 2000 BC. The Egyptians constructed magnificent temples in the city of Napata where Meroitic, the inhabitants of Kush dwelt. Egyptian civilisation penetrated the land of kush for ages and continued to influence the culture of Kushites. This is evident in their architecture and religion. Egypt and Kush are inseparable. Kush is a replica of Egyptian grandeur. After the withdrawal and downfall of Egyptians owing to domestic crisis and foreign intrusions, Kush, the land south of Upper Egypt became independent. Kashta, the first king of Kushites dared to conquer his former master way back in 700 BC. His campaign was successful and captured Thebes of Upper Egypt. The further campaign was carried out by his son Piankhy who conquered lower Egypt as well. From him on, the Kings of Kush were masters of Upper and Lower Egypt. They wore the double crown signifying the rulers of Egypt and Kush. They carried out the Dynastic lines of ancient Egypt and proclaimed themselves as the twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt. But they no longer continued to be the Pharaohs of Egypt. The inroads made by the Assyrians waned their glory. Assyrians raided Egypt twice. In the regnal year of Taharqa son of Painkhy, Assyrians were temporarily ousted. This happened around 671 BC. They resurfaced in the regime of Tanwetamani, the nephew of Taharqa. They ambushed and pushed him back to his homeland Napata, where was to be the capital of Kushites. From the sixth century onwards Kush was ruled from Napata. Napata is located by the fifth cataract of the River Nile.

The Lie of the kingdom of Kush. After Toth, Tibor. Nubia and Kush. National Geographic.https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/kingdoms-kush/

Kush also shared a similar lot of Egypt as it depends on the providence of the river Nile. The source of the Nile is in Ethiopia. From the Highlands of Ethiopia, the river drags immense silt to Kush and Egypt making the land more fertile and wealthy as well. The fertility of the land of Kush is immense in Meroe. During the flood, the Nile overflows across the banks of Meroe while she receives plentiful rainfall thereby making the land more fertile. By contrast, Napata is semi- barren land. Owing to this pretext, the royal seat of power was transferred to Meroe. Furthermore, Meroe is the centre of Ironworking. It is imperative to analyse her role in facilitating trade. She is considered to be an entrepot where goods are stored and transited to various parts of Africa and afield. The caravan, upon their arrival in Meroe, follows the river Atbara which lead up to Ethiopian Highlands and finally reach the Indian Ocean. Thus the glory of Meroe flourished across the African continent. Various Luminaries gives us an account of Meroites. Jewish Tradition speaks of young Moses as the lord of the land of Meroe. Shemot or the book of Exodus speaks of Moses as a Military General and the King of Kush for he married the Kushite Queen. This happened long before the Exodus. Therefore, this land appears to be sacred. Strabo gives us an account of Roman Governor Gaius Petronius who assaulted Kushites for they attacked Seyene in his absence.

There is scant evidence that throws light on the culture of Kushites. But the dilapidated temples stand by the banks of River Nile or in the sandy abyss of the desert retell the tale of its sonorous past. The carvings on the plastered walls of the temple and that of the Pyramid takes us a stroll down memory lane. However, the temples and crumbling pyramids of Meroe informs us that Kushites were the true African brother of Egypt. But the Greek Ptolemies and Roman intrusion caused a kind of syncretic architecture. The columns and pillars of Kushite temples are inspired by Greek columns. The paintings are conspicuously Meroitic. The temple at Philae is a reminiscence of Hellenistic craft. Sources inform us that the Kushite king, Eragamenes and Ptolemy IV built the temple.

The Temple is named Kiosk. The columns of the Kiosk resembles the Greek column(p.40) after Shinnie, Margret. Ancient African Kingdoms. Edward Arnold Publisher Limited, 1965.

Besides these, Jewellery, Pottery, Glass, Metalware, tools and weapons and wall paintings in African style had been discovered. The normal house in Meroe is open to a courtyard. Rooms of the house depending on the largeness of the courtyard. The palace has a large verandah as well. The bowl especially the decorated bowl is worth a mention. Most of them are made of Bronze upon which pictures of country life is masterfully depicted. Meroitic pottery is primarily wheel-made. Some of them were decorated and added different types of colours. These types of pottery are known as ochre-coloured pottery. Another kind of pottery was imported from the Roman world. The peculiarity of this pot is that it is decorated in a particular manner where the design of lump of clay is protruded such kind of pottery is called Barbotine pottery.

The country life depicted on the Bronze Bowl(p.33) after Shinnie. Margret. Ancient African Kingdoms. Edward Arnold Publisher Limited, 1965.

The Egyptian religion had a profound impact on the religion of Kushites. The pyramids were erected due to the belief in life after death. The royal tomb was embellished with articles and ornaments required for transcendental life. During the Egyptian colonization, an Egyptian temple dedicated to Amun-Ra was built on Jebel Barkal which is adjacent to Napata. Meroitic religion came to the fore after the Egyptian departure. They worshipped the Lion- God, which had three heads. He is called Apedemak. Astounding us, this Apedemak could be of Indian origin. Religious syncretism is owed to trade. The trade disseminates ideas across the globe. Stressing on the burial system, like Egyptians Nubians and Kushites built Pyramids that are slightly different from the Great pyramids of Egypt. They are narrow and smaller than the Egyptian pyramids. On the Eastern side of the pyramid, lays a small chapel. Beneath it lies royal tombs. This place is called the Burial chamber. The wall of the Burial chamber was embellished with paintings depicting the Man offering to their God. Earlier the body was placed on the bed but in due course of time, they were placed in the coffin or Sarcophagi. Along with them placed articles such as Jewellery, food items, jars of different Kinds. Even there depiction of Osiris Judging the souls. This has a stark resemblance with the Christian notion of the life after death

Apedemak, the Lion- God(p.36), after Shinnie. Margret. Ancient African Kingdoms. Edward Arnold Publisher Limited, 1965.

Besides these articles, they made toys of servants of Faience. It is called Shawabtis. It is believed that they ease the burden and serve their master in the Nether world. The royal tombs of Kushites are situated in El Kurra, Jebel Barkal and Nuri. Whereas ordinary people were buried in the earth. Articles like a bow, a child's toy, pots and jewellery were paced by his side. There are iron deposits in Meroe in abundance. They were widely used in the closing centuries before christ. They used Iron chains to bond the captives and also used noted weapons made of Iron. The civilisation persists in few decades of the early Christian era. Their disappearance is Shrouded in Mystery. Probably, they had been driven out by Auxumites, who hailed from Auxum, in 350 AD. They destroyed statues, temples and so forth. Axum Empire stretched from Africa below the land to Kush to the southern fringe of Arabia. Consequently, they fled to Sudan.