Nubia Egypt | History & Facts of The Egyptian Nubia in Aswan | culture, traditions, way of life and more ancient civilization of Egypt.

The Egyptian Nubia in Aswan and its history throughout the history of the ancient civilization of Egypt so far | Facts and recipes of the people of Nubia and Nubians and the existing Pharaonic Egyptian Monuments and more.

The country of Nubia is one of the historical cities in Egypt. Learn about the history of Nubia and the Nubians and the antiquities in the country of Nubia below.

Nubia Egypt

Nubia Location:

Nubia is divided into an upper Nuba and a lower Nuba, the upper is located between the second and sixth cataracts of the Nile River, while the lower is located between the first and second cataracts.

Where did the word Nubia come from?

Origin of the name: The name Nuba is derived from the Nuba tribes of Bedouins, or Nubadi as it was called, and the tribe settled in the Nuba region after the collapse of the Kingdom of Kush in the fourth century AD.

Who are the Nubia people?

The people of the Nuba are the original peoples of Africa. The Nuba people inhabited the area along the two banks of the Nile, starting from the far north of Sudan to the far south of Egypt.

What is the religion of the Nubians?

Although it is common for Nubians to be non-religious, on the contrary, they believe in Islam and Judaism as well as Christianity.

Is the Nubia Sudanese?

The nickname Nubia was used in the past to refer to the area of ​​the city of Aswan up to Khartoum, but at present the Nuba is only called the area of ​​northern Sudan and southern Egypt, not all of Sudan.

Who is the leader who opened the country of Nubia?

Omar Ibn Al-Khattab sent Uqbah Ibn Nafeh to conquer Nubia, and the meeting was between the Muslim army and the army of the Kingdom of Makuria near Dongola.

Nubian History and Culture | Nubian heritage Egypt

It’s hard not to fall in love with the history of the Nubians, who 50 years after their displacement are still alive and practicing their traditional customs and culture, with hundreds of villages submerged beneath Lake Nasser.

Nubia was home to some of Africa’s earliest kingdoms. Known for its rich gold deposits “Ancient Egyptian Metallurgy“, Nubia was also the gateway through which luxury goods such as incense, ivory and ebony made their way from their sources in sub-Saharan Africa to the civilizations of Egypt and the Mediterranean.

Nubian History and Culture – Nubia

Nubia, particularly Lower Nubia, was at times a part of Ancient Egypt History as in Black Pharaohs and at times a rival state representing parts of Meroë or the Kingdom of Kush.

In the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt (744 BC – 656 BC) The beginning of the rule of king PiyeEgyptian Pharaohs kings“, the most famous king of the Pharaohs, in the era of the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, all of Egypt was united with Nubia and stretched down to present-day Khartoum. In the year 656 BC However, the native Twenty-Sixth Dynasty of Egypt regained control of Egypt The period of the King Psamtik I.

As warriors, the ancient Nubians were renowned for their skill and precision with bows and arrows.

In the Middle Kingdom, the Nubians converted to Christianity and established three kingdoms: Nobatia in the north, Makuria in the center and Alodia in the south. They then converted to Islam during the Islamization of the Sudan region.

Today, Nubians in Egypt live mainly in southern Egypt, especially in The Temple of Kom Ombo and Nasr al-nuba north of Aswan and in big cities like Cairo, while Sudanese Nubians live in northern Sudan.

Especially in the region between the city of Wadi Halfa on the Egypt-Egypt border the Sudan and al Dabbah. Some Nubians migrated to Khashm el Girba and New Halfa.

In addition, a group called Midob live in North Darfur, a group called Birgid live in Central Darfur, and several groups known as the Hill Nubians live in North Kordofan in Haraza and some villages in the northern Nuba Mountains of South- Kordofan live in Sudan.

The main Nubian groups from north to south are the Kenzi (Nobiin: Matōki), Faadicha (Halfawi) (Nobiin: Fadīja), Sukkot, Mahas (Nobiin: Mahássi), and Danagla. There are also two major tribes of fully Arabized Nubians living in Northern Sudan – these groups are known as Shaigiya (Nobiin: Šaigē) and Ja’alin.

Where did Nubian heritage come from?

On the west bank of the Nile, in Egypt’s deep south, the city of Aswan is surrounded by several small islands and Nubian villages. The Nubian villages are a cheerful sight, painted bright colors and populated by Nubians with a population of fewer than 100,000 people.

They have their own Nubian languages ​​and customs, different from the rest of Egypt. Their origins can be traced back to Africa and Sudan when they migrated to southern Egypt to farm along the Nile River in ancient times. When traveling through Aswan, the Nubian villages are a must-see attraction. They are suitable for half day Aswan tours.

The Nubian territory stretches 123,000 square kilometers along the Nile River between Aswan in southern Egypt and Khartoum in central northern Sudan. The history of Nubia goes from 2000 B.C. to 1504 AD, making it one of the oldest civilizations in Africa.

During The New Kingdom Period In ancient Egypt, the rule of King Thutmose I of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt fell fell around 1500 BC. in Egypt.

The Kingdom of Kush, founded in the 8th century B.C. invaded Egypt and established the 25th Dynasty, was the most powerful of Nubia’s many powerful kingdoms.

In the 4th century AD the great kingdom of Kush disintegrated and Nubia was partitioned between Egypt and the Senner Sultanate, leading to the partial Arabization and rapid Islamization of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. In the 19th century, the Khedive of Egypt, founded in 1899, united the entire region.

What is Nubia famous for?

Visiting a Nubian village is a must when visiting Egypt. Of all the attractions in Aswan, this is perhaps the only trip that will truly capture your heart.

The Nubians are so kind and welcoming that you will be welcomed with open arms in one of the Nubian family houses. They have dark skin and speak the Nuba or Nubian language.

Some people claim to regard their language as sacred heritage and refuse to teach it to outsiders. Nubian houses are usually built of mud and painted blue or orange.

Palm trees and gardens abound, and they mainly raise chickens and goats on their farms. When not farming, some of the locals would make a living selling handicrafts and painting henna for tourists. This is great rice for adults, teenagers and people of all ages.

Ancient Egypt and Nubia

The two countries had a close friendship both in peace and in war. Both used royal symbols influenced by rock art. Many cultural exchanges, partnerships and even marriages took place between the two.

They had a close economic relationship trading in ebony, ivory, leopard skins and a variety of resins. Egypt’s link to East and South African riches, including gold, frankincense, ebony, copper, ivory and rare animals, was Nubia.

Nubian temples

Nubia derives its name from the word “Nub” meaning “gold” due to the abundance of gold mines, rare stones and some of Egypt’s most magnificent and majestic monuments and Egypt Archaeological Sites.

The Temple of Philae and the Temple of Abu Simbel Built by King Ramses II for his wife, Queen Nefertari, the most famous Pharaonic queen of Egypt “Female Pharaohs” from the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, both found in Nubia, are two of the most famous temples in the history of ancient Egypt.

Both temples were saved by UNESCO in the mid-1960s as a result of the disastrous effects of the High Dam and are must-sees on a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.

Nubian craft – Nubian History

The Nubians are proud, gentle, honest and long-lived people with their own culture and customs. Their houses were known for having a backyard and a dome above. Their culture encompasses a variety of art styles, exquisite paintings and intricate decorations, as well as enchanting pottery and intriguing handicrafts such as basket weaving, palm frond mats and necklaces.

Nubian customs and villages – Nubian History

Within their culture they have many rituals, dances and unique customs, especially when a wedding takes place and a newborn “Sebou” is born. Because of their inclusive nature, they all marry in the same place.

Their villages are unlike anything else in Egypt, and they are divided into three tribes: Al-Fadiga, Al-Orayqat (originally Bedouin traders who migrated from the Hijaz), and Al-Konoz, also known as Al-Matoka (a hybrid from Arab tribes, the largest Al-Gohayna tribe, from the Arabian Peninsula).

Nubian Museum and Symbols – Nubian History

The Nubian culture’s shield representing courage and the black cat representing joy and hope, unlike most cultures around the world who believe it represents an ill omen, are two of the many symbols. A cow or an owl as a sign stands for death and misfortune.

The popular Nubian Museum in Aswan was founded by UNESCO to bring Nubian culture back to life. Built using Nubian architecture and ancient sandstone, it is home to over 2,000 objects, many of which come from an ancient Nubian culture, as well as a variety of colorful exhibits related to Nubian heritage.

Information about Nuba

  • Nubia is the historical place that lies along the length of the Nile River, starting from the first waterfall located in the south of Aswan until the south of the confluence of the Blue and White Nile in the south.
  • The country of Nubia is the seat of the oldest ancient African civilizations.
  • The Nuba civilization is called the Kerma civilization and it started from 2500 BC until 1500 BC.
  • Nubia was home to a group of ancient empires, including the Kingdom of Kush.
  • The Kingdom of Kush invaded Egypt in the year 727 BC until 1500 BC when Thutmose I ruled and the kingdom was disintegrated.
  • After the fall of the Kingdom of Kush, Nubia witnessed three kingdoms, namely Nobatia, the Kingdom of Makuria and the Kingdom of Alwa.
  • Nubia was divided after the fall of those Mamluks into a northern half led by the Ottomans and a southern half led by the Sennar Sultanate.
  • Nubia was unified again by Muhammad Ali in the nineteenth century.

A brief history of the Kerma civilization

  • The Kerma civilization began before 2500 BC.
  • The city of Kerma is considered one of the oldest cultural centers in the Nile Valley.
  • The language of that city was the Cushitic language.
  • The kingdom flourished in the early 2500 BC until 1500 BC.
  • The civilization centered in the southern part of Nubia, ie the upper Nubia.
  • The influence of civilization began to expand to the north of Lower Nubia, ie the borders of Egypt.
  • During the period of prosperity of the kingdom of Kerma, the kingdom of Sai intervened to unify the regions between the first and fourth cataracts.
  • After that, the Egyptians began to expand until the kingdom of Karma was destroyed.

A Brief History of the Kingdom of Kush

  • The Kushites took advantage of the disintegration of the modern Egyptian kingdom and established their kingdom in Napata.
  • The Kushite invasion of Egypt under the leadership of Pharaoh Bankh.
  • The invasion was in the eighth century and their rule lasted for 100 years.
  • One of the kings of that era was Pharaoh Taharqa, who is of Nubian origin and is considered the successor of Bankhi.
  • In the year 591, the attempts of the Kush to invade Egypt were unsuccessful and it was under the rule of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty.
  • The period of the Christian kingdoms in Nubia
  • This period came after the Moravian civilization, the period of the Christian kingdoms, which comes in three kingdoms,
  • Nobatia, the Kingdom of Makuria and the Kingdom of Alwa.

Kingdom of Nobatia

  • The kingdom is known as Al-Maris and was located in Lower Nubia.
  • In the north lies Egypt, which was under the grip of the Romans at the time.
  • South of the Kingdom lies the Kingdom of Makuria.
  • The king of Nobatia is King Seliko, who was achieving victories over the Blemmyes.
  • The capital of the kingdom was established in Persia and after a while the kingdom converted to Christianity.
  • The kingdom merged with the southern kingdom, the kingdom of Makuria, but the reasons are unknown.

Makuria Kingdom

  • The capital of that kingdom is the city of Dongola and it is now called Old Dongola.
  • That kingdom also converted to Christianity in the sixth century AD.
  • That kingdom was one of the successful kingdoms that was able to face the attempts of Islamic conquests under the leadership of the Rightly-Guided Caliphate.
  • The kingdom flourished from the middle of the eighth century until the middle of the eleventh century, and the name of the golden age was given to that period.
  • The kingdom began to weaken since the late eleventh and twelfth centuries AD.
  • This weakness was the reason for the intervention of the Mamluks in the affairs of Egypt, and the Arab tribes began to flow into the country of Nubia.

Kingdom of Alwa

  • The capital of the Kingdom of Alwa Soba, which is located in the east of the Blue Nile.
  • The Kingdom included the southern region as well as the central region of Nubia.
  • The kingdom converted to Christianity in the sixth century after the kingdom learned of the Christianization of the Kingdom of Nobatia.
  • Soba, the capital, is known to be one of the most places that contain many gilded churches.
  • The capital was also a fertile soil for agriculture, with rainfall as well, which made it economically stronger than the Kingdom of Makuria.

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Nubia Egypt | History & Facts of The Egyptian Nubia in Aswan | culture, traditions

Nubia Egypt | History & Facts of The Egyptian Nubia in Aswan | culture, traditions

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Tamer Ahmed
Eng. Tamer Ahmed | Researcher in Ancient Egypt History and Egyptology. Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 2004 Tourism and E-marketing Expert I love Egypt and I strive to develop tourism. Booking Your Tours Online Whatsapp: +201112596434