- The Kingdom of Kush (1000 BCE – 350 CE), known as Nubia to the Ancient Egyptians, was located in modern Sudan.
- Its first Capital was Napata, where 20 Nuri Pyramids are located, then at Meroe. Both cities were located on the Nile.
History
- The border between the Kingdom of Kush and Egypt was at the First Cataract.
- From 721-664 BCE Kush ruled all of Ancient Egypt, and became the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Pharaohs.
- However, in 664 BCE, the were repulsed by an Assyrian invasion.
- During the Twenty-fifth Dynasty the 20 Pyramids of Napata were constructed.
- Altogether 255 Pyramids were built at three sites: el-Kurru, Nuri and Meroe.
- After the fourth century CE, Kush was referred to as Nubia.
Meroitic War (27-22 BCE)
- In 27-22 BCE Strabo described the Meroitic War against Kush by Queen Candace against the Roman Empire as lasting for 5 years.
- In 26 BCE the Prefect of Egypt, Aelius Gallus, marched south and invaded the Kushan Kingdom but was obliged to fall back due to epidemics.
- In 23 BCE, as a result of this weakness, Candace Amanirenus the Queen of Kush, prepared to invade Egypt and approached the Frontier at Elephantine Island with an Army.
- In 22 BCE, the new Prefect of Egypt, Gaius Petronius, reinforced the depleted Legions, marched up the Nile, invaded Kush, and sacked Napata, Capital of the Kushans, ending any threat from the south for almost three centuries.
Blemmyes (250-280 CE)
- During 250-280 CE, coinciding with the Crisis of the Third Century, there were several invasions of the Blemmyes from Kush.
- They were finally eliminated in 280 CE.
Napata, Sudan