The wealth of Africa The kingdom of Kush Presentation Supported by The CarAf Centre www.britishmuseum.org How much did the kingdom of Kush owe to Egypt? Front cover image: Ankh symbol imported into Napata (2nd Kingdom of Kush), British Museum. THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol Sphinx Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol Sphinx Cartouche with name of pharaoh Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol 2 cobras – Kushite royal symbol Sphinx Cartouche with name of pharaoh Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol 2 cobras – Kushite royal symbol African features Sphinx Cartouche with name of pharaoh Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum THE SPHINX OF TAHARQO How Egyptian is this object? How can this be explained? Cobra – Egyptian royal symbol 2 cobras – Kushite royal symbol African features Sphinx Cartouche with name of pharaoh Source 1: Sphinx of Taharqo British Museum LOCATION Does this give you a clue? Millennium BC 1 Kerma 2500–1500 2 Egyptian New Kingdom 1550–1069 3 2nd Kingdom of Kush, Napatan period 9th c.–4th c. 4 Meroitic period 4th c. BC–4th c. AD 3rd 1 2nd 1500 – Egypt invades and destroys Kema 2 1070 – Kush becomes independant of Egypt 780 – Capital moved to Napata c.736 – King Piye (747-716) 3 invades Egypt 593 – Napata sacked 1st BC by (possibly) Egyptians 4 350 – Meroe (possibly) sacked by Aksum 1st AD Millennium AD