New Delhi: Most of us know about the pharaohs and pyramids of Egypt, arguably the two most famous things for which the country is known. The pharaohs were ancient Egyptian rulers, who served as both the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people. The meaning of the word “pharaoh” is “Great House,” a reference to the palace where the pharaoh resides. While the pharaohs were and are popular, the Black Pharaohs (no, we are not being racist) haven’t really got the limelight after their kingdoms perished. In this article, we will take a look at those lesser-known but important rulers.
The 25th Dynasty of Egypt went by various names. They were called the Nubian Dynasty, the Kushite Empire, and also, the Black Pharaohs. It was the last dynasty of Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period which took place after the Kushite invasion.
Who were those pharaohs?
The pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt came from the Kingdom of Kush which is today situated in the northern Sudan and upper portion of Egypt. Most of the rulers of this dynasty saw Napata as their spiritual homeland and they ruled over parts or the entire Ancient Egypt for almost a century, from 744 to 656 BC.
However, it must be noted that the dynasty was Egyptian to the core. They conversed in the Egyptian language and also used it to write to record their reign. This shows their unusual devotion to the religious, artistic and literary traditions of Egypt. As per the earlier scholar, the dynasty originated from Egyptian immigrants, especially the Amun priests from Egypt. As per prominent scholars, Egyptians arrived suddenly and the migration took place along with the Egyptianizing process.
The dynasty reunified Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt, and Kush, and it was one of the largest Egyptian empires ever. They became Egyptian by bringing back ancient religious traditions, temples, and artistic forms, and certain unique aspects of Kushite culture were also integrated. During their reign, numerous pyramids were constructed in the Nile valley, with many being located today in Sudan.
Is it right to call them Black Pharaohs?
While this term has been used by some scholars, others have criticized the term Black Pharaohs to depict the 25th Dynasty. Not racism, but the reason behind the criticism is that it suggests the origin other dynasties were not from the south. Also, as per their argument, the term does not take into consideration the genetic link between the ancient Egyptians and Nubians.
The 25th Dynasty of Egypt, also known as the Black Pharaohs or Kushite Empire, ruled from 744 to 656 BC. Originating from the Kingdom of Kush, these rulers unified Upper and Lower Egypt, creating a vast empire. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
