...
Post A Reply
my profile
|
directory
login
|
register
|
search
|
faq
|
forum home
»
EgyptSearch Forums
»
Egyptology
»
KUSH: Ancient Sudan including Egypt's Nubian and sandstone regions
» Post A Reply
Post A Reply
Login Name:
Password:
Message Icon:
Message:
HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hotep2u: [QB] Greetings: Kenndo *Can you please tell me about the ROMAN A Group?* Kenndo Can you please tell me about the Greek A Group? Kenndo Can you please tell me about the Mesopotamian A Group? A and B Groups are for people who can't read so please let go the Nubia A group nonsense. [b]Ta-Seti: The World's First Monarchy? 3800-3100BC[/b] In 1962 Keith C. Seele, director of the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute Nubian Expedition, made a fascinating find at a site called Qutsul. In Lower Nubia, near the modern Egyptian-Sudanese border, Qutsul was home to what archaeologists called the A-Group culture. Seele uncovered a cemetery of A-Group tombs at Qutsul which he designated Cemetery L. Given the vast amount of artifacts recovered at Cemetery L, only a preliminary analysis could be made on the 33 tombs and associated artifacts. Seele's analysis led him to conclude that he had uncovered evidence of pre-dynastic Nubian princes and kings. [b]The archaeological world scoffed at Seele's suggestions. It had been concluded long ago that A-Group Nubia was too simple a culture to support the complexity of a pharaonic dynasty. Thus any evidence of A-Group culture was thought to represent at best scattered chiefdoms or kin groups. [/b] It was not until 1977, fifteen years since Seele's initial excavation and two years after his death, that a systematic analysis of the Cemetery L artifacts was carried out by archaeologist Bruce Williams. The Qutsul site contained more than 1,000 completed and fragmented painted pots as well as over 100 stone vessels. [b]After months of analysis, Bruce Williams began to see in the artifacts what he described as, "a wealth and complexity that could only be called royal". [/b] And there is a great deal of evidence for Williams' claim. There are for instance the distinctive A-Group incense burners found at Qutsul in large numbers. [b]Williams states that these incense burners, "were incised and carved with representations and symbols of Egyptian royalty---a decisive indication of the true meaning of the size and wealth of the Qutsul tombs". [/b] On several incense burners symbols of Egyptian royalty appear in late pre-dynastic times in the form of Serekhs. Serekhs appear often in late pre-dynastic times surmounted by a falcon, the symbol of the god Horus. These falcon-Horus symbols were representative of the pharaoh. They were later used to enclose the Horus name of first and second Egyptian dynasty rulers. Incense burner found in one of the earliest and wealthiest tombs of Cemetery L. It shows a procession of three ships moving towards a palace facade. The first ship features a kneeling prisoner held by a rope in the grasp of a guard. It is the middle ship however that is most intriguing. Though the figure in the middle ship is nearly destroyed, the white conical crown that would later become representative of dynastic Upper Egypt is clearly evident. Of this symbolism Williams states, "the crown indicates that the figure is a king, and the falcon should be seen as perched on a serekh, together a characteristic representation in early dynastic Egypt". As Williams further states, "the Qutsul burner furnishes the earliest definite representation of a king in the Nile Valley or anywhere". Thus we have here the symbols of Egyptian kingship, complete with crown, flail and religious symbolism existing in Lower Nubia some 300 years before the first reputed king in Egyptian history, Narmer, takes the throne. Williams argues that this is evidence of three separate kingdoms existing in the Nile Valley in pre-dynastic times: Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt and Lower Nubia, with Lower Nubia being the oldest. At an A-Group storage cache at Siali, which lies north of Qutsul, is more proof of royalty. On a portion of a seal from this find is a man saluting a bow and a palace façade with the Horus-falcon. Williams states, “the obvious interpretation is that the man is saluting the name for Nubia - Ta-Seti, or 'Land of the Bow.'” This indicates that Ta-Seti was indeed an established kingship and state. Other evidence pointed out by Williams show Ta-Seti kings engaged in military campaigns in Upper Egypt and Libya. Williams states the following in regards to this: “the fallen enemy is labeled Ta-Shemau or Upper Egypt. Although the second group remaining on this bowl is fainter than the first, it can be seen that 'the enemy' has fallen on his back rather than forward. The long flat sign (land) extends from the enemy's knee and the unimpeded vertical identifying sign appears to make a kind of question above - this, in all probability, is the label Ta-Tjemeh or Libya”. This passage, taking into account other evidence of artifacts of Syrian-Palestinian manufacture, display a powerful kingdom conducting military, diplomatic and trading activities well beyond its borders. Thus archaeological evidence denotes a well-defined culture some 300 years before Egypt's first dynasty. What is more, they illustrate definitive cultural icons the Horus-falcon, the conical white crown of Upper Egypt - which will appear in Egypt beginning in its formative dynasties. These discoveries have led Dr. Williams to propose that, "the idea of a pharaoh may have come down the Nile from Nubia to Egypt that would make Nubian civilization the ancestor of Egypt's at least in one critical aspect". Thus Qutsul in Nubia could very well be the seat of Egypt's founding dynasty and represents the world's oldest monarchy. And of course this idea of divine kingship is by no means exclusive to either Nubia or Egypt. Many other African peoples traditionally imputed the souls of dead ancestors a godlike ability to bring good fortune or dire consequences. The souls of dead kings are said to be especially important. Among Ifa practicing Yoruba the Orisas are said to be ancestral spirits, many of them past rulers, who determine human life. In Uganda, kings were believed to continue watching over their people long after death. Special temples were even built through which their spirits can be consulted for advice. The "Souls of Neken", legendary pre-dynastic rulers worshipped in Egypt, are now thought to have actually existed. With this belief in a god-like king came the association of the king with the land. Thus while a powerful king ensured the land's prosperity, a sick or weak king often foretold its demise. Many believed the kings of prehistoric Egypt were put to death (ritual or otherwise) when they became sick or weak. This unique practice was known in many African societies such as the Sofala whose king was required to commit suicide when he became weak. Ritualistic-symbolic death eventually replaced the actual practice and could be found among the traditional Yoruba, Dagomba, Shamba, Igara, Songhay, the Hausa of Gobir, Katensa, Daura and Shilluk to name a few. For more information see: Sertima, Ivan. Egypt: Child of Africa Service, Pamela F. The Ancient African Kingdom of Kush Kenndo stop trying to confuse people because Ancient Nubia is a MYTH, you know this just as the average reader who reads the books of Authors that wrote before 1800 A.D. Nubia is a gimmick that the Sudanese government is trying to sell to TOURIST so let it go Kenndo. http://www.k12.de.us/dafbms/Nubia.htm [i]The Nubian Tourism Bureau has enlisted your company, Delta Travel, to promote tourism in Nubia. The presidents of Delta Travel, Mrs. Mazzola and Mr. Santee, have divided the employees into groups with each group focusing on creating a travel brochure that will entice tourists to visit Nubia (modern day Sudan). Your group will need to research Nubia using the links provided here, your textbook, and any other resources you choose.[/i] Hotep. [/QB][/QUOTE]
Instant Graemlins
Instant UBB Code™
What is UBB Code™?
Options
Disable Graemlins in this post.
*** Click here to review this topic. ***
Contact Us
|
EgyptSearch!
(c) 2015 EgyptSearch.com
Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3