balduin Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 @Sundiata I understand that you do not want to have exactly that storyboard in the game. However, another artists could take your art and create a nice animated storyboard as @wowgetoffyourcellphone pointed out. 11 hours ago, Sundiata said: By the way, everything I write and produce which is published here is free for all... No, this is where you are wrong. Whatever you create is your intellectual property unless you as creator explicitly grant permission to me, the community or everybody to use it. A tool you can use to achieve this are the creative commons licenses. However, there are more license out there you can use. The Creative Commons licenses where written by several lawyers, one of which is Lawrence Lessig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted October 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) Ok, @balduin, I see you like licenses... It's really not that important because these things are not meant to be in the game. If it's for in the game, I'll make/write it specifically for that purpose. Anyway, for you: I hereby explicitly grant permission to anyone to use anything of my own writing or creation, and have posted in this thread, under the following licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 Spoiler You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits. I am 100% for animated storyboards, but are there any animators in the community willing to work on this? There's a bunch of nice features on the video recording stuff in Atlas, so theoretically you can use 0AD itself as the platform to create these animated histories for each civ. But it's a lot of complicated work not a lot of people know how to do, me thinks... Quoting myself here: "Video-editing features can be used more often to make pretty "short-video's" introducing all of the civ's in a 45sec. format for example.." related? Edited October 16, 2017 by Sundiata 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted October 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2017 (edited) The Kingdom of Kush: The final great reference dump for Kushite Reliefs This post is essentially a photographic addendum to Voyage à Meroë and The Lepsius Collection. As with the other two, this collection is quite extensive, and the three sources combined form a great basis for comparative studies of Kushite reliefs. Some of the conclusions we can draw from these reliefs relate to the enduring and evolving nature of Pharaonic culture and religion, well in to the Christian period. In every sense, these people considered themselves the true heirs of the New Kingdom. There is an almost dogmatic adherence to "Egyptian" styles, but for those paying close attention, there are many peculiarities typical of Kushite art. Some of the more interesting details in a number of these reliefs regard the ethnicity of the subjects, which is more clear in these photographs, than they are from the early 19th century sketches by European explorers. Kushites looked just like modern Nubians (Nilo-Saharans) in lower Nubia, and like Nuba and South Sudanese (also Nilo-Saharan) in Upper Nubia. Both ancestral groups mixed extensively with each other, and to a certain degree with Afro-Asiatic speakers (Ancient Egyptians and nomadic peoples like the Beja or Afar). Another interesting point is the large variation in quality of the reliefs. Some are very crude, while others represent some of the finest reliefs ever produced in the Nile Valley, not only rivalling their Egyptian predecessors, but surpassing them. High quality reliefs were produced throughout the Napatan and Meroitic periods, but most have been thoroughly destroyed since. We only poses a fraction of what would have once been a massive corpus. The few weapons and armours depicted confirm what we already established earlier: Bow and Arrows, Spears, Pikes, Swords, Axes, Mace-Axes, Oval Shields, Skullcaps, Cotton Corselets and Bronze Scale Armour Corselet. The Reliefs of Kush: Spoiler I will begin by first sharing some more drawn copies of reliefs for which no photographs have been published: Reliefs from the lower podium of temple M250, at Meroë, sometimes called the sun temple, 1st century BC. This piece is extremely interesting as it actually depicts the building it was carved unto, with an outer pylon, an inner pylon and colonnades. A seated ruler is seen in front of a typical kiosk, as his cavalry and infantry accompany him behind the kiosk. Oval shields, spears and pikes from temple M250 Sword, pike and spears. Spears, pike, axe and sword A fierce looking Meroitic royal, with scarifications on his cheeks, a common practice among Meroites, and still practiced across Africa. Essentially a tribal mark. Relief in wood, showing a lion in front of a ruler seated on an elephant with a blanket covering it's back. This is from Meroe, another hint at the importance of elephants to the rulers of Kush. Victory relief of the Meroitic King Sherkarer, or Shorkaror. He is carrying a sword, still in it's scabbard, swung around his back, a spear and bow and arrow. He's receiving blessings in the form of Sorghum and prisoners from a solar deity peculiar in its artistic style. This is actually Mithras, a Romanised form of the Persian God Mithra, being worshipped by a Meroitic Royal in the southern reaches of the Kushite Empire. Talk about cross-cultural influences... Jebel Qeili, 1st century AD. Photographic collection of Reliefs: Taharqa Black Isis, from Naqa King Amanakhareqerema, from the pylon of temple 200, Naqa A Kushite ruler or deity, with an elaborate variation of the double crown Kushite female royal, from Meroë Meroitic Queen Meroitic Queen Meroitic King with the Double Crown and a Queen wearing the Hathor Crown (a pair of cow horns, sundisk and rearing cobra) An very fine depiction of the Meroitic King, Arnekhamani wearing an elaborately decorated, horned skullcap and typical royal attire. King with an elaborate crown, similar to the White crown of Upper Egypt, actually first attested in pre-dynastic Kush. Another variation of the White Crown on a ruler wearing a very finely carved royal cloak, draped over one soldier, typical for Kushite Kings and Queens Another Kushite ruler with the popular White Crown Kushite ruler in an embrace with the human form of Amun, both wearing helmet-crowns with chinstrap. Amun is wearing scale armour. King Natakamani and Queen Amanitore in front of a procession of the Gods: Apedemak, Ra-Horakhty (or Horus), Amun, Osiris and Khnum, an earlier Ram-headed God. From the Lion temple of Apedemak in Naqa King Arnekhamani in front of a procession of the gods, Apedemak, Amun, Sebiumeker (?), Arensnuphis, Horus and a sixth, unidentified god, on the Lion temple of Apedemak in Musawwarat es Sufra. A close up, to help appreciate the size of these reliefs. King Arnekhamani, in royal attire, receiving a lily with an effigy of the God Apedemak, from the god Apedemak (these people have a sense of humour). He also gets some bound prisoners with the lily. A young prince, depicted significantly smaller than the god and the king, praises Apedemak. Another close-up, to help understand the scale. Only the bound prisoner is life-sized, the other reliefs are super-sized. A strong psychological message. Pylon of the Apedemak temple in Naqa, featuring King Natakamani and Queen Amanitore Close up of Natakamani Close up of Amanitore Close up of the side of the pylon, with a serpent form of Apedemak A closer close-up of Natakamani. He wears a very elaborate loincloth. His lion happily mauls someone's face, and some unlucky rebels are about to be smote. Some relief fragments from Meroë. The lower block clearly depicts 2 archers, each with 2 feathers in their hair. A clear illustration of the use of feathers as an archery distinction in the Meroitic period. Broken slabs from a Meroitic stone coffin bench Broken slabs from a Meroitic stone coffin bench, depicting Anubis and Horus The boat stand of King Atlanersa, showing the king with Horus and Thoth. King Atlanersa Detail on the boat stand of King Atlanersa Detail on the boat stand of King Atlanersa Meroitic Noblewoman. The top right corner show some kind of standard bearers, wearing capes Partial remains of a once majestic relief of Apedemak inside the lion temple in Naqa. He wears a scale armour corselet. Long horned cattle on a pyramid chapel in Meroë. These cows were an important source of wealth for Kush. Elaborate pyramid chapel reliefs Pyramid chapel reliefs in Meroë depicting Kushite nobles. Pyramid chapel relief in Meroë depicting a seated ruler receiving some incense. Procession of a funerary barge on a pyramid chapel in Merë Pyramids and reliefs in Meroë Royal scene on a pyramid chapel wall from Meroë. Everybody but the bound prisoners placed underneath the paws of the lion-throne have gentle smiles. Meroitic nobles wearing common ankle-lenght garments More ankle length garments (pre-)Sarcophagus of a deceased royal, resting on a lion bench. A King of Kush, and his Queen. A loyal dog sits underneath the throne of a ruler, guarding bound prisoners as a winged Isis pour libation. Detail of the libation pouring. Meroitic King and Queen in front of the human form of Amun Meroitic royals. Three different ways of depicting a royal in Kush Kushites' favourite subject, bound captives. From Meroë More bound captives. Reliefs inside the lion of Apedemak in Musawwarat, depcting nobles. A procession of cattle. Close-up of the bull. A proud looking horse, being led on a rope by a handler. Difficult to make out, but this scene depict two horsemen. The left one caries a spear/lance with a strip of cloth around, and wears a cape and skullcap. Top of a pylon decoration Inside the rock-cut part of the temple of Mut, Gebel Barkal, Napata A possible example of a colour scheme for the reliefs A very human depiction of the god Bes, from a supporting pilar of one of the temples at Gebel Barkal Meroë pyramid chapel relief The elephants of Musawwarat, with a ruler standing on their backs with a foot each Edited October 27, 2017 by Sundiata 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted October 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 (edited) Kerma: Capital of the first Kingdom of Kush (c. 2500-1500 BC) Aerial view of a historic reconstruction of the central district of the Royal City of Kerma, somewhere around c. 2000 - 1500 BC, showing the Western Deffufa, a massive mud-brick religious monument, still standing today at 18meters in height, surrounded by elite residential area's. This central area was walled with massive earthen ramparts with bastions. A large necropolis, shrines, palaces and agricultural villages extending north and south towards the fertile plain of the Nile surrounded this district. Just to offer some historical context and explain the cultural substrate of Kush I want to share some images and a short introduction to the history of the first Kingdom of Kush, also known as the Kingdom of Kerma. Around 2500 BC The Kingdom of Kerma eveolved out of pre-Kerma and Kerma culture which started as early as 3500 BC, in northern Sudan. The history of Kerma illustrates that the later Kingdoms of Kush weren't just mere reflections of Pharaonic Egypt, but were built on an enduring millennia old legacy that actively shaped the history of Egypt itself. I will simply quote some good sources on the subject here: Kerma (also known as Dukki Gel) was the capital city of the Kerma Culture, which was located in present-day Sudan at least 5500 years ago. Kerma is one of the largest archaeological sites in ancient Nubia. It has produced decades of extensive excavations and research, including thousands of graves and tombs and the residential quarters of the main city surrounding the Western/Lower Deffufa. Around 3000 BC, a cultural tradition began around Kerma. It was a large urban center that was built around a large adobe temple known as the Western Deffufa.[1] As a capital city and location of royal burials, it sheds light on the complex social structure present in this society. Settlement periods: Pre-Kerma (c. 3500–2500 BC) No C-Group culture Phase Early Kerma (c. 2500–2050 BC) C-Group Phase Ia–Ib Middle Kerma (c. 2050–1750 BC) C-Group Phase Ib–IIa Classic Kerma (c. 1750–1580 BC) C-Group Phase IIb–III Final Kerma (c. 1580–1500 BC) C-Group Phase IIb–III Late Kerma – ‘New Kingdom’ (c.1500–1100? BC) ‘New Kingdom’ By 1700 BC, Kerma was host to a population of at least 10,000 people.[5] Different to those of ancient Egypt in theme and composition, Kerma's artefacts are characterized by extensive amounts of blue faience, which the Kermans developed techniques to work with independently of Egypt,[6] and by their work with glazed quartzite and architectural inlays. Kerma contains a cemetery with over 30,000 graves. The cemetery shows a general pattern of larger graves ringed by smaller ones, suggesting social stratification. The site includes at its southern boundary burial mounds, with four extending upwards of 90 metres (300 feet) in diameter. These are believed to be the graves of the city's final kings, some of which contain motifs and artwork reflecting Egyptian deities such as Horus. For decades after Reisner’s excavations, his dismissal of the site as an Egyptian satellite fortified city was accepted. “The patient and diligent work of Bonnet and his colleagues unearthed the foundations of numerous houses, workshops, and palaces, proving that as early as 2000 BC Kerma was a large urban center, presumably the capital city and a burial ground of the kings of Kush”.[12] From 1977 to 2003, Bonnet and an international team of scholars excavated at Kerma. In 2003, black granite statues of pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt were discovered near Kerma by Charles Bonnet and his archaeological team. - Wikipedia: Kerma - Kerma was evidently a sizable political entity - Egyptian records speak of its rich and populous agricultural regions. Unlike Egypt, Kerma seems to have been highly centralized. It controlled the 1st to 4th Cataracts, which meant its domain was as extensive as ancient Egypt. Numerous village communities scattered alongside fields of crops made up the bulk of the realm, but there also seems to have been districts wherein pastoralism (goat, sheep and cattle) and gold processing were important industries.[6] Certain Kerma towns served to centralize agricultural products and direct trade. Analysis of the skulls of thousands of cattle interred in royal Kerma tombs suggest that stock were sometimes brought vast distances, from far districts, presumably as a type of tribute from rural communities on the death of Kerma's monarchs. This parallels the importance of cattle as royal property in other parts of Africa at later times. Only the centres of Kerma and Sai seem to have had contained sizable urban populations. Possibly further excavations will reveal other regional centres. At Kerma and Sai, there is much evidence of wealthy elites, and a class of dignitaries who monitored trade in merchandise arriving from far-off lands, and who supervised shipments dispatched from administrative buildings. Evidently, Kerma played an important intermediary role in the trade of luxury items from the Central African interior to Egypt. During the First Intermediate Period, the Egyptian presence in Lower Nubia ceased. When at the beginning of the New Kingdom, Egyptian sources again mentioned the region of Kerma, they reported Kerma as being in control of both Upper and Lower Nubia. The long history of Egyptian military activity in Lower Nubia may indicate that Kerma was perceived as a threat to Pharaonic Egypt at varying times. Principal Egyptian fortifications were built in the middle Nile Valley during the Middle Kingdom.[8] These were to secure the Upper Egyptian border against raids from Kerma, and more than likely and to protect the valuable trade routes between the two regions.[3] Both during the Middle and New Kingdoms, the resources Kerma possessed – gold, cattle, milk products, ebony, incense, ivory, etc. – were much coveted by Egypt. Its army were built around archers.[9] During its zenith, Kerma formed a partnership with the Hyksos and tried to crush Egypt. Discoveries in 2003 at the Governor of El Kab's Tomb (near Thebes) show that Kerma invaded deep into Egypt between 1575 and 1550 BCE. It is believed that this was one of Egypt's most humiliating defeats, which later pharaohs had erased from the official historic records. Many royal statues and monuments were looted from Egypt and removed to Kerma, apparently as a gesture of triumph by Kerma's ruler.[10] Under Tuthmosis I [and Ahmose I], Egypt made several campaigns south.[11] This eventually resulted in their annexation of Nubia (Kerma/ Kush) c.1504 BC. After the conquest, Kerma culture was increasingly 'Egyptianized' yet rebellions continued for 220 years (till c.1300 BC). During the New Kingdom, Kerma/Kush nevertheless became a key province of the Egyptian Empire - economically, politically and spiritually. Indeed, major Pharonic ceremonies were held at Jebel Barkal near Napata,[12] and the royal lineages of the two regions seem to have intermarried. - Wikipedia Kerma Culture - An inglorious end: - Ancient Nubia, Shinnie - And finally, a decent summery on the history of Kerma Spoiler The Kushite kingdom traces its roots to the city of Kerma. While the start of civilization in Kerma may be traced back to the fourth millennium BC, the kingdom is thought to have sprang in approximately 2600 BC. The wealth of the kingdom is reflected in the archeology, particularly the burial findings of the royalty. Gold, ivory, and various types of jewelry attest to an expanded trade network that connected Kerma to the sub-Sahara in the south, the Red Sea coasts in the east, and the Mediterranean world towards the North. Kerma is known among archeologists for the unique architecture of its metropolis, which reflects an exceptionally high degree of urban organization. The city had its own expanded harbor quarter facing the Nile, thick fortification walls and bastions, royal residence and cemeteries, religious buildings, storehouses, and bakeries.1 Moreover, the archeology of the city indicates that the political structure of the kingdom was more complex than the monocratic political system of ancient Egypt. Authority and power in Kerma were distributed over an expanded class of elites, which encompassed royal dignitaries, wealthy merchants, and high officials and administrators. The archeology of the cemeteries indicates that it wasn't just the rulers that had splendid burials. Because of this, the political structure at Kerma seems to have anticipated the government system of Kush of the Napatan-Meroeitic period. During the latter period, the political authority of the kingdom was distributed between the priesthood, the king, royal dignitaries, and the military. One problem that faces archeologists and historians in studying Kerma is the lack of surviving written documents. This is due to two possible reasons: (1) Perishable mediums, such as wood and mud, which form common types of building materials in Kerma, did not allow the survival of paint-based writings and/or carved inscriptions; or (2) the destruction activities that took place during the Egyptian invasion of the city in the sixteenth century BC. Fortunately, some archeological evidence and external written sources provide important indications on the development and expansion of the Kushite kingdom at Kerma. The Old Kingdom inscription of Harkhuf,2 suggests that the Egyptian pharaohs were worried about the ambitions of the Kushite kings in controlling Lower Nubia. Geographically, Lower Nubia has represented a buffer zone separating Egypt and Kush. Although the northern area of Lower Nubia was often Egyptian territory, its local population tended to ally with the Kushites.3 During the First Intermediate Period, when Egypt's power was waning, the Nubian C-Group population in Lower Nubia seems to have enjoyed a considerably high level of freedom. While the economy of Egypt was declining, archeological data from Lower Nubia suggest that the C-Group were politically indipendent.4 Historically, the Kushites have used their power of influence over Lower Nubia to intice rebellions within Egypt. Consequently, Egyptian controlled Lower Nubia exposed Egypt to Kushite colonial ambitions. Hence, the political independence achieved by the Lower Nubians during the First Intermediate Period is attributed to support from Kush. This suggestion corroborates the account of Harkhuf, in which Lower Nubia is indicated as being absorbed by a larger state in Sudan.5 The Hyksos invasion of Lower Egypt, around 1786 BC, was a golden opportunity for the Kushites to expand northward. In 1650 BC, Kush made alliance with the Hyksos. While the Hyksos ruled Lower Egypt, the Kushites controlled Upper Egypt. The authority of independent Egyptian kings was consequently limited to a small area around Thebes.6 The population of Upper Egypt, on the other hand, seems to have accepted the domination of Kush without resistance. This is best indicated by lack of any evidence for rebellions in the region. After the Egyptian pharaoh Ahmose defeated the Hyksos in 1550 BC, he turned his attention to Kush. Ahmose had to defeat Kush in order for him to ensure control over Upper Egypt. The war with the Kushites lasted for fifty years, with wins and losses on both sides. Persistent invasions of nomadic groups in the peripheries of Kerma weakened the Kushite kingdom. By 1500 BC, the Kushites were overwhelmed and were defeated by the invading Egyptian armies. Although Kerma was sacked in 1500 BC, the fate of the Kushite kingdom remains the subject of ongoing controversy among scholars today. - The Kushite Kingdom at Kerma - More images of ancient Kerma: Spoiler Site plan of the excavated area's of the ancient city of Kerma Another model of the Royal City around the time of it's zenith. Established around 2500 BC, this is the earliest known urban complex in Black Africa. The ancestral site of the later Kingdoms of Kush, who kept this place in reverence, evidenced by the continued use of the necropolis for royal burials many centuries after the demise of the old city.. An artists' rendition of Kerma which I already shared in the first post of this thread. One of the proposed renditions of the Western Deffufa. If indeed the facade featured these two separate "towers" (which seems probable), it would mean this is the oldest surviving (proto-)pylon temple in the world. An indication of Kerma's influence on the development of ancient Egyptian religious customs, including architecture. It also explains the popularity of pylon temples in the later Kingdoms of Kush. Vaulted chambers also seem to be a very early development. Facade of the Western Deffufa today side view of the Western Deffufa Other side view of the Western Deffufa Aerial shot of the central archaeological site of Kerma Royal funeral in ancient Kerma. Cattle was sacrificed on a grand scale (sometimes many thousands of cows for a single grave), and the practice of human sacrifice has been postulated. Kushite siege of the massive Middle Kingdom Egyptian fortress of Buhen in the Kerma-period. All of the Middle Kingdom fortresses in Lower Nubia were eventually conquered by the same Kushite invaders they were designed to halt. Finally, one of the products Kerma was famous for: Faience. A Kerma period Kushite is seen wearing a skullcap/helmet with chinstrap. Edited October 29, 2017 by Sundiata 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 (edited) The Statuary of Kush, and other artefacts of cut stone This post focuses on the rich legacy of statues of cut stone in the Kingdom of Kush. Kushites loved statues, and produced a large corpus of monolithic carvings of many of their favourite subjects, particularly of royalty, but also deities and animals like lions, rams and even frogs. Other interesting stone objects include the many inscribed stelae, offering tables and the carved boat stands and altars in the temples. The most common medium is sandstone, which was the primary type of stone richly available in their territories, but granite and a number of other types of stone were also used. These statuary and carvings were produced during every period of Kush, since at least the Egyptian period. Statues and other cut stone artefacts from Kush: Spoiler The Kings and Queens of Kush: Kushite Pharaohs of the 25th dynasty/Napatan period, granite, from the Kerma cache (but not Kerma period!) King Anlamani (c. 620 - 600 BC), Kerma cache King Anlamani, Kerma cache King Aspelta (c. 600 - 580 BC), Kerma cache King Aspelta, Kerma cash King Senkamanisken (643 - 623 BC), Kerma cache King Senkamanisken, Kerma cache King Senkamanisken, Kerma cache Two other Kushite Kings The Colossi of Tabo: King Natakamani (1 BC - AD 20), and another king, Tabo King Natakamani, Tabo A very curious statue from Meroë. All the elements of this statue have parallels in other Kushite examples, but the execution seems quite distinct. Taharqa himself! (690 - 664 BC) Queen Shanakdakhete (reigned 170 - 150 BC), Meroe. Shanakdahete was the earliest known ruling queen of Kush, during the Meroitic period. A prince is seen supporting her crown. Queen Amanimalel, wife of King Senkamanisken, Barkal (643 - 623 BC). Her bare hands and feet are polished to a shine, while the body is covered in a rougher texture, ready for the application of plaster and/or paint. Colossal statue from the entrance to temple B 700 at Gebel Barkal, Napata The majority of Kushite statues were smashed to pieces in Antiquity, primarily during 3 distinct events: Psamtik II's invasion (592 BC), the Roman invasion (27 - 22 BC) and the Axumite invasion (330's AD). King Akhratan (Akhraten) (350 - 335 BC) The upper part of a colossal statue of the Meroitic deity Arensuphis, from the Isis temple in Meroë. 25th Dynasty head of Ptah (from Egypt) Head of a Kushite King A rather funny head from a Meroitic statue, Meroë Taharqa Kushite deities, Sebiumeker and Arensnuphis flanking Amun, from Musawwarat Es Sufra Head of a Goddess from Kawa Fragment of the head of a Kushite queen, probably Amanitore, from Gebel Barkal, Napata A depiction of the lactating Isis, from the temple at El-Hassa A Kushite princess (?) Funerary head Hellenistic influences permeate this voluptuous Meroitic period "Venus of Meroe". There are at least 2 statues known as "The Venus of Meroe", both from the Royal Bath House, but I have to say I've seen prettier... Meroitic Queen flanked by Goddesses pouring libation. The Lions of Kush! Lion statues were much more common than I originally realised. Usually depicted in a seated position, super-sized lion statues are known from: Basa, Napata, Meroe, Naqa, Musawwarat and Premnis (Qasr Ibrim). They are always in multiples, lining the facades of palaces or other important structures, and flanking the doorways to lion-temples. No two pieces are the same! They vary very strongly in style. Below is my favourite individual example. An exquisite lion statue from Gebel Barkal, at Napata. Although it's posture and body are heavily stylised, it's face is strikingly naturalistic, and reveals an incredible depth of knowledge on the anatomy of a lion's face. This suggests that artist behind this specific piece might have had the privilege to study lions up close! A much more stylised example from the same cache. A man eating lion from Basa! The statue that is being moved shows a captive prisoner on his knees, hands tied behind his back, being mauled by a lion... Eek... Close up of what I assume to be the same statue. Lion statue from Premnis (Qasr Ibrim) An example of a smaller statue from Naqa Lion statue from Meroë Heavily damaged lion statue from Meroë Other animals and fictitious creatures: Yes, Sphinxes were a popular theme in Kush too. This example is from Meroë The sphinx of Taharqa Fragments of a cylinder of green faience decorated with a relief depicting two rams, from site 200 Meroë This statue represents the god Thoth, disguised as a baboon, Barkal Sandstone statue of a frog, originally part of a group lining the water-reservoir in Basa. Tawaret figurine from the tomb of King Anlamani. Tawaret was a goddess of child-birth and fertility. A "Sun Ape". This baboon worshipping the rising sun is from Taharqa's temple in Kawa. These Ram statues are perhaps some of the most common/popular statues produced in Kush. A symbol for Amun, they traditionally line the processional avenues approaching the Amun temples, and they are also positioned inside the temples themselves. The example pictured below is from the Amun temple in Naqa 15 cm long fragment of a cobra's head Ba statues, winged bird-people representing the Ba, one of the components of a human being, like the Ka (soul). Associated with funerary culture. The Stelae of Kush: A rare, squared example of the Kushite stelae, entirely inscribed in Meroitic script, in-situ in the Amun temple in Meroë. A more traditional example: the donation stele of King Shabako Beautiful example of Meroitc script on this stele from one of the lion temples. Meroitic script on another stele from a Lion temple Funerary stele Offering Tables: These were used for pouring libation (water or milk) More random stuff: At more than half a meter tall, this dome shaped shrine represents Gebel Barkal and features raised reliefs and a small "doorway" once covered by a hinged bronze (?) door, which would probably open to reveal an effigy of some sort. The absolutely massive granite sarcophagus of King Aspelta, from his pyramid in Nuri. The lower part alone weighs a staggering 15 tons! A detail from the lid of Aspelta's sarcophagus, showing mortuary scenes. An inscribed stone slab from Gebel Barkal. Perhaps an altar or a boat-stand. Ushabti: Ushabti, shabti or shawabti are funerary figurines in the shape of mummies, intended to do work for the deceased in the afterlife. A Ushabti belonging to King Senkamanisken Kushite Ushabti A Ushabti belonging to Taharqa Edited November 5, 2017 by Sundiata 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowgetoffyourcellphone Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 10 hours ago, Sundiata said: Any idea what these guys are supposed to be grasping? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan` Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 I'd say probably carrying their king Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowgetoffyourcellphone Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 3 minutes ago, stanislas69 said: I'd say probably carrying their king Hmm, they are kings though. See the cobra crowns? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan` Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 Mmh apparently it's in french http://www.unine.ch/unine/home/recherche/uninews.html http://www10.unine.ch/uninews/articles/immersion-dans-le-monde-fascinant-des-pharaons-noirs/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 26 minutes ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said: Any idea what these guys are supposed to be grasping? Nope All I can say is that they're cylindrical, and it's the original shape (it's not broken of or anything)... I don't think anyone really knows. In some alternative medicine circles it's referred to as "The Wands of Horus", but that seems like a load of BS at a first glance... Here's 13 pages of academic ramblings specifically on the subject, but doesn't really say anything conclusive, only conjecture: Spoiler Elusive_Shape_within_Fisted_Hands_of_Egyptian_Statues_The_Metropolitan_Museum_Journal_v_10_1975.pdf Personally, I suspect they might be symbolic cylindrical seals, representing royal authority. Who knows, another one of those Nile Valley mysteries... @stanislas69, good video! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balduin Posted November 6, 2017 Report Share Posted November 6, 2017 @stanislas69 I like the dagger in the video @Sundiata The video stanislas posted talks about the city of Karma and the Kushite culture around dead. They show a couple of mummies they found. Did you look into the burial rituals of the Kushites? These often reveal some additional insight into a culture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowgetoffyourcellphone Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 (edited) @wowgetoffyourcellphone thank you so much for that video, it made me smile. My research is partially motivated by the same reasons Muhammed is talking about this history and organising tours. I'm happy to see young people interested, and that's one of the things I want to achieve here, with 0AD as well. We deserve to know our history... A history that has been hidden from us, and the world, for far too long. The lack of exposure to actual and credible African history completely distorts the narrative on Black history in general, as well as our own understanding of our ancestors. It's shameful, really... Edited November 13, 2017 by Sundiata 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2017 (edited) A beautiful feel-good video about modern day Sudan, in the words of the Sudanese. Beautiful scenery and diversity of it's peoples and cultures. From Napata to Meroë The early glory of Kush, when Kerma Kingdom conquered Egypt (this is waaaay before the 25th dynasty): Meroitic insult to Rome: The Royal Baths The Amun temple in Naqa Meroë was settled by 950 BC! Meroitic geometric black and white mosaic floor: Musawwarat es Sufra 3D Edited November 14, 2017 by Sundiata Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuk0z Posted November 22, 2017 Report Share Posted November 22, 2017 On 05/11/2017 at 11:48 PM, stanislas69 said: Mmh apparently it's in french http://www.unine.ch/unine/home/recherche/uninews.html http://www10.unine.ch/uninews/articles/immersion-dans-le-monde-fascinant-des-pharaons-noirs/ On 06/11/2017 at 7:26 AM, balduin said: @Sundiata The video stanislas posted talks about the city of Karma and the Kushite culture around dead. They show a couple of mummies they found. Did you look into the burial rituals of the Kushites? These often reveal some additional insight into a culture. Yeah (translation from French) this expo summarizes 40 years of archeologic work in present Sudan of which ten led by the guy on the vid (Matthieu Honegger). Guys thanks! they have incredibly "living" (my feeling) pieces in there The mummie is actually a Nubian archer! he was buried on a Buffalo leather with his two bows! Also they say the videos at their expo focuse on showing off how life actually went on in « Nubia » from the earliest settlements to (and incl.) Kerma arround 2k BC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuk0z Posted November 22, 2017 Report Share Posted November 22, 2017 (edited) On 05/11/2017 at 12:34 PM, Sundiata said: Statues and other cut stone artefacts from Kush: Hmmmmm mwaaaahaha these people were incredibly brilliant in 3D (stone) rendering Seriously I have little words to express how natural and subtile some of their pieces look. Human and animals. And they're freaking byo͞oʹtĭ-fəl! Say I had never seen black faces on old statues till I discovered 0 A.D. (forums). And I've studied history for years. Sundiata I gotcha your deep, mixed feeling --some of it. Edited November 23, 2017 by tuk0z grammar typo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 (edited) @tuk0z Thank you for your support! I love their artwork as well, and some of the pieces do indeed showcase a level of naturalism that is rarely seen in the ancient world, while others are simply bland copies of ancient templates. I love the immense diversity in their work, both in subject matter and medium. I've been reading history since I can read, and I've been informally studying African history for almost 16 years, but before I embarked on this project I knew next to nothing about them. I knew they were important, powerful, and had a long history, but not in my wildest dreams did I think I was going find the things I did. I was profoundly shocked about many things I saw for the first time, including their cities, temples, palaces, reliefs, gold, bronze, silver and iron artefacts, weapons, and jewellery, and the extensive written histories by the Kushites themselves as well as external period sources. And we're still just scratching the surface here. It blew my mind, and still does that this isn't mainstream, not even among Africanists... That's why I believe creating such an extensive repository of illustrations and quality sources was necessary for people to be able to correctly visualise this forgotten powerhouse of antiquity. By the way, if you like naturalism in African art, you should check out the Ife bronzes (actually brass), and terracotta from Southern Nigeria 13th-14th century AD: Spoiler Edited November 23, 2017 by Sundiata 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 (edited) The Kushite War with Rome, as mentioned by Emperor Augustus himself, in the Res Gestae Divi Augusti I found Emperor Augustus' very short take on the war with Kush (which he calls Ethiopia), from a funerary inscription, in which he mentions both Napata and Meroë. After Strabo, this is the second written Roman reference to the war, in the words of the Roman Emperor himself, and it's equally omissive with regard to their inability to capture the Kushite capital, Meroë, the reasons for the Roman withdrawal, cession of territory or relinquishing any claim of tribute... Another interesting point is that there is debate about whether Augustus ordered the attack against the Kushites himself or an insubordinate general, but this inscription actually sees Augustus bragging about it. Obviously it doesn't mention Augustus loosing the finest bronze bust of himself, found to date . What's also interesting is that there's a Kushite parallel to this inscription, known as the Hamadab Stela, commissioned by Queen Amanirenas and Prince Akinidad, which mentions Rome. Unfortunately for us, it's written in Meroitic script, and therefore our understanding of it's content is very limited. If the Meroitic language is ever deciphered, this stela will provide a wealth of information, and an alternate view on the war with Rome. From Wikipedia: "Res Gestae Divi Augusti (Eng. The Deeds of the Divine Augustus) is the funerary inscription of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, giving a first-person record of his life and accomplishments.[1] The Res Gestae is especially significant because it gives an insight into the image Augustus portrayed to the Roman people. Various portions of the Res Gestae have been found in modern Turkey. The inscription itself is a monument to the establishment of the Julio-Claudian dynasty that was to follow Augustus.[2]" The actual part of the inscription which mentions "Ethiopia", "Napata" and "Meroë", as well as the simultaneous Roman campaign in South Arabia (Yemen) against the Sabaeans and their capital Marib: Part V, 26 I extended the boundaries106 of all the provinces which were bordered by races not yet subject to our empire. The provinces of the Gauls, the Spains, and Germany, bounded by the ocean from Gades to the mouth of the Elbe, I reduced to a state of peace.107 The Alps, from the region which lies nearest to the Adriatic as far as the Tuscan Sea, I brought to a state of peace without waging on any tribe an unjust war.108 My fleet sailed from the mouth of the Rhine eastward as far as the lands of the Cimbri to which, up to that time, no Roman had ever penetrated either by land or by sea, and the Cimbri and Charydes and Semnones and other peoples of the Germans of that same region through their envoys sought my friendship and that of the Roman people.109 On my order and under my auspices two armies were led, at almost the same time, into Ethiopia and into Arabia which is called the "Happy," and very large forces of the enemy of both races were cut to pieces in battle and many towns were captured.110 Ethiopia was penetrated as far as the town of Nabata,111 which is next to Meroë. In Arabia the army advanced into the territories of the Sabaei112 to the town of Mariba. The original Latin version: Meo iussú et auspicio ducti sunt duo exercitus eódem fere tempore in Aethiopiam et in Arabiam, quae appel latur eudaemón, maximaeque hostium gentís utriusque copiae caesae sunt in acie et complura oppida capta. In Aethiopiam usque ad oppidum Nabata perventum est, cuí proxima est Meroé. Editor’s note: 111 Queen Candace, taking advantage of the withdrawal of Egyptian garrisons for the Arabian expedition, captured some towns in upper Egypt. They were retaken by C. Petronius, 24‑22 B.C. His punitive expedition penetrated Aethiopia. "The ruins of the Temple of Augustus and Roma in Ankara, Turkey, with the Res Gestae Divi Augusti inscribed on its walls" A model of the ruins: The full text (Latin/Greek/English): http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Augustus/Res_Gestae/5*.html Full text in one piece (English): http://www.livius.org/sources/content/augustus-res-gestae/ Edited November 26, 2017 by Sundiata 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordGood Posted November 26, 2017 Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 A full peripteral Roman temple? That's a fairly rare sight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 1 hour ago, LordGood said: A full peripteral Roman temple? That's a fairly rare sight Yeah, but perhaps not as rare as you may think. Check out these massive Temples of Bacchus and Jupiter in Roman Heliopolis (Baalbeck) in modern Lebanon: Spoiler 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowgetoffyourcellphone Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 6 hours ago, Sundiata said: Yeah, but perhaps not as rare as you may think. Check out these massive Temples of Bacchus and Jupiter in Roman Heliopolis (Baalbeck) in modern Lebanon: Hide contents Perhaps a stylistic choice more prominent in the Hellenized East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 (edited) 14 hours ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said: Perhaps a stylistic choice more prominent in the Hellenized East. That's what I was thinking... Hellenisation actually spread faster under Roman rule than it did in the Hellenistic period. Probably one of the reasons why Greek was more important in the Byzantine Empire than Latin. The Temple of Augustus and Roma in Ankara actually has the Res Gestae Divi Augusti inscribed in Greek on the outside, and Latin on the inside... Edited November 27, 2017 by Sundiata 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elexis Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 Sundiata you seem to be the most informed person around about Kushites. I did not read all the valuable information in this thread, but I have a question I couldn't find an answer quickly. The Kushites have a very long history. Do you know if there were interactions (usually conquest) between Kushites and other civs found in 0AD (or maybe prominent civs between 0 and 500 AD)? Its very unlikely that we get there, but I would really love to have one campaign for each civ that we have models and templates for and part of that in a RTS is usually battling someone else :-) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundiata Posted November 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 (edited) The Fortifications of Kush Between the first cataract of the Nile and Khartoum are more than a hundred, possibly hundreds of stone and brick fortifications, dating to the Egyptian, Napatan, Meroitic, Post Meroitic, Christian, Islamic/Arabic, Ottoman and even British periods. A number of them date to 0AD's time frame, like the large Napatan fortress of Gala Abu Ahmed (discussed here and here), and a number of smaller late-Meroitic period fortresses I'll share in this post. They come from surveys of hundreds of fortifications focussing on the post-Meroitic and Christian period, but also turned up late Meroitic dates for a significant portion of these structures. What's interesting is that almost every fortress that dates to the Meroitic period is typically square shaped, just like their palaces. The fortifications with round or irregular patterns all exclusively date to the post-Meroitic period. Most of the Meroitic fortresses were reoccupied in later Christian times, which produced a second layer of Christian artefacts. These fortresses were often situated at the edges of wadis (seasonal rivers) running through the desert, or lining the Nile river at strategic places. Many are situated along an ancient trade route running through the Bayuda desert, between Napata and Meroë, like those at the Fura Wells. Large wells often found around these structures indicate that the water table was significantly higher in those days. These forts are almost all built up from walls of uncut drystone blocks, sometimes using clay as mortar, reaching anywhere from 2 to 7 meters, surmounted by mudbrick parapets, potentially reaching another few meters. The mud brick superstructures have mostly been scavenged as building materials in later times or melted away during the annual rains. Store-rooms and sleeping quarters for the garrisons often line the inside of the walls, also built from drystone, or mudbrick. Most of them feature square or round bastions, with stairs in the corners leading up to the top of the walls. Some of them feature a finely built central building, reminiscent of palaces, with what seem to be throne rooms. The Fortifications of Kush: Spoiler @elexis Thanks for the interest! Yes, Kushites were surprisingly connected to the rest of the ancient world, through trade and war. Of particular interest are: Ptolemy II's "Nubian campaign": in which he occupied part of lower Nubia (the Dodekaschoinos), and the subsequent loss of the Dodekaschoinos to the Kushites less than a century later. Followed by Kushite supported rebellions against Ptolemaic rule in Upper Egypt (one of the unspoken reasons behind the late Ptolemaic weakness. No, it wasn't just the incest). The Roman war: when The Romans were planning to invade Kush, the Kushites decided to act first, taking advantage of the low number of Roman troops in Egypt due to the Arabian campaign, they invaded, pillaged and burnt Roman occupied Southern Egypt, taking Philae, elephantine, overwhelmed the Roman cohort at Syene, and enslaved it's inhabitants. On the orders of Emperor Augustus, Gaius Petronius was sent with an army of 10.000 infantrymen, and cut to pieces a Kushite army numbering 30.000 fighters (according to Strabo). They reached Napata and razed the most important religious centre of the Kushites, but were unable to reach any further. Abandoning any hope for taking Meroë, the capital, they were forced to retreat to Qasr Ibrim, close to the Egyptian border, and a second Kushite force moved against them and besieged them there. A stalemate followed, and 5 years of war ended with a negotiated truce under Queen Amanirenas. Nero also had plans of invading Kush, but you know, things happened... Cambyses II's invasion of Kush: The Achaemenid Persian Empire under Cambyses II invaded Kush, but was met with miserable failure, apparently "unable to cross the desert". According to Herodotus, when Cambyses II sent spies to the court of the "Ethiopian" King, the King saw straight through them, and said to deliver the following message to Cambyses, along with a bow: "The King of the Ethiopians advises the King of the Persians to bring overwhelming odds to attack the long-lived Ethiopians when the Persians can draw a bow of this length as easily as I do; but until then, to thank the gods who do not incite the sons of the Ethiopians to add other land to their own.', So speaking he unstrung the bow and gave it to the men who had come". Just got to love that ancient diss... http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/herodotus/cambyses.htm Don't forget: Greek mercenaries fought for Sait Dynasty Egypt in Kush, Kushite mercenaries fought for Xerxes in Greece. Galatian mercenaries campaigned in Kush under the Ptolemies and Alexander the Great himself received a Kushite embassy when he was in Babylon. People from Kush also lived in Rome and Kush was probably one of the main sources of black people serving in the later Roman armies. Also, at almost every point in Kushite history since the 25th Dynasty, they at least nominally claimed rulership over Egypt, and often fought for and occupied the southern area's of Egypt up to the Thebaid, whose people were more sympathetic to the Kushites than other foreign rulers. Edited November 27, 2017 by Sundiata 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wowgetoffyourcellphone Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 (edited) Nevermind Sundiata got it Edited November 27, 2017 by wowgetoffyourcellphone 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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