Sudan: Ancient kingdoms of the Nile

The ancient civilizations of the upper reaches of the Nile have for many years remained relatively unknown to the general public. However, the Sudanese and Nubian kingdoms dating back to 5,000 B. C., were civilizations which paralleled the Ancient Egyptians in both political development, and in artistic creativity. The importance of ancient Sudanese cultural influences in this region has only recently been brought to light by new scholarship and forms the basis of this ground-breaking new exhibition catalogue. In this stunning volume, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, temple and funerary artefacts from the Stone Age to the dawn of Christianity are brought together for the first tune to illuminate the story of this rich, inaccessible civilization. An international team of scholars provides introductions to the different archaeological sites and their treasures, reconstructing the numerous influences on the Sudan-African, Pharaonic, and Greco-Roman. The interrelationship of Sudan with its neighbor, Egypt, is traced through religions iconography. Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated, this fascinating study will be essential reading for scholars, and for anyone interested in discovering one of the richest civilizations of the ancient world.