If you are interested in understanding the history of the Nubian people, the importance of the Kingdom of Kush and its relationship with Ancient Egypt then Aswan’s Nubian museum is a must see. For anybody travelling down to Sudan it provides a particularly useful backdrop to a complicated history and features artefacts from many of the Sudanese sites you are likely to visit.
Contemporary, thoughtfully set out and with engaging interpretation this is a museum at its best. The permanent collection guides you through a narrative encompassing the rise of homo sapiens, sophisticated pre-historic cultures, ancient conflict and collaboration, and modern endeavours. All of this is told through an excellent collection of exquisite artefacts, including delicately beaded jewellery and perfectly intact, highly decorated ceramic bowls. .
The lesser known history of the Kingdom of Kush takes centre stage here. This mighty and sophisticated civilisation spread from the first cataract in Upper Egypt down into the deserts of Sudan and challenges the perception that the Ancient Egyptians where the only noteworthy society in the region. These two civilisations shared the Nile, interweaving their cultures though trade and battle over a 1000 years. At the height of the Kingdom, a Kushite pharaoh even sat on the Egyptian throne.
The rise and popularity of Egyptology, combined with the white-washing of Sub-Saharan history and culture means that the importance of the kingdom has never received the recognition it deserves on the world stage. The artefacts displayed here turn this racist narrative on its head. The imposing stone statue of Taharqa, both pharaoh and king of Kush during the 25th dynasty (690-664BC), is an indomitable embodiment of this history, now being reclaimed and recognised.
The final section of the museum is dedicated to the story of the collective global effort to save a number of invaluable ancient monuments including gigantic Abu Simbel. This epic and painstaking operation is an example of the incredible collective power of people with a common cause.
