Nubians in Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period to the New Kingdom

Abstract

AbstractNubians lived in Egypt from Predynastic times and through all periods. In the Aswan region, they were part of the indigenous population from Old to Middle Kingdom (A-Group, C-Group). From late Middle Kingdom through Second Intermediate Period, representatives of the Pan-Grave culture, presumably to be identified with the Medjay, and later the Kerma culture was present in Upper Egypt (Theban area) progressively up to the Delta at Tell el-Dab’a until the 18th Dynasty. Despite the official Egyptian dogma that regarded foreigners as elements of chaos, the reality shows that Nubians were integrated in the Egyptian society when accepting the Egyptian way of life. This is also visible in the wider range of occupations performed by native Nubians. While from time to time foreign groups also left the Egyptian Nile Valley, this Egyptianization or cultural entanglement resulted in a disappearing of foreigners in the sources.