Egyptian border forts in Nubia
In Lower Nubia , Egyptian border fortresses were built along the Nile , particularly during the Middle Kingdom . Besides the later defensive structures in the oases, they are the only such structures in Egyptian architecture .
history
The emergence of political organisms on the southern border prompted Egypt to build or expand seven fortresses at the 1st and 2nd cataracts and to move troops there. Sesostris III. also ordered to renew the canal over the 1st cataract and to erect a border post at Semna , which forbade Nubians who did not come as traders to cross the border.
function
In addition to their strategic function, the seven fortresses of the Middle Kingdom also served to safely store stones for building pyramids and merchandise such as gold and to prepare them for further transport. The Egyptians wanted to secure the water supply of Egypt and incorporate the areas controlled by the fortresses into their empire, which led to the plan to make the Nile navigable as far as Semna.
Ramesseumonomastikon
Behind the Ramesseum in Theben-West , the so-called Ramesseumonomastikon was found in a grave in 1895 , which was made up of 14 fortresses around 1700 BC. Chr. Reported. These fortresses in today's countries Sudan and Egypt were in the 1960s as part of the international Nubia - Campaign researched and are today largely by the Nasser flooded.
List of fortresses
Listed from north to south with ancient Egyptian names.
| fortress | Ancient Egyptian name | translation | Excavation director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephantine | Abu | Germany | |
| Bigge | Senmet | ||
| Kuban | Baki | Italy | |
| Aniba | Miam | Egypt / Germany | |
| Serra East | Chesef-Medjau | Who drives out the Medjau | United States |
| Serra West | Scandinavia | ||
| Faras | Ineq-tawy | That unites the two countries | Poland |
| Booing | Booing | Great Britain | |
| Dorginarti | United States | ||
| Cor | |||
| Debenarti | Not mentioned, probably unfinished or built in the New Kingdom | United States | |
| Mirgissa | Iqen | France | |
| Askut | Djer-Setiu | Who drives out the Setiu | United States |
| Shelfak | Waf-Chastiu | Who bows down the foreigners | United States |
| Uronarti | Chesef-Iuntiu | Who drives out the Iuntiu | United States |
| Kumma | Itenu-Pedjut | The resistance against the arch peoples makes | United States |
| Semna | Sechem-Chakaure-maacheru | Mighty is the justified Chakaure | United States |
| Semna south | Der-Setiu | Who drives out the Nubians | United States |
literature
- Dows Dunham , Jozef MA Janssen (Ed.): Semna, Kumma (= Second Cataract Continuation. Vol. 1). Excavated by George Andrew Reisner. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA 1960.
- Franck Monnier: Les forteresses égyptiennes. Du Prédynastique au Nouvel Empire. (= Connaissance de l'Égypte ancienne. Étude 11). Editions Safran, Brussels 2010, ISBN 978-2-87457-033-9 .
- Bruce B. Williams: Nubian continued. In: Kathryn A. Bard (Ed.): Encyclopedia of the Archeology of Ancient Egypt. Routledge, London 1999, ISBN 0-415-18589-0 , pp. 574-79.
Map with all linked sites: