Natakamani

Name of Natakamani
Throne name	Cheper-ka-Re Ḫpr-k3-Rˁ Appearance of the Ka des Re (in Egyptian hieroglyphics)
Proper name	Natakamani ( Ntkimn ) in Meroitic hieroglyphics Natakamani ( Ntk-jmn ) in Egyptian hieroglyphics Natakamani ( Ntk-jmn ) different spelling in Egyptian hieroglyphics

Natakamani was a Nubian king who ruled around AD 50. He is known from a large number of different monuments that attest to his enormous building activity. He is certainly the most important ruler of the Meroitic era (from 300 BC to around 350 AD) of the kingdom of Kush .

The kingdom of Kush is the first black African civilization that flourished in what is now Sudan and whose culture mixed Egyptian , sub-Saharan African and Hellenistic elements.

Sources

Although Natakamani was the most important ruler of Meroe and there are many monuments with his name, little is known about his person and reign. His Meroitic inscriptions are not yet translatable. His inscriptions in Egyptian hieroglyphics are usually very short and come from temples where the ruler is depicted sacrificing before deities. Historical events are not reproduced on the temple walls. Natakamani is not mentioned in contemporary Greek or Roman texts.

Life

origin

The origins and parents of the Natakamani are unknown. Since Meroe was the capital of Nubia at the time, it can be assumed that he was born there, although this cannot be proven. There is little known evidence of the type of succession regulations in Meroitic Nubia. For some earlier rulers of the Napatan period (approx. 700-300 BC), which preceded the Meroitic, there are inscriptions that show that the son followed the father, or a brother followed his brother on the throne. Aspelta was z. B. the son of a king and the brother of his predecessor Anlamani . There is no such clear evidence for the Meroitic epoch. With Arqamani (approx. 200 BC) it was assumed that he was the son of a king, since a prince is called Arqa in the temple of his predecessor and Arqa was thought to be a short form of Arqamani. In the case of other kings of the Meroitic period, the names of the parents have been passed down, although these are never royal (see, for example: Amanitaraqide and Takideamani ). Whether this was a coincidence of conservation or a rule in this period cannot yet be decided. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of his parentage in Natakamani. At least he appears together with the Kandake Amanitore . Kandake might be called the king's mother , so that Amanitore might once have been the king's wife and Natakamani was the son of a ruler. The problem, however, is that Kandake's importance as a king's mother is not beyond doubt and that a king's mother does not necessarily have to have been a king's wife. It has therefore even been suggested that Natakamani was of non-royal descent and ruled together with Amanitore to legitimize his power. The origin of Natakamani remains uncertain.

Based on the order of the royal pyramids in Meroe , earlier researchers have tried to determine the order of the Meroite rulers. It was believed that the first king chose the most convenient location of the cemetery for his pyramid, while the successors built their pyramids next to it. However, these resulting sequences cannot be considered safe. The pyramid of Natakamani stands apart from the other pyramids so it cannot even be classified using this method. But it seems that he had his pyramid built some distance away from the previous one, because the building site on the hill of the north cemetery on which the pyramids of the predecessor stood was already completely occupied. This indicates a relatively advanced date of his person in the order of the rulers buried here. The pyramid of the Amanitore ruling with him is also somewhat apart from the other pyramids.

Various kings have been identified as predecessors to Natakamani, including Amanichabale and the Queen Amanishakheto . However, none of these assignments is really certain.

The names

With the beginning of his reign, the ruler received a royal title, which in his case consisted of his own name and the Egyptian throne name. The proper name is usually assumed to be the ruler's maiden name. However, this can neither be confirmed nor refuted on the basis of the Meroitic sources. The meaning of the name Natakamani, which is passed down in Meroitic and Egyptian hieroglyphs, is unknown. Like most Meroitic royal names, the name contains the word imn - Amun, thus making a statement about this god. His name is known in three different spellings: two versions in Egyptian hieroglyphs and one in Meroitic hieroglyphs. One spelling in Egyptian hieroglyphs is only used once and may be a playful version. Such playful writing of hieroglyphic texts is also well documented in contemporary Egyptian temples and may be an indication that craftsmen from this country worked in Nubia.

In addition to his own name, Natakamani also had an Egyptian throne name : Cheperkare. This is the throne name of the Egyptian king Sesostris I , who lived around 1900 BC. Ruled. Whether the name of this ruler was consciously chosen cannot be said with certainty. Arnekhamani already bore this throne name and it was previously used by the Egyptian king Nectanebo I (380–363 BC). Although numerous inscriptions by Natakamani are known, there are no other names in the style of an Egyptian king. It can therefore be assumed that the five-part Egyptian royal structure was given up before then. This is a phenomenon that can also be observed in the simultaneous Roman Egypt . The Roman emperors can be immortalized as pharaohs on monuments, but they too do without the full royal statute.

It can also be observed that the well-known throne names of the following Nubian rulers are repeated over and over again. The kings are all known as Cheperkare or Nebmaatre . Apparently no great importance was attached to the throne name and it only appears in inscriptions that were written in, mostly good, Egyptian, with Egyptian appearing almost exclusively on temple walls and in the pyramid chapels.

The reign

Under Natakamani, the Meroitic Empire experienced its greatest heyday, as the many buildings show. A victory inscription of Shorakaror , who served under Natakamani , was found on Mount Qeili and is the most easterly found inscription of the Meroites. The inscription may indicate that the empire was now at its greatest extent. However, this monument to the Shorakaror is the only clear evidence of military action under the king. The ruler is shown slaying enemies on temple reliefs. However, such representations are symbolic in nature and therefore do not allow any statements to be made about political events.

Colossal figure found in Tabo on the island of Argo. It may represent Natakamani

From around this time onwards, strong takeovers from the Roman region are typical in architecture . The so-called 'Roman Kiosk' ( Naqa ), which is probably a small Hathor temple, was built in a Greco-Roman, Meroitic mixed style and consists of eight columns with Corinthian capitals. The palace of the ruler in Napata (M 295) was decorated on the walls with glazed round panes that were worked in a purely Hellenistic style and show the heads of Greek deities . They prove how much Hellenistic art penetrated the everyday world back then. Almost identically glazed panes were found in the so-called Roman bath in Meroe, which may therefore have been built by Natakamani. Finds from graves from this period show that many luxury items, including even bronze statues, were exported from the Mediterranean to Nubia. There is a strong Hellenistic influence in secular architecture. On the other hand, Egyptian hieroglyphs were increasingly used again in the construction of temples and in temple inscriptions . Interestingly, these inscriptions are mostly written in good Egyptian and not barely legible as before. It can be assumed that Natakamani had craftsmen come to Nubia from Egypt, which was then ruled by Rome. In the representations of the ruler one finds strong African elements , especially in relation to clothing, jewelry and regalia . Although most of the temple depictions are in the Egyptian style, these images appear surprisingly un-Egyptian, primarily because of these elements. This impression is further supported by the opulent body shapes in these pictures. After all, one also believes to be able to find African elements of motherhood in the strong role of the Kandake Amanitore.

The co-rulers

On the pictures of the temple walls and in inscriptions, two other people often appear in addition to the ruler, whose relationship with Natakamani is controversial. Above all, the Kandake Amanitore is to be mentioned here, which is depicted on numerous monuments alongside him on an equal footing. On the pylon of the temple of the lions of Naga they are both shown facing each other as they slay enemies. Most of the time it was assumed that it was a married couple who ruled the country together. More recent studies, especially on the title Kandake, see in Amanitore rather the mother of the ruler, who led the affairs of government for him when he was still very young.

In addition to the ruler and Amanitore, another man appears, one after the other: Arikancharora , Arakachatani and Shorakaror. These people write their names like a king in a cartouche and they also have a throne name. From the position of this third figure as the companion of a royal couple, it was initially concluded that it must be a son and heir to the throne. However, this cannot be proven. These men were undoubtedly powerful people, but their position is unknown, although Amanitore was probably not their mother, for Arikancharora has another mother, while no statements can be made for the other two. It has been suggested that it could have been the highest general or a highest minister under the king. For Shorakaror it was assumed that he also ruled as his own ruler. However, this has recently been considered less and less likely.

Construction activity

Boat stand of the ruler from Wad ban Naqa

The temple buildings of Natakamani were found in almost all parts of the Meroitic Empire. Due to the desolate condition of most of the Meroitic temples, however, it is often not certain what this building activity looked like. In some places he seems to have built completely new temples, in others he apparently only added his statues or small components to the existing temple.

Natakamani built an Amun temple with Shorakaror in Amara , in Tabo the two had a kiosk built in the Amun temple there. The ruler probably also had the two colossal statues found there erected here. The temple of Amun was restored in Napata . Strangely enough, his name is spelled a little differently there than in the other hieroglyphic inscriptions. The temple in Napata may have been renovated by the ruler after it had been devastated by the Romans in a campaign a few years earlier. Another temple was built there by him and a palace there dates from his reign. M 260 was built at the Temple of Amun in Meroe . Here he also had a processional path to the temple built, which was flanked on both sides by small shrines. Blocks of other temple buildings were scattered around the city and various palaces were renovated or rebuilt in the city. Further to the south, work was carried out on the temple of Duanib and a particularly large number of temple buildings come from Naqa : the lion temple, the temple of Amun, in which there were three boat bases, various small statues or the so-called 'Roman kiosk', which has recently been attributed to him. The Isis temple in Wad ban Naqa comes from him. Hoer found a boat stand.

The pyramid

Pyramid N22 by Natakamani

Pyramid N22 at the back right, a little away from the north pyramid field

The ruler was buried in Meroe in the pyramid Beg N22 . His names were found on the wall of the pyramid chapel there. The building of the actual pyramid is only 8.92 × 8.92 m, with the entrance to the underground chambers in front of the building. 35 steps lead to a first room with three niches on each of the long walls. Behind it was the actual burial chamber. The tomb was badly stripped when it was found. The pyramid appears small for this most important ruler of the Meroitic period, but this is probably not due to a lack of funds, but to a general decline in the size of the pyramids from the first century AD. From this time on the kingship seems to have turned to other tasks.

The pyramid temple is only partially preserved, the walls are only partially and the ceiling has collapsed. Nevertheless you can see the most important scenes. On the south wall, i.e. the back wall, you can see Natakamani as Osiris. In front of him stands a priest, behind him a goddess, probably Isis or Nephthys. On the west wall the ruler sits in front of a sacrificial table, in front of him there is another priest and behind him servants come in several registers and bring offerings. On the opposite wall there is an almost identical scene.

Dating

The exact chronological classification of Natakamani is uncertain and controversial. But he probably ruled in the first century AD. More recent considerations based on the palaeography of Meroitic inscriptions underpin this dating. As a starting point, Amanirenas is taken, which probably the Romans 25/24 BC. Could defeat BC. After her, based on paleographic observations of the inscriptions of that time, Amanishakheto , Nawidemak and Amanichabale ruled with some certainty . Their exact lengths of government are of course unknown, but one can estimate a few decades, based on average values, which means that Natakamani can be dated to the first century AD with certainty. Given his extensive construction work, it can be assumed that he remained on the throne for a relatively long time.

Successor and evaluation

Just as the origin and predecessor of Natakamani are unknown, there are also difficulties in identifying his successor. If Shorakaror ruled as king, he was the successor, but his rule as king is doubtful. Amanichareqerem has recently been proposed on the basis of paleographic considerations .

Natakamani marks the beginning of the last period of Meroitic history, in which the empire increasingly shed Egyptian traditions. The rulers after him are often poorly documented. This has often been taken as a sign of decline, but it may simply indicate a shift in royal interests. Temple and pyramid buildings in the Egyptian style, which until now were the main source of royalty, lost their importance. In this context, the ruler was even accused of overstretching the country's resources with his enormous building activity. Given the difficult source situation for Meroitic history, one should refrain from making such statements, especially since Lower Nubia in particular has shown great general prosperity in the following centuries.

See also

• List of the Nubian kings
• Kingdom of Kush

literature

• Inge Hofmann: Contributions to Meroitic Chronology (= Studia Instituti Anthropos. Volume 31). Anthropos Institute, St. Augustin 1978, ISBN 3-921389-80-1 , pp. 120-122.
• László Török : The Kingdom of Kush (= The Near and Middle East. Volume 31). Brill, Leiden / New York / Cologne 1997, ISBN 90-04-10448-8 , pp. 461-464.
• László Török et al: Fontes historiae Nubiorum: textual sources for the history of the middle nile region between the 8th century BC and the 6th century AD. Vol. III, From the first to the sixth century AD (= Fontes historiae Nubiorum. Volume 3). University of Bergen, Bergen 1998, ISBN 82-91626-07-3 , pp. 896-901.
• Michael H. Zach: Thoughts on the kdke Amanitore. In: Caris-Beatrice Arnst, Ingelore Hafemann, Angelika Lohwasser (eds.): Encounters. Ancient cultures in the Nile Valley. Festival ceremony for Erika Endesfelder , Karl-Heinz Priese, Walter Friedrich Reineke and Steffen Wenig. Wodtke & Stegbauer, Leipzig 2001, ISBN 3-934374-02-6 , pp. 509-520.

Notes and individual references

1. ↑ All proper names of the Meroitic kings are written in Meroitic: The characters of this own language were then partly taken over into Egyptian hieroglyphs, whereby the name remains Meroitic and therefore incomprehensible.
2. ↑ discussed by Zach, thoughts on kdke Amanitore, S / 514
3. ↑ ( page no longer available , search in web archives: copy of victory inscription )
4. ↑ Natakamani and Amanitore slaying enemies ( Memento from August 19, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
5. ↑ Derek A. Welsby, Julie R. Anderson (Eds.): Sudan, Ancient Treasurers. London 2004, p. 162, no.145
6. ^ Glazed disk from the Roman bath in Meroe
7. ↑ László Török: The Royal crowns of Kush: a study in Middle Nile valley regalia and iconography in the 1st millennia BC and AD Oxford 1987, ISBN 0-86054-432-X .
8. ↑ discussed by Zach, thoughts on kdke Amanitore
9. ↑ The Lion Temple in Naqa ( Memento from August 19, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
10. ↑ F. LI. Griffth: Meroitic Inscriptions, Part II: Napata to Philae and Miccellaneous. EES Archaeological Survey of Egypt 20, London 1912, pp. 1-13.
11. ↑ Ch. Mayster: Excavatio at Tabo, Argo Island, 1965–1968. Preliminary Report, Kush 15, pp. 196-197 (1973), PL. xxxvA, B; XXXVIA
12. ↑ R. Lepsius: Monuments from Egypt and Ethiopia, Volume V. Geneva 1972 (reprint), sheet 14g image ; Griffth: Meroitic Inscriptions , p. 4.
13. ↑ Summary of the Italian excavations in Napata ( Memento of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
14. ↑ John Garstang, AH Dayce, F. Li Griffith. Meroe, the city of the Ethiopians, being an account of the first season's excavations on the site, from 1909 to 1910. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1911, pp. 11-12, 71-72, panel XII / 1-4, LXIX / 15a-c.
15. ^ R. Lepsius: Monuments from Egypt and Ethiopia, Volume V. Geneva 1972 (reprint), sheet 68e image: Temple of Duanib
16. ^ Ingrid Gamer-Wallert , Karola Zibelius-Chen : The lion temple of Naq`a in the Butana (Sudan) Reichert Wiesbaden 1983, ISBN 3-88226-158-7 .
17. ↑ Dietrich Wildung , in: Derek A. Welsby, Julie R. Anderson (eds.): Sudan, Ancient Treasurers , London 2004, 178–179, no. 159; see also
18. ↑ D. Wildung, ibid. 184, no. 170
19. ↑ Image: The 'Roman Kiosk' in Naqa ( Memento from August 19, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
20. ↑ homestead.com
21. ^ Dows Dunham : The Royal Cemeteries of Kush, Vol. 4: Royal tombs at Meroë and Barkal , Boston, Mass .: Museum of Fine Arts, 1957, pp. 116-119.
22. ↑ after: Fritz Hintze: The size of the Meroitic pyramids. In: WK Simpson, WM Davies (editor), Studies in Ancient Egyt, The Aegean, and the Sudan, Essays in honor of Dows Dunham on the occasion of his 90th birthday, June 1, 1980. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston 1981, ISBN 0-87846-197-3 , pp. 91-98.
23. ^ Description in Lepsius
24. ↑ Scenes in the mortuary temple
25. ^ Photo from the ruler's mortuary temple ( memento from February 28, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
26. ↑ z. B. Török: The Kingdom of Kush. 461: middle decades of the AD 1st century ; Derek A. Welsby: The Kingdom of Kush. British Museum Press, London 1996, ISBN 0-7141-0986-X , pp. 208: 1-20 AD.
27. ^ ^{A b} Meroitic Palaeography as a Tool for Chronology. ( Memento from January 29, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

Web links

• Pictures of Natakamani's boat stand
• Clyde Winters: NATAKAMANI AND AMANITORE IN THE MEROITIC SUDAN (English) ( Memento from June 19, 2006 in the Internet Archive )

This version was added to the list of articles worth reading on August 30, 2006 .