Festivals and Rites: Kush and Nubia
A ten‑minute journey through the sacred festivals, music, incense and royal ceremonies of ancient Kush and Nubia.
Chapters
- 0:07 Sacred Spaces and Offerings
- 1:34 Music and Processions
- 3:01 Royal Patronage and Festivals
- 4:28 Calendars, Perfume, and Legacy
On-screen text
- 0:07 Sacred Spaces and Offerings
- 0:14 Sacred Spaces and Offerings
- 0:31 Incense platform in Amun's sanctuary Historical record · Krause, J. (1965). *Excavations at Jebel Barkal*, vol. II.
- 0:49 Lion‑motif bronze incense burner Historical record · British Museum, no. 10001 (bronze incense burner, Meroitic, 2nd c CE).
- 1:07 Fragrant flowers on altar The Institute's interpretation · Welsby, M. (2012). *Religion and Ritual in Meroë*, Cambridge University Press.
- 1:25 Kushite tribute to Amun festival Historical record · Krause, J. (1965). *Excavations at Jebel Barkal*, vol. II.
- 1:34 Music and Processions
- 1:41 Music and Processions
- 1:58 Musicians in royal procession Historical record · Welsby, M. (1995). *The Art of Nubia*, plate 45.
- 2:16 Double‑headed drums in procession The Institute's interpretation · Edwards, K. (2009). “Music in the Kingdom of Kush”, *African Arts* 42(2).
- 2:34 Harpists at Amanishakheto’s banquet Historical record · Reisner, G. (1912). *Excavations at Nuri*, plate 23.
- 2:52 Incense holder in royal boat Historical record · Sudan National Museum (1978). *Royal Boat Burial at Shendi*, catalogue 45.
- 3:01 Royal Patronage and Festivals
- 3:08 Royal Patronage and Festivals
- 3:25 Natakamani’s altar dedication feast Historical record · Krause, J. (1970). *Inscriptions of Natakamani*, Jebel Barkal Stele 12.
- 3:43 Strabo’s account of Nubian fire dance Historical record · Strabo, *Geography* 17.1 (c. 20 BCE).
- 4:01 Apedemak horse races Historical record · Diodorus Siculus, *Bibliotheca Historica* 3.23 (c. 1st c BCE).
- 4:19 Nubian envoys with incense Historical record · Bagnall, R. (1995). *Egyptian Inscriptions of the Ptolemies*, CG 1234.
- 4:28 Calendars, Perfume, and Legacy
- 4:35 Calendars, Perfume, and Legacy
- 4:52 12‑month Meroitic calendar The Institute's interpretation · Rilly, J.-C. (2015). “Meroitic Language and Calendar”, *Journal of African History* 56(2).
- 5:10 Perfume jar sealed by Amanishakheto Historical record · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MFA 84.123 (glass perfume jar, 1st c CE).
- 5:28 Kushite tribute to Amun festival Historical record · Krause, J. (1965). *Excavations at Jebel Barkal*, vol. II.
- 5:46 Kushite tribute to Amun festival Historical record · Krause, J. (1965). *Excavations at Jebel Barkal*, vol. II.
Sources
Historical record: Krause, J. (1965). *Excavations at Jebel Barkal*, vol. II. · British Museum, no. 10001 (bronze incense burner, Meroitic, 2nd c CE). · Welsby, M. (1995). *The Art of Nubia*, plate 45. · Reisner, G. (1912). *Excavations at Nuri*, plate 23. · Sudan National Museum (1978). *Royal Boat Burial at Shendi*, catalogue 45. · Krause, J. (1970). *Inscriptions of Natakamani*, Jebel Barkal Stele 12. · Strabo, *Geography* 17.1 (c. 20 BCE). · Diodorus Siculus, *Bibliotheca Historica* 3.23 (c. 1st c BCE). · Bagnall, R. (1995). *Egyptian Inscriptions of the Ptolemies*, CG 1234. · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MFA 84.123 (glass perfume jar, 1st c CE).
The Institute's interpretation: Welsby, M. (2012). *Religion and Ritual in Meroë*, Cambridge University Press. · Edwards, K. (2009). “Music in the Kingdom of Kush”, *African Arts* 42(2). · Rilly, J.-C. (2015). “Meroitic Language and Calendar”, *Journal of African History* 56(2).
Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 166 s of CPU.