Apedemak or Apademak was a major deity in the ancient Nubian and Kushite pantheon. Often depicted as a figure with a male human torso and a lion head, Apedemak was a war god worshiped by the Meroitic peoples inhabiting Kush. He has no Egyptian counterpart. As a war god, Apedemak came to symbolize martial power, military conquest, and empire for the Meroitic peoples. Apedemak is also closely associated with Amun, the state-sponsored Egyptian deity during the preceding Napatan period, and is assumed to hold an equal level of importance.
The Blemmyes were an Eastern Desert people who appeared in written sources from the 7th century BC until the 8th century AD. By the late 4th century, they had occupied Lower Nubia and established a kingdom. From inscriptions in the temple of Isis at Philae, a considerable amount is known about the structure of the Blemmyan state.
Amanishakheto was a queen regnant (kandake) of Kush who reigned in the early 1st century AD. In Meroitic hieroglyphs her name is written "Amanikasheto". In Meroitic cursive she is referred to as Amaniskheto qor kd(ke) which means Amanishakheto, Qore and Kandake.
Shanakdakhete, also spelled Shanakdakheto or Sanakadakhete, was a queen regnant of the Kingdom of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the early first century AD. Shanakdakhete is poorly attested, though is known to have constructed a temple in Naqa.
Aryamani was a Nubian king.
Aktisanes is a Nubian king who is mentioned by the Greek historian Hecataeus of Abdera. He is perhaps identical with Menmaatre-Setepenamun Gatisen known from Nubian sources.
Sekhmakh was the wife of the Nubian king Nastasen, who ruled in the Fourth century BC.
Tarekeniwal was a Kushite King of Meroë of whom little is known. He likely reigned in the second half of the 2nd century AD. Tarekeniwal is only known from his pyramid in Meroe. His name appears on the pylon of the cult chapel in front of the pyramid, which was in modern times restored. The chapel and its decoration is still well preserved.
Amanitore, also spelled Amanitere or Amanitare, was a queen regnant of the Kingdom of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the middle of the 1st century CE. She ruled together with her son, Natakamani. The co-reign of Amanitore and Natakamani is a very well attested period and appears to have been a prosperous time. They may have been contemporaries of the Roman emperor Nero.
The Pyramids of Meroë are a large number of Nubian pyramids, encompassing three cemeteries near the ancient city of Meroë. The Meroë pyramids date to the later stage of the Kingdom of Kush and were burial places for Kushite monarchs, other members of the royal family, and important officials and dignitaries.
Arqamani was a Kushite King of Meroë dating from the late 3rd to early 2nd century BCE.
Adikhalamani was a king of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the first half of the 2nd century BCE.
Sabrakamani was a Nubian king who is mentioned only in an inscription found so far. It is found in the Amun temple at Kawa. This badly damaged inscription also mentions king Piye-Iry-qo, who therefore preceded him. The inscription is on top of two inscriptions from Amanineteyerike, which is an indication that Sabrakamani reigned later than Amanineteyerike. The inscription lists dedications to the temple. Sabrakamani dates possibly in the first half of the 3rd century BC.
Tanyidamani was a Kushite king of Meroë who ruled in the second half of the 2nd century BCE. He was most likely the son of king Adikhalamani and Queen Nahirqo.
Arakamani was a Nubian king of Meroë, who ruled in the early third century BCE.
Amantekha was a king of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the second half of the third century BCE. Amantekha is known only from his tomb, Beg. N 4, which although relatively small is also the earliest known tomb from Meroë's northern cemetery. The tomb and the decoration of its chapel are not well preserved. The king's name appears on blocks from the south wall of the pyramid chapel. The throne name Menibre is only partly preserved, so that other readings are possible too.
Amesemi is a Kushite protective goddess and wife of Apedemak, the lion-god. She was represented with a crown shaped as a falcon, or with a crescent moon on her head on top of which a falcon was standing. The clothing that Amesemi is seen wearing is a robe that is made from cloth and is worn over her undergarments. She is often seen wearing a short necklace with large beads. She is also depicted holding a second set of hands with her.
Yesebokheamani was the king (qore) of Kush in the late 3rd or early 4th century AD. He seems to have been the king who took control of the Dodecaschoenus after the Roman withdrawal in 298. This enabled him to make a personal visit to the temple of Isis at Philae.
László Török was a Hungarian historian, archaeologist, and Egyptologist. His works on the ancient Coptic language, Ancient Egypt, ancient Nubia, and the Kingdom of Kush were highly regarded. He was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Shesepankhenamen Setepenre is the Horus name of an otherwise unknown king of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the second half of the 3rd century BCE. His personal name is unknown. The Horus name is known only from fragmentary inscriptions on a stray block in Meroë's northern cemetery. No burial site has been identified for this king.
Temple of Apedemak in Musawwarat es-Sufra, built by Arnekhamani
King Arnekhamani (detail)
King Arnekhamani (portrait)
