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Collections > 25th Dynasty

In the mid-eighth century BC, Nubian kings of Kush invaded Egypt and established themselves as Egypt's 25th dynasty. They ruled the country for about 60 years, until expelled by the Assyrians in 661 BC. The kings spent much of their time in Thebes, present Luxor, far from their homeland. They represented themselves as pharaohs and wrote officially in the Egyptian language and hieroglyphic writing, even though this was not their native speech. They apparently fully embraced Egyptian religious traditions, were devoted to the Egyptian gods, built new temples throughout Egypt and Nubia and restored old ones, and they were particularly devoted to the Theban god Amun, whom they proclaimed as their own father. It is not surprising therefore that the statues from this dynasty, now on display in the Nubia Museum, were all found at Thebes.

However, this process was more of a political strategy. Thus they won the support of the strong Egyptian clergy and also of the people.
Even if the Nubian kings seemed to adopt Egyptian traditions totally, they kept Nubian elements, such as the names of the pharaohs which were Nubian in most cases, their physiognomy, dress and style. They also were always buried in Nubia.

Statue of Harwa, Karnak
Statue of Amenardis, Luxor
Statue of Horemakhet, Karnak
Head of King Taharqa, Provenance unknown
Head of King Shabatka, Provenance unknown