Exploring the Graeco-Roman Heritage of Nubia

Across the Mediterranean from Greece on the continent of Africa is the region of Nubia, an area that covers parts of what is now Upper Egypt and Sudan. This is where, in the days of antiquity, Greek warriors marched as mercenaries of the pharaohs. It is also where one of the oldest Greek texts in the world was found at the temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. His wife, Nefertari, was a Nubian.

On a tour of Egypt, one can explore Hellenic connections of several sites that are millennia old. One can travel from Cairo to Aswan, where Nubian heritage can be witnessed in a local village. There is also a museum devoted to Nubian culture in Aswan.

Philae

Located in the city of Aswan, which is situated on the Nile, is the Philae temple dedicated to Egyptian deities Isis, her consort Osiris, and their son Horus. During antiquity, worship of Isis spread as far as Great Britain, then known to the Greeks and Romans as Britannia or Albion. In what is now London, there was even a temple of Isis.

The complex of structures of this temple was completed by Hellenic Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who reigned from 285 to 246 BCE, and his successor, Ptolemy III Euergetes, who reigned from 246 to 221 BCE. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, “All these monuments were relocated from the original Philae island to the nearby island of Agilkia during the UNESCO Nubia Campaign in the 1960s to rescue sites flooded by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.”

According to Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, the Philae temple of Isis was one of the last ancient Egyptian temples to remain active, as it continued to function up until the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527–565 AD), who eventually ordered the closure of all pagan temples.

The region has continued to be a source of historical interest throughout the centuries. For example, Napoleon’s Egyptian expedition reached Philae in 1799 and carved an inscription there that can still be read to this day.

Graeco-Roman monuments at Philae

There are several monuments with Greek connections at Philae. These include a church, the Gate of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, and a temple of Imhotep. The latter was dedicated by Ptolemy V, possibly in gratitude for the birth of his son, Ptolemy VI.

At the Philae site, one can also find the Temple of Hathor. This was built by Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII, while Augustus decorated the hall in honor of Isis and Hathor. Furthermore, the Temple of Arensnuphis was built by Ptolemy IV. Following the construction of that particular temple, Arkamani (Ergamenes) II, Ptolemy V, Ptolemy VI or VIII, and Tiberius enlarged and/or decorated it.

The obelisk of Philae contains an inscription with a reference to a petition by the Egyptian priests at Philae as well as the favorable response by Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, Cleopatra II, and Cleopatra III. The remains of the temple of Bigeh are the façade of a vestibule built under Ptolemy XIII, the father of the well-known Cleopatra.

Graeco-Roman inscriptions

André Bernand of the French National Council for Scientific Research and Abdullatif Ahmed Aly, a professor at Cairo University write about Nubia: “Here, on the confines of the Greek world, in these distant ‘marches’ of the Roman world, the mercenaries of King Psammetichus, of the Ptolemies, and of the Roman Emperors have left their imprint.” 

Bernand and Aly write about these inscriptions, revealing that the region is rich in relics of the Graeco-Roman period with over 1,200 Greek inscriptions. As per the two scholars, among these are the decree of Aurelius Besario, the civil governor of the ancient Egyptian province of Ombos and Elephantine at Kalabsha.

The decree dates back to the latter part of the third century AD. At the request of the high priest Myro, it gave the people of Talmis, or present-day Kalabsha, fifteen days to clear the village of the swine polluting the temple. Moreover, the famous inscription of King Silko, also at Kalabsha, dates back to the Christian period. It commemorates the victories of the “king of the Nobatae and of all the Ethiopians” at Talmis and Tophis over the Blemmyes, an Eastern Desert people who had invaded his territory. 

Expedition of Psammetichus II 

Psammetichus II was none other than Psamtik II, the king of the 26th dynasty of ancient Egypt. At Abu Simbel, the longest text runs to no more than five lines and records the expedition led by the mercenaries of Psammetichus II in Upper Nubia.

However, the most striking and interesting inscriptions at Philae are a series of epigrams or inscriptions in verse. Five of these are at Talmis while two are at Pselhis. One of the inscriptions reads:

“Our journey has brought us to the beautiful and sacred island belonging to Isis, in furthermost Egypt, on the borders of Ethiopia (i.e. Nubia); on the Nile we can see swift vessels bringing (stones for) temples from Ethiopia to our country, a fertile granary, well repaying a visit and revered by all mortals.”

The story of Psammetichus’ expedition to Nubia is related on the leg of one of the colossal statues:

“The King Psammetichus came to Elephantine and those who accompanied Psammetichus, son of Theokles, and made their way upstream from Kerkis as far as the river was navigable had this inscription engraved.

The foreign legion was under the command of Potasimto, while the Egyptians were led by Amasis. This inscription was engraved by Arkhon, son of Amoibickhos, and Pelekos, son of Eudamos.”

Conclusion

Hellenes from Egypt to India respected the local pantheon of deities and even associated local deities with those of Greece. For instance, the Egyptian deity Amun was likened to Zeus, and the Indian deity Krishna to Herakles.

Many Hellenes, in fact, assimilated to their adoptive countries and began worshipping local deities. This was the case both with Heliodorus who converted to Hinduism and the Ptolemies who were devoted to Egyptian deities such as Isis and Hathor.

For those who would like to visit temples with Greek influences outside Europe and Asia Minor, Egypt is indeed a favorable option. This is because Graeco-Roman monuments there are quite well preserved. In visiting Egypt, it certainly is worth going to Nubia, where several Graeco-Roman monuments continue to stand to this day.