|
Many early Egyptian inscriptions, dating between
3200 and 2600 BCE, mention Nubia, which is called "Land of the
Bow." At least five of these seem to be about Egyptian military
raids on Nubia. Because hieroglyphic writing of this time does
not give us detailed history, we know little of these events. |
|
Nubia was famous throughout ancient history as
a land of expert and feared archers. Pictures from as early as
3200 BCE show Nubians carrying bows. The Egyptians even used a
bow as the hieroglyphic spelling for the name "Nubia."
Throughout history, pictures and drawings of Nubian gods, kings,
and warriors show them holding bows. In graves of Nubian men,
archaeologists often find their skeletons holding bows and lying
beside quivers of arrows. In later centuries, men were sometimes
buried wearing stone rings on their thumbs. These rings allowed
them to pull back the bowstrings without cutting or hurting
themselves.About 2600 BCE, the Egyptians began hiring thousands
of Nubian men as archers for their armies
Nubia was known as "Ta-Seti", or the Land of the Bow, by the
Egyptians. The skills of the Nubian Archers were well known in
the ancient world. In rise of Nations, these archers make up one
line of unique units for the Nubians. The Kushite Archer, named
after the first Nubian Kingdom of Kush, makes their appearance
in the Classical Age, continuing to the Gunpowder Age with the
Apedemak Archer, named after the Nubian God of War. The Nubians
and Egyptians had a close relationship throughout much of their
history either as trade partners or as suzerain overlords over
one another. Indeed, trade was a major component of the Nubian
civilization, and in Rise of Nations, they are possess the
ability to derive benefits from rare resources in their
territory even without having a merchant present. The Nubians
were also introduced to use of camels in war early in its
history providing them with their second unique unit. The
Nubians receives Camel Archers starting in the Classical Age
that continue into the Enlightenment Age as the Camel Corp
|
Gravestone of the
Nubian soldier Nenu, his wife and son, which also depicts his
servants and pet dogs. Nenu was a Nubian who had come to Egypt to
work as a professional bowman. He can be seen holding his bow and a
quiver of arrows. In Egypt he took a wife, who has an Egyptian name
and has lighter skin. There he lived and died and was buried with an
Egyptian stele or grave marker. Found at Gebelein in southern Egypt.
About 2250-2060
BCE.