1

Lost Civilization: NUBIA

Team Members: Ibrahim Sadek, Mohamed Elawady Heriot Watt University

School of Electrical and Physical Sciences

2

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

3

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

Introduction• Name:– It is most probably derived from the ancient

Egyptian word (“noob”) which means gold. It’s was known as the land of gold mines, ebony, ivory

• Location:– Southern Egypt and northern Sudan and divided

into two parts as follows:– Lower Nubia lies between the first and second

cataract in Egypt– Upper Nubia lies between the second and sixth

cataract in Sudan

• Language:– Native language is Nubian. However, most of

them speak Arabic

• Climate:– Temperature is almost high most of the year

www.vormdicht.nl

John A. Larson, "Lost Nubia: A Centennial Exhibit of Photographs from the 1905-1907 Egyptian Expedition of the University of Chicago", Oriental Institute of the University

of Chicago, 2005 4

5

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

6

Lost Nubian

Nubia: Lost civilization of Egypt, BBC News, March 2009

In 1960, the land of Nubia was subjected to flooding due to construction of Aswan Dam

"It was going to submerge all the area of Nubia - monuments, people, the landscape, everything,“ Costanza de Simone

The most famous perceived temples are Abu Simbel and Philae

7

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

8

Old Nubian Clothing (1905–1907 )

Two girls and a little boyCamel driver and his sons

John A. Larson, "Lost Nubia: A Centennial Exhibit of Photographs from the 1905-1907 Egyptian Expedition of the University of Chicago", Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 2005

9

Old Nubian Housing (1905–1907)

John A. Larson, "Lost Nubia: A Centennial Exhibit of Photographs from the 1905-1907 Egyptian Expedition of the University of Chicago", Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 2005

House of the headman Sarkamatto village

10

New Nubian Clothing

Nubian Women (2010)Nubian Man (2005)

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

11

New Nubian Housing

Sohail Island (2008)

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

12

New Nubian Housing

Sohail Island (2008)

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

13

New Nubian Housing (interior)

West Sohail (2010)

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

14

New Nubian Housing (interior)

West Sohail (2010)

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

15

Nubian Literature

Christine Gilmore, "Situating the Nubian Awakening within the Arab Spring", Postcolonial Studies Association Newsletter No.10, Autumn 2012

Haggag Hassan Oddoul (1940-)

• Egyptian National Prize 1990• Sawiris Foundation Prize for 2005• Egypt Constitutional Committee Member 2013

16

Nubian Literature

Idris Ali (1940-2010)

• Arkansas Arabic Translation Award 1997• Best Egyptian Novel 1999

Christine Gilmore, "Situating the Nubian Awakening within the Arab Spring", Postcolonial Studies Association Newsletter No.10, Autumn 2012

17

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

18

Nubian Media

Elizabeth Smith, "In His Heart and Soul He’s Egyptian, the Nile Flows through His Veins", Journal of African Art History and Visual Culture. Number 5 (Fall 2009): 123-39.

Bakkar (1998 – 2007)

First Egyptian-produced animated cartoon featuring Egyptian characters

From an early age he knows what it meansThat in his heart and soul he’s Egyptian

And the Nile flows through his veinsThe history of his land and country flows in

his bloodThat in his heart and soul he’s Egyptian

And the Nile flows through his veinsYoung Nubian-Egyptian boy (Bakkar)

with his pet goat (Rashida)

19

Nubian Media

Ali El-Kassar (1887 – 1957)

First Egyptian actor presenting a Nubian character in theater & cinema

Nubian Character (Osman Abdel-basit)

Elizabeth Smith, "In His Heart and Soul He’s Egyptian, the Nile Flows through His Veins", Journal of African Art History and Visual Culture. Number 5 (Fall 2009): 123-39.

20

Nubian Music

Natalie Abou Shakra, "Identity Politics and Resistance: The Case of Mohammad Mounir", BRISMES Annual Conference, London, 2012

Mohamed Mounir (1954– )Aka “The King”

Most popular Egyptian Nubian singer

21

Outline• Introduction

• Lost Nubian

• Nubian Culture – Clothing

– Housing

– Literature

• Nubian Arts– Media

– Music

• Nubian pyramids

22

Nubian Pyramids

Egyptian Pyramid

138 Discovered pyramids at EgyptBuilt by pharaohs

Big in size

Nubian Pyramid

255 Discovered pyramids at Egypt and SudanBuilt by kushites

Small in size

Bob Brier, “The Other Pyramids”, Archaeology, Vol. 55, No. 5, September 2002

23

VIDEO

24

Conclusion Nubia was known as the land of gold mines

A lot of Nubian people were moved because of the Aswan high dam construction

Some temples are preserved. However, a large number of villages have been disappeared

Nubian characters affect Egyptian culture

25

Reference John A. Larson, "Lost Nubia: A Centennial Exhibit of Photographs from the 1905-

1907 Egyptian Expedition of the University of Chicago", Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 2005

Nubia: Lost civilization of Egypt, BBC News, March 2009 Christine Gilmore, "Situating the Nubian Awakening within the Arab Spring",

Postcolonial Studies Association Newsletter No.10, Autumn 2012 Elizabeth Smith, "In His Heart and Soul He’s Egyptian, the Nile Flows through His

Veins", Journal of African Art History and Visual Culture. Number 5 (Fall 2009): 123-39

Natalie Abou Shakra, "Identity Politics and Resistance: The Case of Mohammad Mounir", BRISMES Annual Conference, London, 2012

Nubia and Sudan, Ancient World Collection, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University

Bob Brier, “The Other Pyramids”, Archaeology, Vol. 55, No. 5, September 2002

26

Thanks For Listening