Greek and Roman Views of Ancient Nubia

Abstract

This article traces the history of Greek and Roman views about Nubia from the end of the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Throughout this period, knowledge of Nubia was mediated through Egypt. As a result, it is clear that knowledge of the geography and ethnography of Nubia fluctuated with the extent of involvement in Egypt, expanding in the 5th century bce, again in the 3rd century bce and finally in the late 1st century bce, periods when contact between Nubia and Egypt were most intense. Although none of the ancient accounts of Nubia are extant in their original form except for the Histories of Herodotus, much of their content survives in the form of excurses in general histories and geographies and encyclopedias like those of Diodorus, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder that are important sources for the history of ancient Nubia and its peoples.