The Ancient Way of Life

~ Kushite priest wearing garment with leopard's head and tassels, subsequently adapted for a king.

Period: Third Intermediate Period (Kushite), 25th Dynasty

Date: ca. 712–664 B.C.

Place of origin: Egypt

Medium: Leaded bronze, gold leaf.

~ Menat of Taharqo: the King Being Nursed by the Lion-Headed Goddess Bastet. Period: Late Period, Kushite Dynasty: 25th Dynasty Reign: reign of Taharqo Date: 690–664 B.C. Place of origin: Possibly from Nubia; From Egypt and Sudan Medium: Faience

~Donation Stela of Shabaqo. Period: Late Period, Kushite Dynasty: Dynasty 25 Reign: reign of Shabaqo Date: ca. 712–698 B.C. Geography: Possibly from Nubia; From Egypt and Sudan Medium: Limestone

Shabaqo, second king of the Kushite Dynasty 25, succeeded his brother Piye. Devout followers of the god Amun, whose temples the pharaohs of the New Kingdom had established in Nubia, they invaded Egypt and deposed the rulers of Dynasty 24 to restore it to what they considered to be proper religious order. Shabaqo ruled from Thebes, pursued a revival of old Egyptian traditions, and built or rebuilt many temples. He was, however, buried in Nubia, at el-Kurru.

This stele records the donation of property to a temple through the good offices of the king. Shabaqo is depicted on top offering to the god Horus and goddess Wadjet. Unusually, the text of the stele is in monumental hieratic (cursive) Egyptian rather than in hieroglyphs.