Kingdom of Napata
(circa 9th - 4th c. B.C.)

	1. Pyramid tombs of the Kingdom of Kush at Napata. Napata emerged as an independent kingdom sometime shortly after the collapse of Egypt's viceroyal administration at Napata. Although the kings continued to associate with Egypt's political culture, the model for these flat topped, small, steep-sided pyramids was probably aristocratic mastaba from Post-classic Egypt rather than the great pyramids of Egypt's Formative period. Perhaps this indicates hesitation over usurping the title of king.
	2. Statuette of Amenirdis I, daughter of King Kashta (c. 760-747 B.C.) (London: British Museum). 28.3 cms. Kashta started as ruler of Kush at Napata, but as heir of Egypt's political ideology, was drawn to reunify Egypt and so instituted the 25th dynasty. Amenirdis was established as God's Wife of Amun in Thebes, and this important post typifies the policy of the Napatan kings of Egypt and may anticipate the central role which royal women held in the later history of Kush.
	3. Column from the entrace to the temple of Amun at Karnak. The colonnade was one of four erected by King Taharqa (690-664 B.C.), whose rule was the high point of the 25th dynasty of Egypt's kings from Kush. Taharqa seems to have taken a direct interest in the army, and also enjoyed a more naturalistic world view than most of Egypt's rulers. Most of his monumental construction, including the temple of Amen-Re, was done at Egypt's old capital of Thebes. Under the 25th dynasty, Egypt enjoyed a revitalization of its traditional culture, although the Napatan kings were archaizers and introduced some Kushitic naturalism.
	4. Sphynx of King Taharqa (690-664 B.C.) from Temple T at Kawa (London: British Museum). 74.7 cm. This illustrates the rich mix of 25th-dynasty culture. The basic form is the traditional representation of monarchy as a lion with a human face, but the mane recalls the distant 12th Dynasty style. The face reflects the vigorous naturalism associated with the Kushitic kings, and the furrow on either side of the mouth is a typical Kushitic stylization, the "Kushite fold."
	5. Bronze figure of a Kushitic king of Egypt, perhaps Taharqa (London: British Museum). 11.2 cm. He wears the Kushitic cap and headband. From Temple T at Kawa.
	6. The pyramid of Taharqa at Nuri, near Napata at the Fourth Cataract. He was the first king buried here, and then nineteen other kings and fifty-three queens followed. The pyramids were built of sandstone blocks and so weathered badly. In the richest graves, the walls of subterranean burial chambers were decorated in the Egyptian style.