25th Dynasty

Fact 1 on 25th Dynasty:

The Twenty-fifth Dynasty is known as the Nubian Dynasty or the Kushite Empire in which the Pharaohs were of Nubian descent. Their rule led to the largest Egyptian empire since the early New Kingdom.
 

Fact 2 on 25th Dynasty:

The boundary between ancient Egypt and the land of Nubia (Kush) was traditionally held to be the First Cataract - Refer to map below.
 

Fact 3 on 25th Dynasty:

The Nubians capital was at Napata. These Nubians were culturally 'Egyptianized' and had adopted its religion, gods, culture and writing.
 

Fact 4 on 25th Dynasty:

The great Egyptian civilization, that had built the great pyramids and the Sphinx, had lost its way during the Third Intermediate Period, torn apart by petty warlords in the quest for power.
 

Fact 5 on 25th Dynasty:

The Libyan period had started a decline in decline of the traditional religious faith and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians.
 

Fact 6 on 25th Dynasty:

The Nubians viewed their ensuing conflict with Egypt as a 'Holy War' and were intent on restoring traditional Egyptian values, culture and religion to the Two Lands, particularly the worship of the god Amun.
 

Fact 7 on 25th Dynasty:

To the end of the 24th dynasty a Nubian (Kushite) King called Kashta had extended Nubia's influence over into Thebes when he compelled the ruling Theban royal family to adopt his own daughter Amenirdis, in order for her to become the "Wife of Amun". This symbolized the ritual marriage of women in the ruling dynasty with Amun-Ra, the "king of the gods" and linked Nubia with the Theban royal family. About 20 years later Kashta was succeeded by the Nubian King Piye (aka Piankhi).
 

Fact 8 on 25th Dynasty:

Piye ruled Nubia from the city of Napata, which was located deep in Nubia, in modern day Sudan. Piye took advantage of the disorganization of Egypt and its quarrelling rulers by undertaking a 'Holy War' and subsequently expanding Nubia's power beyond Thebes into Lower Egypt.
 

Fact 9 on 25th Dynasty:

The 'Holy War' of Piye started at Thebes the cult center of the god Amun, where his troops sprinkled their bodies with water from the temple at Karnak and made sacrifices to the god. King Piye identified Amun-Ra as his own personal deity.
 

Fact 10 on 25th Dynasty:

A confederation of Egyptian city states including Tanis, Leontopolis and Sais, led by a strong leader called Tefnakht, met the Nubian army led by Piye. Tefnakht besieged the city of Herakleopolis and the Nubian allies in the city appealed to Piye for help. Piye responded and achieved a great victory at Herakleopolis and then conquered the cities of Hermopolis and Memphis.
 

Fact 11 on 25th Dynasty:

The Egyptian confederacy were defeated but allowed to rule as 'vassal governors' and Piye returned to Nubia. The 'vassal governors' proceeded to rule without due observance to Nubia.
 

Fact 12 on 25th Dynasty:

King Piye died in Nubia and was buried in an Egyptian-style pyramid. His brother and successor, King Shabaka, headed another Nubian military force to Egypt to rectify the rebellious situation.
 

Fact 13 on 25th Dynasty:

Shabaka attacked Sais and defeated the successor of Tefnakht, his son, Pharaoh Bakenranef. The 24th dynasty of Egyptian kings ended with the terrible death of Bakenranef who suffered a heretics death by being burned alive at the stake.
 

Fact 14 on 25th Dynasty:

Shabaka founded the 25th dynasty and was the first Nubian king to reside in Egypt and chose Memphis as his first place of residence and then at Thebes. He was a prolific builder and initiated the building of new temples and his pyramid.
 

Fact 15 on 25th Dynasty:

Shabaka seized the opportunity of extending the empire by establishing settlements in the Syria-Palestine region, bordering the lands of the Assyrian empire.

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