Located at the intersection of trade routes from central Africa, the ancient Near East, and the Classical world, ancient Nubia ruled the entire Nile Valley at the height of its power in the eighth century bc. Its neighbour and frequent rival Egypt called it the gold lands because its territories held such an abundance of the precious metal, and because its inhabitants produced some of the most finely crafted jewelry of the ancient world. This book features over 100 adornments and personal accessories from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which houses the finest collection of Nubian jewelry outside Khartoum. The first comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated jewels of this great empire, it reveals how Nubian artisans employed techniques that would not be reinvented in Europe for another thousand years, and how the original owners valued such possessions not only for their inherent beauty, but also because they were imbued with magical meanings. Exquisite photography and an authoritative history written by leading experts make this book essential for both jewelry aficionados and anyone interested in the great cultures of the ancient world.
Director's foreword -- Prologue: People of the Gold Lands -- Gallery: Jewels of Ancient Nubia -- Early adornments -- The Kingdom of Kerma -- Egyptian occupation and the rise of Napata -- Napata's royal style -- The splendors of Meroe -- Materials and techniques in Nubian jewelry/Susanne Gansicke and Richard Newman -- Nubia and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.