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The politics of Meroe and Rome in Lower Nubia in the first century BC and the fifth century AD
Eleanora Kurmasheva
The article begins by presenting the conclusions drawn from the study of the trilingual inscription left by Cornelius Gallus, the Demotic inscriptions in the Dodekascheums (District XII), the inscriptions in the temples of the island of Philae and other sources.
The Galleus inscription makes it possible to reconstruct the events that took place on the Egyptian-Kushite border immediately after the invasion of Augustus. An allusion to the right of patronage guaranteed to the Meroitic king and the reference to appointing a governor for the thirteenth province indicates a meeting of the two opposites for the benefit of the Roman Empire, as is evident in the agreement that places obligations on the Meroitic king, and in the fact that Lower Nubia became a part of the Roman Empire after Petronius’ campaign and the Samos agreement.
The researcher believes that the assessment of the political situation in the twelfth region must be based on a special liturgy formula. As is known, some inscriptions were placed “in the name of kings.” The study of the inscriptions shows that the word was not a regular form and that the change in the form of consecration in the name of the king is related to a change in the political situation. The administration of the thirteenth province consisted of Meroists who functioned as planning agents and representatives, in other words, officials to whom practically all powers were granted. It seems that although the Romans established their control over the twelfth region, the Meroites continued to occupy the highest positions, and that any weakness in Roman control over the far southern regions was enough for the Meroites to prove themselves, in appropriate circumstances, as the true legitimate rulers of the twelfth region. This process can be traced through the Demotic ruins in District XII. The rulers of the Thirteenth Province (p mr msc), at least from the end of the first century AD, also held religious functions p rt. In addition, there is evidence that since the end of the second century, the Meroites were priests on the island of Philae, especially Mr. Sn.
But politically, the region retained its status as a Roman province. Evidence of this, for example, is a consecration dating back to the reign of Caracalla. Caracalla was described as a philanthropist who donated charitable gifts to the people of Philae and the Twelfth District.
Among the interesting things are the inscriptions dating back to the third century AD, which make it possible to trace qualitative changes in the political situation. By accepting the dated inscriptions as legal and taking into account kinship relations, the researcher attempts to reconstruct the history of the political situation of the twelfth region through the chronological arrangement of the inscriptions, including the undated ones, and begins with the change in the titles of the Meroitic officials and the nature of the special Mass formula.
The scribble of Dekka 30 says that, upon his visit to Dekka, Hornetiotuf received an order from the King of Meroe, which was carried out by an official bearing the title of Meroitic Qurun without consulting Rome. This fact, as well as the title of Lord, indicates that the region of the Twelfth Province, including Dhaka, was considered irrigated land and that Philae remained nominally subject to Rome. It is also possible that the establishment of Meroitic control over the twelfth region, as indicated by the titles of Meroitic officials, was merely a media announcement and that it occurred without consulting the Roman authorities.
It seems that the Elephantine Scribble of 410 testifies to changes in the political situation of Lower Nubia. The authors of this scribble, Manyawawi and Hornitiutf, in addition to holding the title of "Heritual Chief of Tacumbsu", also bore the title of "Hetepe of the Thirteenth Region." This is not recorded anywhere else. They were also called “the agents of Pharaoh of the land of Nahasi.” Al-Makhrabesh says that the Meroites came to the island every year. Other scribbles, including Deck 30, say nothing about this. Eventually, the Meroites declared themselves full rulers of the thirteenth province, which included Philae.
Therefore, it can be assumed that since 190/191, Meroite control over the thirteenth region took three stages. The first stage is reflected in the Philae Scrolls 223, 409, 421 and others, in which the strengthening of the religious centers of the Meroites in the Philae Temple is indicated while the existence of a dual administration can be traced for the twelfth region. The second stage is represented by the Meroites of Dekka 30 and Philae 257, where the title of Lord of Tacumbsu indicates the Meroites' acquisition of political power in the thirteenth region, including Dekka, while maintaining dual power in relation to Philae. Finally, the third stage, reflected in the inscriptions on Philae 410, Philae 120, and Philae 417, is linked to the extension of Meroitic authority over the entire thirteenth region, including Philae.
The Philae scribble of 416 and the Greek inscription speak of two different Meroitic embassies to Rome. Possibly, the purpose of the Abratoi embassy was to claim absolute authority over the Twelfth District.
In order to reconstruct the events taking place in Lower Nubia in the fourth century, the researcher will resort to the events described in the Kharamidwaya inscription from Kalabsha. The Charamidoya Protocol outline indicates the latter's connections with the Kingdom of Meroe. Particular importance is given to the devotion to the god Mandulis, whose worship dates back to Meroe.
The truth is that there is no information about this god in Philae at the end of the fourth century, and there is nothing indicating the Meroitic presence in those areas, which indicates that the devotion to Mandulis may be linked to the arrival of the Meroites to Philae. Unfortunately, the names of the people mentioned in this inscription are not mentioned in the others. However, the name and its derivatives are names of members of the Smith family, whose genealogy can be reconstructed by approaching Greek and Demotic inscriptions. Smithim could be Meroitic or from an area of the Meroitic Kingdom.
There is no information about Philae in the fifth century, but there is also no basis for believing that Smith's descendants abandoned the island before the destruction of the Temple of Isis in 537.
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The Policy of Meroe and Rome in Lower Nubia in the 1st century BC and the 5th century AD.
E,Ye.Kormysheva
The article sets forth the conclusions derived from the study of the trilingual inscription left by Cornelius Gallus, demotic graffiti of Dodekaschoinos, inscriptions in the Philae temples and other sources.
Gallus's inscription makes it possible to reconstruct events which occurred at the Egyptian-Cushitic border directly after the Augustan invasion. A hint at the patronage accorded to the Meroitic king and a reference to the appointment of the Triakontaschoenos tyrant suggest that odds were in favour of the Roman Empire as is indicated by the agreement providing for certain commitments on the part of the Meroitic king, and by the fact that Lower Nubia became part of the Roman Empire after the campaign of Petronius and the treatment on Samos.
The author believes that assessments of political situation in Dodekaschoinos should be based on votive formula. As is known, some of the inscriptions were made "in the name of the king". The study of the graffiti shows that it was not a regular formula and a change in the form of dedication in the name of the king proves a change in political situation. The Triakontaschoenos administration was comprised of Meroites who performed the functions of strategoi and representative agents, i.e., officials virtually vested with full authority. It seems that since the Romans, who had established control of Dodekaschoinos, the Meroites held even the high posts, and a temporary weakening of the Roman control of its southernmost areas was quite enough for the Meroites to declare themselves, under appropriate conditions, the genuine and lawful rulers of Dodekaschoinos. The process can be traced by the demotic graffiti of Dodekaschoinos. The strategos of Tiakontaschoenos (p mr msc), at least since the end of the 1st century AD, had also been invested with religious functions p rt. In addition, there is evidence that since the end of the 2nd century Meroites were priests on Philae Island, in particular mr sn.
But politically, the area retained the status of a Roman province. This is suggested, for example, by a dedication deriving to the Caracalla period. Caracalla was described as a benefactor of the inhabitants of Philae and Dodekaschoinos.
Of special interest are graffiti of the 3rd century AD, which make it possible to trace qualitative changes in political situation. Accepting dated inscriptions as canonical and considering filiation, the author has tried to reconstruct the history of Dodekaschoinos' political status by chronologically arranging the graffiti, including undated ones and proceeding from the change of titles of the Meroitic officials and the character of the votive formula.
Graffito Dak, 30 says that visiting Dakka Horentiotef got an order from the Meroe king, which was executed by an official with the Meroitic title of qoren without Rome's consent. This fact, as well as the title of rp suggest that the territory of Dodekaschoinos, Dakka included, was considered to be a Meroitic land and Philae was nominallycontrolled by Rome. It is also possible that the establishment of Meroe's control over Dodekaschoinos, as is suggested by titles of the Meroitic officials, was only declarative and that it occurred without consent of the Roman authorities.
It seems that graffito Ph 410 attests new changes in political status of Lower Nubia. Its authors, Manitawawi and Horentiotef, in addition to the title of "hereditary chief of Takompso", bore that of "h-tp of Triakontaschoenos?" This is not registered anywhere else. They are also called "agents of the pharaoh of the Nehsy land". The graffito says that the Meroites came to the island every year. Other graffiti, including Dak 30, say nothing about this. Eventually, the Meeroites declared themselves to be full-fledged rulers of Triakontaschoenos, which included Philae.
Thus, it can be assumed that since 190/1 the seizure of political power in Triakontaschoenos by the Meroites had three stages. he first is reflected in graffiti Ph 223, 409, 421, etc., in which the strengthening of the Meroites' religious positions in the Philae temple is pointed out whereas a system of dual administration can clearly be observed with respect to Dodekaschoinos. The second stage is represented by graffito Dak. 30 Ph. 257, where the rp Takompos title indicates the acquisition by the Meroites of political power over Triakontaschoenos, including Dakka, turns up whereas dual power was preserved with respect to Philae. Finally, the final third stage, reflected in graffiti Ph. 410, Ph. 120 and Ph. 417, was connected with the extension of Meroitic power to the entire Triakontaschoenos, including Philae.
Graffito Ph.416 and Greek inscription speak of two different embassies of Meroites to Rome. Possibly, the aim of Abratoye's embassy was to demand unlimited authority over Dodekaschoinos.
By way of reconstructing the events which unfolded in Lower Nubia in the 4th century the author will turn to the events outlined in Kharamedoye's inscription in Kalabsha. The scheme of Kharamadoye's protocol points to the latter's links with the Meroitic kingdom. Of special interest is a dedication to god Mandoulis, whose cult derives to Meroe.
There is virtually no data about this god in Philae at the end of the 4th century, and nothing about the Meroitic presence in these areas, which suggests that the dedication to Mandoulis may have been linked with the coming of the Meeroites to Philae. Regretably, names of persons mentioned in the inscription are not mentioned in others. However, Esmet and its derivatives were the name of the members of the Smethem family whose genealogy can be reconstructed by comparing Greek and demotic inscriptions. Smethem could be a Meroite or could be coming from territory belonging to the Meroitic kingdom.
There is no information about Philae of the 5th century, but there is also no ground to believe that the descendants of Smethem left the island earlier than the Isis shrine was ruined in 537.