Nawidemak

Nawidemak was a Kandake of Kush who ruled either early in the 1st century BC or 1st century AD. She is known from the wall relief of her burial chamber, as well as a gold plaque. She may also have been one of the Kandakes referred to in the New Testament of the Bible.

Nawidemak
Kushite Queen of Meroe
PredecessorAmanishakheto
Burial
Meroe (Beg. N 6)

Biography

Nawidemak as a ruler of the Kingdom of Kush, either from the 1st century BC,[1] or 1st century AD.[2] She is known from the wall relief of her burial chamber at Meroe (Beg. N 6), which shows her wearing the royal coat, sash and tasselled cord; these elements are more commonly shown with male rulers of Kush.[1] Both the fastening knot on her coat, and on the cord feature a couchant animal, which is another symbol of royalty. This symbol makes its latest appearance in Nawidemak's relief, having been used in Kushite designs since the 3rd century BC. In the relief, she wears the crown of Osiris on her head.[3]

On the northern wall of the chamber, Nawidemak is shown with a long skirt and with bare breasts, which is symbolic of her fertility and as the mother of another ruler.[1] A gold tablet referring to Nawidemak is included in the collection of the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio.[4]

Nawidemak is the fourth in succession of female rulers of Kush, known as the Kandakes. These rulers are each referred to in the New Testament of the Bible, without differentiation between them. Based on the idea that she ruled during the 1st Century AD, Nawidemak is thought to be the Kandake referred to in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles,[2] whose treasurer was converted to Christianity by Philip the Evangelist.

References
  1. Harkless, Necia Desiree (2006). Nubian Pharaohs and Meroitic Kings : The Kingdom of Kush. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-425944-964.
  2. Bock, Darrell L.; Fanning, Buist M., eds. (2006). Interpreting the New Testament Text : Introduction to the Art and Science of Greek Exegesis. Wheaton: Crossway Books. pp. 364–365. ISBN 978-1-433500-442.
  3. Török, László (1998). The Kingdom of Kush : Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. New York: Brill. pp. 459–460. ISBN 978-9-004104-488.
  4. Janssen, Jac. J. (1972). Annual Egyptological Bibliography. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 110.
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