"The Queen Mother in the Kingdom of Kush: Status, Power and Cultic Role" (original) (raw)

in: M. I. Gruber, A. Brenner, M. Garsiel, B. A. Levine, M. Mor (eds.),TESHURA LE-ZAFRIRA: Studies in the Bible, the History of Israel, and the Ancient Near East Presented to Zafrira Ben-Barak of the University of Haifa, (Beer Sheva: Ben-Gurion University Press, 2012) *61 – *68.

Abstract

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The study explores the significant role of the Queen Mother in the Kingdom of Kush, emphasizing her status, power, and cultic functions during the reign of her son. Drawing parallels with similar positions in ancient civilizations, the paper highlights historical examples of queen mothers in Assyria, Israel, and Egypt, noting their political influence often due to the young age of their sons. It also examines the ceremonial importance and secular authority of the Kushite Kandake, emphasizing her responsibilities as both a regent and a religious figure in the context of Meroitic culture.

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References (5)

  1. Dynasty, and the prototype of the Kushite warrior queen. In Darnell's recent interpretation the queen is responsible for a victory and conquest of Lower Nubia after the failures of her husband. See: J. C. Darnell, The Inscription of Queen Katimala at Semna:Textual Evidence for the Origins of the Napatan State, (Yale Egyptological studies 7; New Haven, Conn.: Yale Egyptological Seminar, 2006);
  2. However, this interpretation was heavily criticized. See: K. Zibelius-Chen, Review of J. C. Darnell, The Inscription of Queen Katimala at Semna: Textual Evidence for the Origins of the Napatan State,Bibliotheca Orienta/is 64/3-4, (2007) 377-387.
  3. K. -H. Priese, "Matrilineare Erbfolge im Reich von Napata," Zeitschrift for iigyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 108 (1981) 49-53.
  4. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, "Nubian Queens in the Nile Valley and Afro-Asiatic Cultural History,'' in: Nubian Studies 1998 Proceedings of the Ninth Conference of the International Society of Nubian Studies August 21-26, 1998 Boston, Massachusetts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston U.S.A ( ed. T. Kendall; Boston: Department of African-American Studies Northeastern University, 2004), 256-264. Cf. the attempt to learn about the function of the Gebira in Judah based on social anthropology in Africa: in N.-E. A. Andreasen, "The Role of the Queen Mother in Israelite Society,'' CEQ 45 (1983) 184-187.
  5. Kahn, "The Royal Succession," 13-33.