BEITRÄGE ZUR SUDANFORSCHUNG 11

Wien 2012

Die in den Beiträgen vorgebrachten Inhalte und Aussagen unterliegen ausschließlich der Verantwortung der jeweiligen AutorInnen und müssen nicht den Ansichten des Herausgebers entsprechen. Es wird vorausgesetzt, dass alle AutorInnen die Genehmigung zur Publikation von Objekten und Fotografien besitzen. Gedruckt mit Unterstützung der philologisch-kulturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Wien Umschlagbild: Säulen der Kirche auf Sai Island (© Alexandros Tsakos) ISSN: 1010-9072 Medieninhaber und Herausgeber: Verein der Förderer der Sudanforschung, Redaktion: Michael H. Zach, Institut für Afrikawissenschaften der Universität, Universitätscampus AAKH, Spitalgasse 2, Hof 5.1, A-1090 Wien, Österreich Hersteller: Citypress, Hormayrgasse 53, A-1170 Wien, Österreich

205

SOME RELIEF FRAGMENTS FROM WAD BAN NAQA

Michael H. Zach

Though Wad Ban Naqa, located at the crossroads of trading routes between the Butana steppe and the Nile Valley as well as the southern/central regions of Sudan and Egypt can be considered a Meroitic settlement of highest importance, it has experienced only insignificant (organised) archaeological research activities since its discovery. Rather neglected in comparison to more prominent sites like Meroe, Musawwarat es Sufra and Naqa, the first reports have been authored by some few European travellers to Sudan during the 19th century, whose books do not present more than mere glimpses of some of the site’s features, concentrating on the rare visible monuments. Therefore, aside somewhat tentative designed site maps the still standing Bes pillars of the so-called “Typhonium” mainly attracted their interest and have been subject of illustrations (Cailliaud 1823, Pl. IX/1 and X/2; Hoskins 1835, 112 ff.; LD I, Bl. 139/1; for unpublished manuscripts see PM VII, 263). Nevertheless, the Prussian Richard Lepsius was the first to conduct excavations at the site, resulting in the discovery of two “altars” – i.e. bark stands – dating to the times of Natakamani and Amanitore (mid-first century A.D.), one of which he transferred to Berlin (Egyptian Museum 2057; LD V, Bl. 55a and b; Hintze 1978, 100 ff. and Fig. 74; Priese 1984; 1991, 262 f.; Wenig 1977; Wildung 1996, 256 f., Cat. 279). This is not the place to repeat the discussions on its significance for the decipherment of the Meroitic script on the basis of its bilingual inscriptions, but to draw some attention towards the results of subsequent archaeological activities.

During the first first half of the 20th century, when the most prominent monuments like the above-mentioned Bes pillars seem to have disappeared due to wind and rain erosion, no organised research at the site was undertaken. So it does not make wonder that Budge (1907, 124 f.) in his description of the site used the illustration of the Bes pillars published by Lepsius, adding that they still “were in a tolerably good state of preservation” at that time.

Professional excavations did not take place before the years 1958 to 1960, when a French team in cooperation with the Sudan Antiquties Service conducted two archaeological seasons on the site. Though they revealed important information on architectural features and chronology by discovering a cartouche of Amanishakheto as well as many unique artefacts, only a brief excavation report was published, comprising somewhat faint illustrations of some of the objects (Vercoutter 1962). Besides, only one additional (short) note can be attributed to these excavations, suggesting the use of the circular mudbrick building as communal store or granary (Nur 1962, 76 in response to Mekhitarian 1961, 117 f., who considered its function somewhat obscure).

206

Most of the findings are stored in Sudan National Museum today, while few others became part of Lille University’s Papyrological and Egyptian Collection. Except for some attractive artefacts in Sudan National Museum – which later have been subject to various international exhibitions on ancient Sudan – the majority still lacks comprehensive research.

The statuettes of a falcon and a seated lion (L. 623 and 624) produced of fired clay in the Lille collection have been published in two catalogues (Geus 1975, Pl. Xb; Gratien – Le Saout 1994, 221 f., Cat. 309-310), the latter also adding the vessel L. 471 (Vercoutter 1962, 291, fig. 25; Gratien – Le Saout 1994, Cat. 311).

In contrast, several prominent objects originating from Wad Ban Naqa kept in Sudan National Museum like a wall inlay showing the profile of a queen (SNM 62/10/129; Vercoutter 1962, 283 f., fig. 13; Wenig 1978, 202, Cat. 123; Wildung 1996, 306, Cat. 323), the statue of a small seated lion of fired clay (SNM 62/10/23; Wenig 1978, 223, Cat. 146; Wildung 1996, 279 f., Cat. 296), an unfinished statuette of the god Sebiumeker (SNM 62/9/101; Vercoutter 1962, 285, fig. 14; Wildung 1996, 282, Cat. 299; cf. Wenig 1979, 421 ff. and pl. 5/1-5 vs. Hofmann 1972, 245 considering the statue the representation of an elephant god) and the relief fragment of a libating queen (SNM 62/9/130; Vercoutter 1962, 282, fig. 11; Wildung 1996, 306, Cat. 324) have been re-published at various occasions.

Others like a fragmentary faience frieze representing tendrils of vine with a bird picking the grapes (SNM 62/9/55; Sackho-Autissier 2010, 204 Cat. 271; for the motif cf. Hofmann 1989a) and an aquamanile (SNM 62/9/71; Nordström 2004, 258 f., Cat. 236) were exhibited in the course of recent exhibitions in London and Paris. Both of them have previously been published by Vercoutter in his report (1962, 290, fig. 22 and 292, fig. 27, though he erroneously interpreted the frieze part of an offering table).

Aside, only two other artefacts have been studied in detail, namely an imported Roman oil lamp bearing the portrait of a Thrakian gladiator (Vercoutter 1962, 288 f., fig. 21; Hofmann 1989b) and a small sandstone statuette of a tied prisoner in sitting position (Hofmann – Tomandl 1986, 76 fig. 92; Wöß 2007, 282 ff., Cat. 149, fig. 384). Whereas the present location of the oil lamp is not recorded, the prisoner statuette was traced by the Viennese team consisting of Inge Hofmann, Herbert Tomandl and the author in the store rooms of Sudan National Museum. Another fifty years passed, until a team from the National Museum of the Czech Republic started structured excavations at the site in late 2009. One of the aims concerns documentation of stone architectural features originally employed in the construction of the palace (WBN 100), the Eastern Temple (WBN 500), the Small Temple (WBN 400) and to some extent also the Isis Temple (WBN 300), including the basic determination of the fragments, their photographic documentation, measurement and material consistence (Onderka – Dufková 2011, 44 ff., pl. 5 ff.; for the results of the second and thirds seasons cf. Onderka 2011; 2012).

207

For completing the documentation of archaeological relics from Wad ban Naqa produced before the Czech excavations, I briefly present two unpublished images of fragmentary sandstone blocks with reflief decoration lying scattered on the surface. The photos have been taken by the Viennese team in 1986 and are stored in the archive of the African Studies Department at Vienna University. Unfortunately, no attribution to a structure was made during the visit.

In a general perspective, the fragments are too small for reconstructing their iconographic setting. Therefore, the subsequent remarks only reflect first thoughts and may be verified (or not) by the findings of the Czech archaeological mission for developing a comprehensive reconstruction of local temple decoration.

To a certain degree, the motif on block 1 resembles a Schuppenhemd, but this is mere guess due to the small size of the record.

Block 2 represents the Lower Egyptian crown and probably the upper part of a serpent’s head in its right portion, directed towards the well-known pattern of ostrich feathers attached to some divine crowns and in juxtaposition to those of adoring rulers. From the times of Natakamani and Amanitore it is Amun of Pnubs, whose atef crown is flanked by two uraei wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt as represented on the exterior south wall of Naqa Apedemak temple (Gamer-Wallert 1983, 40, Tfl. 26b and Bl. 5b). Nevertheless, all available records of crowns with uraei – whatever headdresses they wear – clearly demonstrate that they are never attached in an inverted position.

Number 3 is obviously forming the upper or lower termination of a relief scene; however any further judgement can not be made.

Though the analysis is more than meagre, this miscellania should be considered a short contribution to the recent Czech excavations in Wad Ban Naqa. As they concentrate on a defined archaeological site it can be expected that the activities will reveal important new results on the development of a prominent urban center of Meroitic date, the sacral and profane landscape as well as its position within the kingdom of Kush.

208

Bibliography

Budge, E.A.W., 1907, The Egyptian Sûdân. Its History and Monuments, Vol. II, London

Cailliaud, F., 1823, Voyage à Méroé, au Fleuve Blanc, au-delà de Fâzoql dans le midi di royaume de Sennâr, a Syouah et dans cinq autres oasis; fait dans les années 1819, 1820, 1821 et 1822, Paris

Gamer-Wallert, I., 1983, Der Löwentempel von Naq‛a in der Butana (Sudan) III. Die Wandreliefs, Beihefte zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients, Reihe B (Geisteswissenschaften) Nr. 48/3, Wiesbaden

Geus, F., 1975, Égypte – Nubie. Introduction aux collections de l’Institut de Papyrologie et d’Égyptologie, Lille

Gratien, B., F. Le Saout, 1994, Nubie: Les cultures antiques du Soudan, à travers les explorations et les fouilles françaises et franco-soudanaises, Lille

Hintze, F., 1978, The Meroitic Period, in: S. Hochfield and E. Riefstahl (eds.), Africa in Antiquity I. The Arts of Ancient Nubia and the Sudan. The Essays, Brooklyn, 89-105

Hofmann, I., 1972, Eine neue Elefantengott-Darstellung aus dem Sudan, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 58, 245-246

---, 1989a, Zum Motiv des traubennaschenden Vogels, Varia Aegyptiaca 5, 9-18 ---, 1989b, Eine römische Bildlampe und ihr Motiv im meroitischen Reich, Varia

Aegyptiaca 5, 123-132 ---, H. Tomandl, 1986, Unbekanntes Meroe, Beiträge zur Sudanforschung.

Beiheft 1, Wien-Mödling Hoskins, G.A., 1835, Travels in Ethiopia, above the Second Cataract of the Nile;

exhibiting the state of that country, and its various inhabitants, under the dominion of Mohammed Ali; and illustrating the antiquities, arts, and history of the ancient kingdom of Meroe, London

LD = C.R. Lepsius, 1849-1859, Denkmaeler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien nach den Zeichnungen der von Seiner Majestät dem Koenige von Preussen Friedrich Wilhelm IV nach diesen Ländern gesendeten und in den Jahren 1842-1845 ausgeführten wissenschaftlichen Expedition, Abt. I-VI (12 vols.), Berlin

Mekhitarian, A., 1961, Mission au Soudan (Février 1960), Chronique d’Égypte 36, 113-147

Nordström, H.-Å., 2004, Pottery Production, in: D.A. Welsby and J.R. Anderson (eds.), Sudan. Ancient Treasures. An Exhibition of Recent Discoveries from the Sudan National Museum, London, 248-273

Nur, S., 1962, The Circular Brick Building of Wad Ban Naga, Chronique d’Égypte 37, 76

Onderka, P., 2011, Preliminary Report on the Second Excavation Season of the Archaeological Expedition to Wad Ben Naga, Annals of the Náprstek Museum 32, 55-70

209

---, 2012, Preliminary Report on the Third Excavation Season of the Archaeological Expedition to Wad Ben Naga, Annals of the Náprstek Museum 33, 117-134

---, M. Dufková, 2011, Preliminary Report on the First Excavation Season of the Archaeological Expedition to Wad Ben Naga, Annals of the Náprstek Museum 32, 39-54

PM VII = B. Porter and R.L.B. Moss, 1952, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings. VII. Nubia, the Deserts, and Outside Egypt, Oxford

Priese, K.-H., 1984, Wad Ban Naqa 1844, Forschungen und Berichte 24, 11-29 ---, 1991, Ägyptisches Museum. Museumsinsel Berlin. Staatliche Museen zu

Berlin. Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Mainz Sackho-Autissier, A., 2010, Un aspect de la religion méroïtique: vin et culte

dionisiaque, in: M. Baud (ed.), Méroé. Un empire sur le Nil, Paris, 202-207 Vercoutter, J., 1962, Une palais des “candaces”, contemporain d’Auguste (Fouilles

à Wad-ban-Naga 1958-1960), Syria 39, 263-299 Wenig, S., 1977, Die meroitische Königin Amanitore. Barkenuntersatz aus Wad Ban

Naqa (Sudan), um 20 u.Z., Berlin 7261, Neue Museumskunde 20, 82-83 ---, 1978, Africa in Antiquity II: The Arts of Ancient Nubia and the Sudan. The

Catalogue, Brooklyn ---, 1979, Nochmals zu den Elefantengott-Darstellungen in der meroitischen

Kunst, Festschrift Elmar Edel, Bamberg, 420-431 Wildung, D. (ed.), 1996, Sudan. Antike Königreiche am Nil, München Wöß, F., 2007, Die Gefangenen- und Feinddarstellungen der meroitischen Kultur,

unpublished Diploma Thesis, University of Vienna

210

Pl. 1: Blocks 1 and 2 (Inv. No. 506)

211

Pl. 2: Blocks 2 and 3 (Inv. No. 505)

212