Tribute from the South, Lower Nubia (Wawat), Upper Nubia (Kush)

A relief of a tribute from the South from the tomb of Huy, the Viceroy of Kush, “King’s Son of Kush, Overseer of the Southern Countries”. A Viceroy is “the governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of a king or sovereign”. He rules over the foreign territories, for the sake of the crown, who has conquered and colonised the regions the Viceroy will control for the sake of the king. Huy, worked under the rule of king Tutankhamun.

The tomb of Huy, is located in the Theban Necropolis and is also known as tomb TT40, or sometimes Tomb of Amenhotep/Huy, as Amenhotep was Huy’s formal name, yet he goes by Huy.

Tutankhamun enthroned in a kiosk, overseeing the parade of southern tribute, Tomb of Huy.
Tutankhamun enthroned in a kiosk, overseeing the parade of southern tribute, Tomb of Huy.

Working in the 18th Dynasty under king Tutankhamun, tomb TT40, gives us a glimpse of the famous Boy King, as the attendee and centrepiece of a prestigious event of tribute. Something that we see with other kings, but rarely get a glimpse of with the young king.
Here within this tomb, we see Tutankhamun is enthroned receiving a vast parade of tribute from the elites of the southern regions, that Tutankhamun essentially reigns over as the colonial power.

Heqanefer

Heqanefer (also Hekanefer) was an Ancient Egyptian official in the New Kingdom under king Tutankhamun, who was a local governor with the title Chief of Miam (wr n miam). In the New Kingdom, Egyptian kings had conquered Lower Nubia. To secure control over the new region, they appointed people of the local elite as governors. Heqanefer (who has an Egyptian name), is titled with “Child of the Kap (nursery)”, which could lead one to believe he was raised in the Egyptian Court. Heqanefer is also known from his badly preserved rock cut tomb found at Toshka, where he is depicted as Egyptian.

Miam (modern Aniba) was a town in Lower Nubia, a regional centre and capital of the Nubian provinces. Here also resided the Chief of Miam.

Heqanefer, is depicted within the Tomb of Huy, with Nubians following his suite, heavily devoted to Egypt, hence the abundance of tribute and dedication to the king of Egypt, Tutankhamun.

Many of the elites of Kush have Egyptian features, as opposed to the others who are depicted with more distinguished features found in the South Sudan.

Heqanefer is also seen presenting offerings alongside the “Chieftain of Wawat (Lower Nubia)”, and the Princess of Kush, who sadly only has her dress remaining within this scene below.

Heqanefer, the Prince, is very Egyptianised in appearance and dress. The Princess of Kush is sadly no longer visible, only her dress remains, which is also very Egyptianised.
The Princess of Kush is sadly no longer visible, only her dress remains, which is also very Egyptianised. The others, still maintain the distinguishable facial features of Upper Nubia and their unique cultural dress, including the famous feather headdress and red cap or painted hair.

All is overseen by the owner of the tomb and Viceroy of Kush himself, Huy. Huy, holds a large Ostrich feather, showing his status.

Huy, the Viceroy of Kush.
Huy, the Viceroy of Kush.

Nubia was the main source for Egypt’s abundance of Gold. Egypt took pride in dominating and colonising the region for centuries. Therefore, the then elite and rulers of Kush had Egyptian ties (Heqanefer) and brought masses of tribute to Egypt.

Tribute of bound captives, gold rings, cattle (cows) and other objects are brought to Egypt from the Southern regions. An Egyptian is seen controlling the chariot of the elite southerner.
Tribute of bound captives, gold rings, cattle (cows) and other objects are brought to Egypt from the Southern regions. An Egyptian is seen controlling the chariot of the elite southerner.
Cattle and even a giraffe are seen paraded for the king of Egypt. You can also see animal furs, perhaps a skin of a leopard being brought too. Egyptian priests would often wear such furs, so this is clearly a thoughtful gift for Tutankhamun to receive.
Cattle and even a giraffe are seen paraded for the king of Egypt. You can also see animal furs, perhaps a skin of a leopard being brought too. Egyptian priests would often wear such furs, so this is clearly a thoughtful gift for Tutankhamun to receive.
These tribute bearers are wearing Egyptianised style linens, and are carrying animal furs and rings of gold. However, their traditional feathered headdresses and large hooped earring are present, and their facial features are the typical way that Egyptian’s depict those living south along the Nile. They carry large ostrich feathers with the furs of large cats, perhaps another thoughtful tribute, knowing what important iconography these things hold in Egyptian tradition. Seemingly, vessels and platters of food or grains are also being offered to Egypt as a gift.
The three men at the front kneel and raise their hands in praise for Tutankhamun.
A woman from Nubia with children.
A woman from Nubia with children can be seen within the parade of tribute.

Below are scenes of the boats arriving in Thebes. The boats carrying the tribute seen in the parade, including livestock, gold, and horses. Most notably are the human tribute, bound men sit upon the top of the boat, they are tied up and hands are shackled. They wear the traditional head ware of the southern Nubian men, often depicted in Egyptian art.

Such scenes, like the ones depicted below and above, showcase a sense of the everyday moments of Ancient Egypt, even at such grand events. The artist picks up little spontaneous behaviours to add a sense of humanity to a scene.

If you look closely, you can see a man dipping his hand into the Nile from the boat, men tying the ship to the dock, and a rather bored or contemplating looking fellow on the bottom register, sitting upon the case carrying the livestock.

"Coming from Kush with all the goodly tribute consisting of all the choicest and best of the southern lands. Landing at the Southern City (Thebes) by the Kings son of Kush, Huy"
“Coming from Kush with all the goodly tribute consisting of all the choicest and best of the southern lands. Landing at the Southern City (Thebes) by the Kings son of Kush, Huy”
Nubian captives sit bound upon the boat of tribute to Egypt.

This could be a lingering from the years of Akhenaten, where art took on a less formal stance. However, such realistic moments could be seen in Old Kingdom fishing and hunting scenes also. Regardless, such intricate detail is what makes this period of Egyptian art so glorious to gaze upon.

Bibliography

Photograph by kairoinfo4u

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