Kings
and queens of Nubia reigned over one of the largest empires in the ancient
world and had contacts extending north to Greece and Rome, south to
sub-Saharan Africa, east to the Red Sea, and west across much of the Sahel.
Even a quick look at Nubia's artifacts reveals the incredible creativity of
its artists, architects, craftspeople, and thinkers. Unfortunately, the
achievements of ancient Nubia are little known to the public and are often
viewed as a subculture, a derivative offshoot of Egypt, Nubia's northern
neighbor. Nothing could be further from the truth. During its over
eight-thousand-year lifespan (beginning around 8000 BCE), Nubia indelibly
shaped the art and architecture of the ancient world, an influence still felt
today.
Ancient Nubian Art is the
first comprehensive and accessible treatment of Nubian artistic culture and
showcases its vast range-from ceramics, sculptures, and jewelry to tombs,
temples, and palaces. Rita E. Freed, curator emerita at the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston, which has the largest collection of Nubian artifacts outside
the Nile Valley, contextualizes the development of Nubian art against a vivid
backdrop of kingship, power, worship, identity, gender, technology, and
internationalism. Her text is accompanied by a foreword by Henry Louis Gates
Jr. and sidebars by expert voices from the field.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
If I could have only one book on Nubia, Ancient
Nubian Art would be it. Beautifully written, exquisitely designed
and illustrated, this publication makes the long, complicated history of
Nubian art approachable. It's just what was needed.
- Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow, Long Island
University, and author of Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World
Rita Freed's Ancient Nubian Art brings
Nubian civilization out of Egypt's shadow, celebrating its unique cultural
identity. Even in moments of Egyptian influence, Freed highlights how Nubians
adapted these elements, yielding insights into their sensibilities and beliefs.
Written in a clear and highly accessible style, this book makes an important
contribution to the field. A valuable resource for educators, academics, and
general readers.
- Stuart Tyson Smith, Professor, Department of
Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara
Finally, a book on the visual cultures of
ancient Nubia! It is even more valuable because it is written by a scholar who
has spent decades working with the Nubian collection of the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston. The author's focus on the sensual and aesthetic qualities of
Nubian artifacts provides strikingly new perspectives on this distinctive set
of cultures of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Geoff Emberling, Research Scientist, Kelsey
Museum of Archaeology, University of Michigan
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Broschur/Paperback
Klebebindung
Illustrationen
215 color and 27 b/w illustrations, 8 maps
Maße
Höhe: 229 mm
Breite: 216 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-60606-981-3 (9781606069813)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Rita E. Freed is a fellow at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University and adjunct professor of art at Wellesley College, where she teaches Egyptian and Nubian art.
