--- title: Original Site Of The Meroe Head author: Omar Zaki source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1264/original-site-of-the-meroe-head/ format: machine-readable-alternate updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Original Site Of The Meroe Head _Authored by Omar Zaki_ ## Image File [![Original Site Of The Meroe Head](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/1264.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/1264.jpg) ## Image Caption This photo shows the location where the '[Meroe Head](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/186/the-meroe-head/)', being the head section of a statue of [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/) [Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/caesar/), was found by British Professor, John Garstang in 1910 CE. The head was located below the steps of the entrance of the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) in the Royal [City](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Meroe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Meroe/), which was sacked by Emperor Ezana of the [Kingdom of Aksum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kingdom_of_Axum/) in 350 CE. After [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) was made a [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) province in the [battle of Actium](https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Actium/) in 31 BCE, statues of Caesar were placed in [Egyptian](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Egyptian/) towns. When the Nubians launched attacks into Egypt in retaliation to the sacking of their city Napata, it is very likely the head was taken from one of these statues. It is believed the Nubians placed the head next to the main entrance so that its citizens would step on the head of Caesar as an act of insult, ironically this act helped perverse the quality of the head. The head itself and location it was found, shows the extent of the influence of Caesar deep into the upper [Nile](https://www.worldhistory.org/nile/) region. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight\_objects/gr/b/head\_of\_augustus.aspx](http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/b/head_of_augustus.aspx "http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/b/head_of_augustus.aspx"), accessed 1 Dec 2016. ## Cite This Work ### APA Zaki, O. (2013, June 11). Original Site Of The Meroe Head. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Zaki, Omar. "Original Site Of The Meroe Head." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 11, 2013. . ### MLA Zaki, Omar. "Original Site Of The Meroe Head." *World History Encyclopedia*, 11 Jun 2013, . ## License & Copyright Original image by **Omar Zaki**. Submitted by [Omar Z](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/Omar_Z/ "User Page: Omar Z"), published on 11 June 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright, fair use](https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/). This content is protected by copyright. We believe that this reproduction constitutes fair use because: it is published for non-commercial educational purposes; no public domain copies are available of this material; only a small section of the work is reproduced in inferior quality; and this reproduction will not reduce the market for or value of the original work in any way. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.