Meroe was a wealthy metropolis of the ancient kingdom of Kush in what is today the Republic of Sudan. It was the later capital of the Kingdom of Kush (c. 1069 BCE to c. 350 CE) after the earlier capital of Napata was sacked c. 590 BCE. Prior to that date, Meroe had been an important administrative centre.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 890 BCEFirst tomb built at Meroe.
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c. 750 BCEKushite City of Meroe is founded.
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c. 590 BCEMeroe becomes capital of Kingdom of Kush after the fall of Napata. .
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295 BCE - 275 BCEReign of King Ergamenes (Arakakamani) in Meroe.
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c. 285 BCEKing Ergamenes slaughters the priests of Amun at Napata, breaks with Egypt.
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c. 284 BCE - c. 314 CEQueens (Candaces) rule jointly with Kings in Meroe.
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c. 275 BCEPtolemy II invades the Meroitic Nubian kingdom and annexes Lower Nubia.
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c. 205 BCE - c. 185 BCEUpper Egypt and Lower Nubia secede from the Ptolemaic Kingdom with the support of Meroe. Two Egyptians, Horwennefer and his successor Ankhwennefer are declared as Pharaoh in the now independent territories.
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22 BCEPeace Treaty favoring Meroe signed with Rome.
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330 CEInvasion of Meroe by the Aksumites under King Ezana.
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350 CEEnd of the Kingdom of Kush and city of Meroe in Nubia.
