في عيونك ضجة الشوق والهواجس للشـــاعر : أبو ذر عبدالله (الغفاري)

"Greatness is not measured by years, but by legacy. Piye was not just a king... he was a symbol of dignity and a leader of a magnificent civilization that refused to be forgotten."

If you believe that the history of ancient Egypt begins and ends with the Pharaohs of the north, you are about to discover a very different truth. In the heart of Nubia’s desert, where the Nile winds through rocks and golden sands, a king was born who changed history forever: Piye — the first Black king to rule Egypt, the greatest ruler of Kush, and one of the most remarkable leaders in human history.

?Who Was Piye (Baanakhi)

Piye, also known as Baanakhi or Piy, was the king of the Kingdom of Kush, located in what is today northern Sudan. He was born around 790 BCE in the city of Napata (near modern-day Karima) and was the eldest son of King Kashta, who began expanding northward into Egypt. In 747 BCE, Piye ascended the throne. He was not merely an heir, but a skilled military commander, a religious leader, and a visionary statesman.

?Why Did Piye Rule Egypt

Piye’s goal was not mere conquest — it was reform. At the time, Egypt was fragmented, politically weak, and spiritually corrupt — particularly in the Temple of Amun at Thebes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Egypt. In 730 BCE, Piye launched his great military campaign, marching north along the Nile. He captured Thebes, then Memphis, defeating the northern rulers one after another. By 727 BCE, he crowned himself King of Egypt in the Temple of Amun at Thebes, becoming the first Kushite ruler to officially reign over Egypt.

?How Did Piye Govern Egypt

Piye did not treat Egypt as a colony but as part of a unified civilization. He reorganized the administration, restored temples, and appointed loyal governors from his own family. While preserving Egyptian traditions, he introduced distinct Nubian elements — from royal crowns to artistic representation and rituals. He proudly referred to himself as 'the King Who Restored Order' — a title he fully deserved.

Death and Burial

Piye died around 716 BCE after ruling for about 31 years. He was buried in Napata, within Pyramid No. 17 at the royal necropolis of Meroë — one of the most iconic pyramid fields in Sudan. Although his body has never been found, inscriptions and statues confirm his identity. His tomb was discovered in 1862 by the Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni.

?Why Is Piye Important

Piye is more than a name in history books — he is a symbol of power, pride, and independence. He proved that Nubian civilization was not a mere extension of Egypt but a strong and independent culture capable of ruling an empire. He was also the first Black African king to rule Egypt — a historical fact often omitted from school curricula, despite being well-documented through inscriptions and artifacts.

Monuments and Statues of Piye

Several archaeological pieces depict Piye’s greatness:

• The Victory Stela (Piye’s Inscriptions) – a large stone slab found in the Temple of Amun at Thebes, detailing his campaign.

• Statue of Piye in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo – shows him offering tributes to the gods.

• Statue of Piye in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – depicts him wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Piye’s Enduring Legacy

Piye stands among Africa’s greatest rulers for many reasons:

• First Kushite king to officially rule Egypt.

• Reunified Egypt after 150 years of division.

• Strengthened the independence and identity of the Nubian civilization.

• Left a political and cultural system that lasted for over a century.

"Civilization is not measured by stones, but by the mind that builds it and the heart that protects it." — Piye (symbolic quote)

References

·         Kitchen, K.A. (1996). The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt (1100–650 BC). Aris & Phillips.

·         Yellin, J. (2004). The Napatan Kings and the Egyptian Model. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 90, pp. 147–164.

·         Shinnie, P.L. (1967). Meroe: A Civilization of the Sudan. Thames & Hudson.

·         Grimal, N. (1992). A History of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell Publishing.

·         Budge, E.A.W. (1902). The Mummy: A Handbook of Egyptian Funerary Archaeology. Dover Publications.

·         Török, L. (1997). The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. Brill.

·         Reisner, G.A. (1923). The Archaeological Survey of Nubia. Cairo Museum Reports.

·         Kendall, T. (2008). The Nubian Pharaohs. National Geographic Society.

·         The British Museum. Stela of Piye. Accession No. EA23.

·         Metropolitan Museum of Art. Statue of Piye. Accession No. 12.182.1.