Presentation of Nubian Tribute to Tutankhamun (restored)
Copy of a wall painting from the tomb of Amenhotep Huy Dynasty 18, ca. 1360 BC
Thebes, Qurnet Murai

The geographical location of the Nile Valley made it an ideal trade passageway for goods to be sent to the Mediterranean from the interior of Africa. Around 1900 BC, kings of Egypt built huge fortresses in the area of the second cataract to control trade activity and the growing power of the Nubians. From about 1500 to 1100 BC, Egypt conquered and occupied Nubia as far as the fourth cataract. Egyptian domination of Nubia was motivated by the desire to obtain its mineral wealth of gold and carnelian and to obtain goods such as ivory, ebony and animal skins from further south in Africa.

This painting, created by an Egyptian artist, comes from the tomb of Huy, an Egyptian official who lived during the reign of Tutankhamun(1336-1327 BC). The middle portion of the painting shows a Nubian noblewoman with a large floral headdress riding in an ox cart. Before her walk men carrying rings andbagsof gold, brought as tribute to the Egyptian court. At the far left is a procession of manacled slaves followed by two grieving women with children. Some Nubians in the painting are wearing Egyptian wigs and robes while others are dressed in more typical Nubian clothing. The artist illustrates that the Nubian population was made up of a wide range of economic groups. This painting illustrates the key role that trade played, in the relationship between the two regions.