Nawidemak facts for kids

Nawidemak was a powerful queen, known as a Kandake, who ruled the ancient kingdom of Kush. She lived either around 100 BC or in the 1st century AD. We know about her from carvings found in her burial place and from a special gold plaque. Some people believe she might be one of the queens mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible.

Nawidemak: A Powerful Queen of Kush

Nawidemak was a ruler of the Kingdom of Kush. This kingdom was located in what is now Sudan. She ruled either in the 1st century BC or the 1st century AD. Her exact dates are still being studied by historians.

What Her Burial Chamber Shows

We learn a lot about Nawidemak from the carvings in her burial chamber. This chamber is located in Meroe (Beg. N 6). The carvings show her wearing royal clothes. These include a special coat, a sash, and a cord with tassels.

These clothing items were usually worn by male rulers of Kush. This shows how powerful Nawidemak was. Her coat and cord also have a symbol of a resting animal. This symbol was used by Kushite royalty since the 3rd century BC. Nawidemak's relief is the last known place where this symbol appears. In the carving, she also wears the crown of Osiris, an ancient Egyptian god.

The Gold Plaque

Another important item linked to Nawidemak is a gold tablet. This tablet mentions her name. It is now kept in the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio, in the United States. This plaque helps us confirm her existence and importance.

Nawidemak and the Bible

Nawidemak was the fourth in a line of female rulers of Kush called Kandakes. These queens are mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. The Bible does not name them individually.

If Nawidemak ruled in the 1st century AD, she might be the Kandake mentioned in the book of Acts of the Apostles. This part of the Bible tells a story. It says that a treasurer for a Kandake was taught about Christianity by Philip the Evangelist. This story suggests a possible link between Nawidemak and early Christian history.