Nubia Lost Kingdoms of the Nile

The term “Nubia” came about in the Middle Ages (approx. A.D. 500 – 1600). It
possibly comes from the tribal group “Nuba” or “Noba” that occupied the area in
the 4 th century A.D. and absorbed the declining Kingdom of Kush. Some writers
have also speculated that the name comes from the Egyptian word “nub” which
means “gold”, but this is probably incorrect.
The area of Nubia has had several different names throughout its history.
- Ta-Seti in approximately 3200 B.C. It means “Land of the Bow” because
Nubians were skilled archers and feared soldiers.
- Kush (Cush in the Old Testament) was the name ancient Egyptians used for the
region of upper Nubia. The Kingdom of Kush actually began in Kerma and
encompasses the Napatan Period and the Meroitic Period.
- Aithiopia was the Greek name for Nubia. It means “Burnt-Faced Ones” and
refers to the very dark skin of the Nubians.
- Nubia was the Middle Ages name for the land of Kush or Aithiopia.
- Sudan is the modern name that is Arabic for “Land of the Blacks”.