UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

Ancient Civilizations of Africa
Roman invasion of Nubia. The same title was also borne by Arkankharor,
Arikakhatani and Sherekarer (the king of the Jabel Qayli rock pictures) 24
and the three sons of Natakamani and Amanitere ( — 12 to +12). Their
names with the title pqr have been found on inscriptions from Napata,
Meroe and Naqa. 25 However, none of these was associated with Lower
Nubia and the term seems to have been a generic title for a prince and not
a specific title for the viceroy of the north.
However, the title Paqar appears several times in connection with other
lesser offices, such as the taraheb and the anhararab in the little town of
Taketer, or the harapen, the chief of the Faras region. 2 6 We can deduce that
the holder of the title was the provincial head of Meroitic Lower Nubia.
Under the Paqar the leading officer in charge of the administration was the
peshte, 21 which title is firstrecorded in the firstcentury before our era
and which seems to become more prominent during the third century of
our era.
The area under the peshte jurisdiction was Akin, corresponding to all
Meroitic Nubia as far south as Napata itself. How the rank of peshte was
attained is not clear, whether through inheritance or by royal decree or by
appointment by the Paqar. However, their large number points to a shorter
tenure of office. With the title of peshte were associated other titles, sometimes
of very high religious status, not only in the local hierarchy but even
at Napata or Meroe. Two other important posts under the peshte were the
pelmes-ate (general of the water) and pelmes-adab (general of the land).
These two officers seem to have been responsible for looking after the
meagre yet vital communications of Nubia by land and by water, to
ensure the flow of trade with Egypt, to control the frontiers and check the
dangerous movements of the nomads both to the east and west of the Nile.
These officials were helped by other minor officials, scribes, priests and
local administrators. Whether a similar system of provincial administration
existed in other provinces we do not know. However, it is certain that the
different environment and settlement pattern in the Butana would have
needed a different type of administration from that of Lower Nubia along
the Nile valley. Unfortunately we possess no records except the imposing
temples which must have formed good bases for administrative units,
besides their function as religious institutions.
The Meroitic kingdom at its height was so vast and means of communication
probably so poor that provincial governors must have been obliged to
decentralize authority for administration to function at all. In a much looser
relationship to the central government were the chiefs of various ethnic
groups on the fringes of the kingdom. In later periods the state included
24. F. Hintze, 1959a, pp. 189-92.
25. A. J. Arkell, 1961, p. 163.
26. F. L. Griffith, 1911-12, p. 62.
27. ibid., p. 120 and Index. It corresponds to the Egyptian p. s. nsw, psente;
M . F. L. Macadam, 1950, pp. 45-6.
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