ITEM: Nubian head applique
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 50 mm x 30 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Austrian private collection, acquired between 1985 - 2000

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The Roman Nubian people refer to the inhabitants of Nubia, a region in northeastern Africa located along the Nile River, encompassing parts of modern-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan, during the time of Roman rule. Nubia was home to ancient civilizations like the Kingdom of Kush, which had a rich cultural history and maintained interactions with neighboring powers, including Egypt and later the Roman Empire. By the time of Roman occupation in Egypt (beginning in 30 BCE), the northern parts of Nubia were under Roman influence, though much of Nubia, particularly the Kushite Kingdom to the south, retained its independence.

The relationship between the Romans and the Nubians was marked by both conflict and cooperation. Early in the Roman occupation of Egypt, there were military skirmishes with the Kingdom of Kush, notably during the reign of Augustus in the late 1st century BCE. However, after initial confrontations, including the Nubians’ brief invasion of southern Egypt and the subsequent Roman retaliatory campaigns, peace was established with a formal treaty. This treaty allowed for relatively peaceful relations between the Romans and the Kushites, and Nubia became an important buffer zone between the Roman Empire and regions further south. Trade flourished between Rome and Nubia, with goods such as gold, ivory, and exotic animals being exchanged along the Nile trade routes.

Culturally, Roman influence on Nubia was visible, especially in the northern regions under Roman control. Roman architecture, pottery styles, and even elements of Roman religious practices, such as the worship of Egyptian and Greco-Roman deities, became integrated into local Nubian culture. However, the Nubians maintained many of their own traditions, including their language, artistic styles, and religious beliefs. Notably, Nubian rulers continued to be buried in the traditional Kushite pyramids, and the region remained a distinct cultural entity despite Roman presence. This blending of Roman and Nubian elements highlights the complexity of interactions between the two civilizations, with Nubia retaining its cultural identity while absorbing certain aspects of Roman influence.