Nubian Art from the 5th to the 14th century. From Early Byzantine Aspirations to the Expression of Indigenous Nubian Tradition. 2800-DWNUB

Nubian studies have been long considered as a branch of Coptic studies. Nevertheless several aspects of Christian Nubian culture show on one hand an originality and on the other hand a dependence on Byzantine models. During the present course the focus will be on the special character of Nubian art which balances precisely between these two poles.
The analysis is based on the material dating back to the beginning of the 6th till the 14th centuries from the region between the 1st cataract and the joint of the Blue and White Nile, thus belonging to the heritage of the three Nubian kingdoms of Nobadia, Makuria and Alwa .
In the history of Nubian art one can distinguish three main periods. Early, during which there are still (the earliest preserved example of Nubian painting were created ca. one hundred years later than Christianisation of the Nubian kingdoms) visible influences of the Byzantine art of the Justinian era and a short period just before the iconoclastic period, as well as early Egyptian influence on some elements of the Nubian iconography. This period lasts approximately till the end of 9th century and ends with the big change of style caused by the first visible Nubian art.
The period between the 10th and the end of the 12th centuries shows a further development of this tendency. New iconographic subjects and programmes appeared expressing a more and more independent character, visible especially in Makurian art. Probably new forms of the liturgy coming from Byzantium receive their original, Nubian visualisation. During this period the iconographic programme of Nubian churches appears in its full form.
The period of 13th and 14th centuries keeps all the achievements of the previous one. Although the simpler forms and smaller scale of the architectural forms reflects less and less stable social and political condition of the three Nubian kingdoms.