The kingdom of Kush lay to the south of Egypt, beyond the first Nile cataract. The kingdom flourished for a thousand years and during the seventh and eighth centuries BC, its rulers actually controlled Egypt as pharaohs of the 25th dynasty. Extensive remains of Kushite pyramids, settlements and temples still exist, as do papyri and inscriptions in the Meroitic script. Yet their script has never been deciphered and the Kushites remain a relatively little-known people. This book draws together what is known of the culture and history of Kush, both from material remains and from the limited number of available ancient written sources.