With the Drents Museum back in time to forgotten Nubia- Land of the Black Pharaohs

When one thinks of pharaohs, one quickly thinks of Egypt, the land of pyramids and the Nile. However, south of Egypt - in the Nile region of present-day Sudan - kings and pharaohs also ruled. This area was called Nubia. For a long time, this culture and society was portrayed as a colony of Egypt. Unjustly so. The new exhibition Nubia- Land of the Black Pharaohs in the Drents Museum highlights Nubia as an African superpower with a rich culture. The exhibition showcases more than 300 objects from the collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. This is the fourth exhibition in the series International Archaeology in the Drents Museum.

Egypt vs Nubia

During ancient times, Egypt and Nubia competed for power in the Nile region. Sometimes Egypt was successful and other times power lay with the king(s) and pharaohs of Nubia. This battle has also been compared by Harry Tupan, director of the Drents Museum, to the battle between the Dutch team and the German 'Mannschaft': the eternal rivalry to come out on top. Egypt seems to have won the battle in the end. Nubian heritage was seen as secondary, as the story was approached from an Egyptian perspective every time. Also by George Reisner, founder of modern Egyptology. He was responsible for the excavations of the artefacts now on display. With this exhibition, the Drents Museum hopes to focus on Nubia's influence and legacy. To highlight that it was an independent and successful region with an important trading position.

Nubian pyramid landscape

The exhibition is arranged so as to give visitors the idea of walking around in a Nubian landscape. The inside of a burial chamber where you will find objects that reveal the mystery of the ancient culture. I got that same feeling when I glanced at the collection. The drab composition consisting of imposing and antique statues are a nice contrast to the subtly exposed gold jewellery and various colourful artefacts.

What I also thought was well done was the placement of a wooden lounger on a field of black (artificial) bones and skulls. This is to indicate that the elite were buried on such a grave bed, as opposed to the common man. Furthermore, life-size blown-up black-and-white photographs show visitors images of a lost Nubia; a glimpse into the past.

Bringing the distant past closer

These days, people travel a bit, but not everyone has that option. For whatever reason. Another thought behind the Nubia exhibition is to bring the distant past-both literally and figuratively-to visitors to the Drents Museum. Visually, it is once again a picture. However, what is just as important, according to Bastiaan Steffens, curator of the Drents Museum, is the feeling. That you also feel the 'story' of the exhibition in your heart. That's what a good exhibition does; it evokes emotions.