The Kushite Dynasty

The kingdom of Kush, with its capital at Napata, had long lived by Egyptian faith and writing, and when Egypt fell apart its kings marched north as defenders of Amun. Piye took Thebes and Memphis; his successors ruled the whole country. The Kushites repair temples, revive the ancient forms of art, and bury their kings under pyramids — more of them survive in Sudan than in Egypt. Drawn into the affairs of Canaan, they collided with Assyria: Taharqa first aided the opponents of Sennacherib, then was driven back south, and Thebes was sacked by Assyrian troops.