Graffiti as Devotion along the Nile: El-Kurru, Sudan
August 23, 2019–March 29, 2020
Ancient graffiti provide a unique glimpse into the lives of individuals in antiquity. Religious devotion in ancient Kush (a region located in modern-day northern Sudan), involved pilgrimage and leaving informal marks on temples, pyramids, and other monumental structures. These graffiti are found in temples throughout the later (“Meroitic”) period of Kush, when it bordered Roman Egypt. They represent one of the few direct traces of the devotional practices of private people in Kush and hint at individuals’ thoughts, values, and daily lives. This exhibition explores the times and places in which Kushite graffiti were inscribed through photos, text, and interactive media presentations. At the heart of the show are the hundreds of Meroitic graffiti recently discovered in a rock-cut temple by the Kelsey expedition to El-Kurru in northern Sudan.
Curators: Geoff Emberling and Suzanne Davis
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Read an interview with the exhibition co-curators
Download or purchase the exhibition catalog
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Associated Events
Thursday, September 5, 2019, 5:30pm | Exhibition Opening Lecture
Sunday, September 8, 2019, 2pm | Curator Tour
Friday, September 20, 2019, 1–5pm | Symposium: Graffiti in Ancient Nubia and Beyond
