Nubians in the narrower sense (Nubia) were first mentioned around the birth of Christ by Strabon, who cites Eratosthenes as a guarantor, and described as living on the Nile northwest of Meroe.
The ancient Egyptian name for the land south of the First Cataract (near Aswan) is Kush. Nubia was an important source of gold, ivory, furs and slaves for Egypt and therefore always a target of Pharaonic expansion.
In the army and in police service, the Nubians played a major role at all times. Particularly feared were their archers, who also played an important role in the conquest of Egypt.
Source: Souvenirs d’Egypte par Alexandre Bida et Prosper Barbot. Paris: Lemercier, 1851.
