Trouble in Upper Egypt and Nubia

In Year 5 of Thutmose IV's reign, according to an economically worded stela of poor and provincial style, Amenhotep III's father, Thutmose IV, gave a land grant to Medamud Temple, just a few miles north of Thebes (Map 3). Medamud, ancient Madu, was the cult city of war god Montu, the second most important god after Amun for the founders of the Middle Kingdom, several of whom were named “Mentuhotep.” According to the stela, Montu had helped in a “restoration of order,” the details of which are unknown.

Some of Thutmose IV's more important inscriptions from these years deal with troubles much farther south in Nubia, modern Sudan (Map 2). Nubia was the source of most of Egypt's gold during the New Kingdom, and many scholars derive the classical name “Nubia” from noob, the ancient Egyptian word for “gold.” Additional luxury materials and chattel came from there, just as in more recent times. These included slaves, cattle, exotic pets (monkeys, giraffes, unusual types of antelope), ivory, and rare woods. Ebony came from deeper Africa via Nubia, and our word for this black wood probably stems from the ancient Egyptian hbny.