A bark stand depicts a voluptuous queen of this region holding up the starry sky, naming her as “Mistress of the Diadems.” Graffiti at the Temple of Dakka has recently been used to establish that a co-ruler with Natakamani in this region was his mother rather than his wife. Images of deities such as the lion-headed Apedemak appear in a temple in this region at Jebel Barkal. The bronze head of a statue of Augustus was buried beneath a shrine’s steps in this region by Candace Amanirenas (“can-DAH-kee uh-man-ee-REE-nuss”), likely as a symbol of resistance to the Romans. Iconography from a later period expanded on the range of costumes used under the 25th Dynasty pharaohs from this region, such as Piye (“PEE-yay”) and Taharqa (“ta-HAR-ka”). For 10 points, what ancient region home to Meroë (“meh-ROH-ee”) was centered in modern Sudan and southern Egypt? ■END■
ANSWER: Nubia [accept Kush or Qes or Ecōš; accept Nobīn or an-Nūba; accept Upper or Middle or Lower Nubia; accept Kushite Empire; accept Napata; accept Meroë or Meroitic Kingdom until “Meroë” is read; prompt on Sudan until read by asking “what was the ancient name?”; prompt on North Africa or Northeast Africa; prompt on the Nile valley; reject “Kushan Empire”; reject “Nobatia” or “Makuria” or “Alodia”; reject “Egypt”] (The first two sentences refer to Amanitore.)
<McGill B, Other History>
= Average correct buzz position