The Napatan Cylindrical Sheaths

The Napatan Cylindrical Sheaths provides a complete analysis of the precious finds discovered at the royal cemetery of Nuri (Sudan) for the first time. This volume critically analyses translations of the inscriptions and identifies the divinities occurring on the cylinder sheaths, which were important in Kushite history between the VII and IV centuries BC. The work is composed of four parts studying: the royal cemetery of Nuri, where the cylindrical sheaths were found; the complete catalogue of the cylinders with their iconographical and epigraphic descriptions; observations on the inscriptions, the features of the bottoms and the main decorations, the crowns worn by the main figured goddesses, the relation of these goddesses and crowns, the attributes held by goddesses, and the small motifs occurring on the cylinders; and the hypothetical identification of the cylinders, their practical function and their ideological significance. This work emphasises the importance of Nubian archaeology as a subject, providing a useful contribution to stimulating and developing further discussion on the function of the cylindrical sheaths.