Ancient Africa

Ancient Egyptian canopic jars with animal heads, including a jackal and falcon, used in burial practices.

Some of the oldest civilizations in the world originated in Africa

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted an impressively long time and created some of the most famous examples of art and architecture

Ancient Egyptian bronze cat statue with an earring on display.
Ancient Egyptian canopic jars and painted wooden box displayed in a museum case. The jars are shaped like human and animal heads, with hieroglyphs etched on them, and are positioned in front of a painted wooden box with Egyptian motifs.
Carved sandstone wall with inscriptions and symbols, including the number 19 and floral motifs.

Important terms and concepts

Mummification

Deity

Canopic Jars

Four Sons of Horus

Pantheon

Sunken relief

encaustic painting

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a wax painting of a boy with dark brown eyes and pronounced eyebrows

Ancient Nubia

A region in northeastern Africa, ancient Nubia was home to several powerful civilizations including the Kingdom of Kush

Plaque made of red stone that shows a lion headed figure with human body holding a staff
The god Apedemak

Important terms and concepts

Apedemak

Ancient Nubia

Kingdom of Kush

Meroë

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