Ancient Kush

[Gabrielkouda]

Here a collection of Meroitic swords (Open in new tab because very high resolution):
http://i.imgur.com/T6AESHx.jpg


Meroitic quivers, made of rawhide:


http://i.imgur.com/gQ9UN45.jpg


Fragmentary archers braces:



Reconstruction of such an archers brace:


Leather shield:

[Gabrielkouda]

Meroites would also use helmets. In particular we know about the so-called "Glockenhelm", which was a variation of the Boeotian helmet and probably appeared first during the late 3rd century BC:




Pliny reports how the "Aethiopians" would decorate their helmets with ostrich feathers. I would suggest to make two versions: One with and one without feather. The one with feather can be used for the Kushitic Guard Cavalry, while the undecorated one can be used for the Kushitc Infantry.

[ahowl11]

Thanks for all of the information, I updated the OP. What other major centers south of Thebes could we add as minor settlements? Also in the OP there are a few more bold headings. Could you help us out with those as well?

[Jubal]

To help keep the forum looking OK, I've shrunk a couple of the images and provided direct clickable links to the larger originals in the post above - JB

[Gabrielkouda]

Thanks for all of the information, I updated the OP. What other major centers south of Thebes could we add as minor settlements? Also in the OP there are a few more bold headings. Could you help us out with those as well?

Minor settlements (Check the map in post #2): Assuan, Pselchis (Modern Dakka) and Faras.

Concerning the climate I already wrote something in post #2. Its really mostly desert until the Atbara river, from there it gets more an more fertile the further South you move. Around Meroe it's semi-arid steppe with elephants, lions etc.

[ahowl11]

Where would Ptolemaic Theron go? Was there a big ivory trade in the area? Also, do you know anything about the blemmyes tribes?
Also a few mods depict Ethiopian hoplites as if some peoples were hellenized. Any truth to that?

[Gabrielkouda]

Where would Ptolemaic Theron go?

Somewhere on the coast in the South of modern Sudan / North of modern Eritrea.

Was there a big ivory trade in the area?

Meroe was responsible for exporting ivory from the Butana and further South. In Ptolemais Theron there might have been some ivory trade aswell, but in that area they needed the elephants to stay alive. Only source for ivory would have been rhino horns.

Also, do you know anything about the blemmyes tribes?

Blemmyes were not really relevant during this timeframe. Why? Do you want a Blemmye unit?

Also a few mods depict Ethiopian hoplites as if some peoples were hellenized. Any truth to that?

Very likely fantasy. Ptolemais Theorn for example would have consisted of Greeks and Egyptians. The local Africans were mostly nomads and its highly unlikely that they were Hellenized in such a degree that they would start to fight as hoplites. I would suggest ordinary Greek units instead.

[ahowl11]

Thank you for the answers, yes if the Blemmyes were at all relevant, a unit couldn't hurt but if they weren't best to save room for something more important.

[Gabrielkouda]

I have made a graphic with all types of shields occuring in Meroe:


The dominant material for shields was tanned hide. 

[Jubal]

Shrunk the image to fit the forum better, with a link to the original added. - JB

[ahowl11]

That's great research! We're you able to get the mod installed?

[Gabrielkouda]

No sorry, I barely play Rome anymore.

Made a new sketch


Orientate on this for the Kushitic Infantry. Of course there can also be variations, like giving him a helmet or atleast a headband made of bronze. Or a long-sleeved tunic.

Edit: Can I resize images myself?

[Jubal]

You can if you're using the BBcode-based post editor (there's a toggle button on the posts, and you can also change it permanently in your user settings somewhere.

The images have a width attribute, the code goes like this:

Code Select Expand

[img width=900]URL goes here[/img]

The width is in pixels; 800-900 is usually fine.

[Gabrielkouda]

Thanks, done.

[ahowl11]

Updated OP