Ancient Nubian Art: A History

Available March 2026

Rita E. Freed with a foreword by Henry Louis Gates Jr. 

Lushly illustrated with stunning artifacts, this volume is the first comprehensive and accessible publication to explore the art, architecture, and material culture of ancient Nubia.

Kings and queens of Nubia reigned over one of the largest empires in the ancient world and had contacts extending north to Greece and Rome, south to sub-Saharan Africa, east to the Red Sea, and west across much of the Sahel. Even a quick look at Nubia’s artifacts reveals the incredible creativity of its artists, architects, craftspeople, and thinkers. Unfortunately, the achievements of ancient Nubia are little known to the public and are often viewed as a subculture, a derivative offshoot of Egypt, Nubia’s northern neighbor. Nothing could be further from the truth. During its over eight-thousand-year lifespan (beginning around 8000 BCE), Nubia indelibly shaped the art and architecture of the ancient world, an influence still felt today.

Ancient Nubian Art is the first comprehensive and accessible treatment of Nubian artistic culture and showcases its vast range—from ceramics, sculptures, and jewelry to tombs, temples, and palaces. Rita E. Freed, curator emerita at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which has the largest collection of Nubian artifacts outside the Nile Valley, contextualizes the development of Nubian art against a vivid backdrop of kingship, power, worship, identity, gender, technology, and internationalism. Her text is accompanied by a foreword by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and sidebars by expert voices from the field.

Rita E. Freed is an art historian and archaeologist specializing in ancient Egyptian and Nubian art. When not researching Nubia as a Hutchins Fellow at Harvard University, she teaches Egyptian and Nubian art at Wellesley College. 

“Rita Freed’s Ancient Nubian Art brings Nubian civilization out of Egypt’s shadow, celebrating its unique cultural identity. Even in moments of Egyptian influence, Freed highlights how Nubians adapted these elements, yielding insights into their sensibilities and beliefs. Written in a clear and highly accessible style, this book makes an important contribution to the field. A valuable resource for educators, academics, and general readers.”
—Stuart Tyson Smith, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

“If I could have only one book on Nubia, Ancient Nubian Art would be it. Beautifully written, exquisitely designed and illustrated, this publication makes the long, complicated history of Nubian art approachable. It’s just what was needed.”
—Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow, Long Island University, and author of Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World

288 pages
8 1/2 x 9 inches
215 color and 27 b/w illustrations
ISBN 978-1-60606-981-3
paperback

Getty Publications
Imprint: Getty Publications

2026