35. Pharaoh Mer-Meith of Ancient Egypt (ruled 5524-c.5507 BC) First Female Pharaoh of Egypt |
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Pharaoh Mer-Neith (5524-c.5507 BC), of the Negro First Egyptian Dynasty, succeeded to the throne and ruled as its first female pharaoh. Her name means ‘beloved of Neith’, named after the same goddess that the Greeks would, at a much later date, call Athena. She had two great tombs built, one in the southern Egyptian city of Abydos, the other, in the northern city of Saqqara. Tradition dictated that these monuments be built to symbolise the authority of the pharaoh as ruler of the north and the south, Lower and Upper Egypt. Her monuments, especially the Saqqara tomb, are as large and impressive as those of the male pharaohs
All of this information is extracted from the Book ‘When We Ruled’.
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36. King Micipsa of Numidia (ruled 148-118 BC) Creator of a golden Age in Numidia |
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Micipsa succeeded to the throne of Numidia in 148 BC and reigned for a lengthy 40 years. He abandoned the expansionism of his predecessor but continued his drive for agricultural expansion. It must be stressed that he ruled a vast territory. From the Moroccan in the west to as far to the east as the Roman-controlled province surrounding Carthage, his authority was felt. Furthermore, he ruled various cities even further east of Carthage on the Libyan coast, such as Leptis Magna. To the south, he ruled Capsa. He could raise a powerful army of infantry, cavalry, war elephants and even a small fleet. On the cultural front, he encouraged the spread of Punic literary culture and modelled various legal institutions of Numidia on those that existed in the neighbouring state of Carthage. He also encouraged the spread of Greek philosophy in Cirta, the capital city. Cirta itself reputedly grew to a population of 200,000 people. Micipsa died in 118 BC and left his kingdom to his two sons, Adherbal and Hiempsal, and also Jugurtha, a nephew.
All of this information is extracted from the Book ‘When We Ruled’.
To find out more about this book CLICK HERE
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