Augustus's head under the steps at Meroë
Kush buried the emperor's head beneath a temple stair
The army of Queen Amanirenas of Kush raided Roman Egypt and smashed statues of Augustus. One bronze head was taken to Meroë and buried under the steps of a temple, apparently to be walked over. It was dug up in 1910 and is now in the British Museum.
Wikipedia (English) · 1st century BC
Did you know
A one-eyed queen of Kush fought Rome and won a good peace from Augustus. Strabo says Amanirenas was blind in one eye; her troops took Syene and Elephantine, and after talks Augustus imposed no tribute on Kush. Share →
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- 44 BC Assassination of Julius Caesar — 20 years earlier
- 31 BC Battle of Actium — 7 years earlier
- 27 BC Octavian becomes Augustus — 3 years earlier
Middle East
- c. 4 BC Nativity of Jesus — 20 years later
Alive at the time
- Augustus (aged 39)
- Herod the Great (aged 48)
- Virgil (aged 46)
- Amanirenas (aged 36)
- Livia Drusilla (aged 35)