Nobatia

Since Ptolemaic times, the "state religion" of Lower Nubia had been the Isis cult of Philae. Its importance outlived the Ptolemaic and Meroitic period and Nubian pilgrims continued to travel to Philae.[6] The temple on Philae was eventually shut down in 535-538 and Nubians were forbidden to enter it.[7] Another Isis cult, the Greco-Roman mysteries of Isis, has been confirmed to be practiced in Nobadia by an unearthed shrine in Qasr Ibrim. This cult was practiced since Meroitic times as well.[8]

Reliefs of the "Ethiopian" chamber inside the Isis temple of Philae, depicting pilgrims and priests from the south.

19th century copy of a Coptic inscription from Dendur, commemorating the conversion of the temple in a church during the reign of king Eirpanome (mid-6th century)

Early-7th-century frieze fragment of the Faras cathedral.

As confirmed by epigraphical and archaeological evidence, Christianity was already present among parts of the Nobadian society even before the official conversion of 543.[9] The Nobadian elite might have started considering to convert to Christianity in the 530's, paralleling to when the Isis temple was shut down.[10] Christianity proceeded to spread through Nobadia on various levels at different speeds.[11] Towns, for example, were quick in adopting the new religion, while the Christianization procedure of the villages was not accomplished until the 7th-9th century.[12] South of the second cataract, Christianity seems to have begun spreading later than in the north, possibly since the late 6th or early 7th century.[13]

Quiver remains from Qustul, c. 400

Archaeology from the pagan period confirms the relevance archery had for the Nubians and therefore also the Nobatians.[16] The slightly reflexed longsbows, which are attested for Kushite mercenaries since the Middle Kingdom, were replaced by reflex composite bows during the Meroitic or post-Meroitic period, measuring around one meter and originally designed to be shot from horseback.[17] One simple wooden self bow is known from an early Nobadian burial in Qustul.[18] The Nobadians shot barbed and possibly poisoned arrows of around 50 cm length.[19] To store the arrows, they used quivers made of tanned leather originally from long-necked animals like goats or gazelles. Additionally, they were enhanced with straps, flaps and elaborate decoration.[20] The quivers were possibly worn not in the back, but in the front.[21] On the hand holding the bow, the archers wore bracelets to protect the hand from injuries while drawing the bowstring. For the nobility, the bracelets could be made of silver, while poorer versions were made of rawhide.[22] Furthermore, the archers wore thumb rings, measuring between three and four cm.[23] Thus, Nubian archers would have employed a drawing technique very similar to the Persian and Chinese one, both of which also reliant on thumb rings.[24]

At Qasr Ibrim, two crossbow darts have been discovered. The use of crossbows had hitherto been unattested in Nubia.[25]

Graffito from the Temple of Kalabsha (Talmis), depicting King Silko on horse back spearing an enemy while being crowned by Nike.

A weapon characteristic for the Nobadians was a type of short sword.[26] It has a straight hollow-ground blade which was sharpened only on one edge and was therefore not designed to thrust, but to hack.[27] Apart of said swords, there were also lances, some of them with large blades, as well as halberds. The large-bladed lances and the halberds were possibly only ceremonial.[28]

Nobadian warriors and their leadership made use of shields and body armour, most of it manufactured from leather.[26][27] Fragments of thick hide have been found in the royal tombs of Qustul, suggesting that the principal interment was usually buried while wearing armour.[29] A well-preserved and richly decorated breastplate made of oxhide comes from Qasr Ibrim,[27] while a comparable, but more fragmentary piece was discovered at Gebel Adda, albeit this one was made of reptile hide, possibly from a crocodile.[30] Another fragment which possibly once constituted a body armour comes from Qustul. It consists of several layers of tanned leather and was studded with lead rosettes.[26]