In the Western World, from a young age we are taught thrilling tales of ancient empires, from the ruthless Roman Empire to the exotic Ancient Egyptians. One that escaped the history books, though, is the Kingdom of the Kush. Having encompassed modern day Sudan and Egypt and having sustained control from the eight century BC to the fourth century AD, there’s no denying its significant local influence. However, the ongoing Sudanese Civil War poses threat to this legacy as 76 heritage sites and nine museums lie within battlegrounds, prone to looting and vandalism.
From 23 October 2025 to 22 February 2026, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is displaying ‘Ancient Sudan: enduring heritage,’ on loan from The British Museum. An exhibition small in size, but large in impact, the aim is to grow awareness of Sudan’s deep-rooted heritage. Comprising of only nine artifacts, at first glance the exhibition has potential to feel anticlimactic. However, the hallway’s informative cultural backstories about beliefs, crafts, and the role of women pave the way to the Kushite Empire, allowing each object to deservedly revel in its fascinating history.
Undoubtedly the standout treasure among the exhibit is an intricate and beautiful bronze figurehead representing the Kushite goddess Isis, used for ceremonial boats and dating back to the third century BC. Alongside are numerous examples of pottery, an impressively carved stone offering table, a kerio (lidded basket), and a tabag (used to cover and carry food).
Two smaller sections of the exhibit, though, are crucial to engaging visitors with the relevance of the Kingdom of Kush today. Playing on a small TV is a seven-minute loop of a mini documentary by Fatima Mohamed Al Hassan, founder of the Darfur Women’s Museum in Nyala, Sudan in 1985. She speaks of hope that her museum can educate younger generations on their heritage and Sudanese ancestry, a quality of clear importance to the exhibition.
Building on this is a feature titled: ‘Local Stories: Sudan and Scotland.’ Unique to its stint in Stirling, the instalment showcases a collection of loaned objects from the Sudanese diaspora in Scotland. Co-curated with Scotland’s Sudanese community, it highlights the continual importance of Sudanese tradition and culture, much of which stems from the Kushite Empire, in Scotland today.
Despite being on a smaller scale than many of Edinburgh’s exhibitions, ‘Ancient Sudan: enduring heritage’ is well worth the trip to Stirling, with it guaranteed to offer you a ticket into the world of the Kush.
Image provided by Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum