For centuries Egypt and Nubia forged commercial, cultural, and political connections – mostly though by imposing pharaonic authority on its southern neighbours.

In the comparatively short, approximately ninety years lasting reign of the Kushites in Egypt, the rare situation is given that a significant number of monuments displaying parallels as well as diversity in the manner of representation had been built by the rulers of the 25^th dynasty in Egypt and the Kushite homeland.

The PhD research project aims at analysing royal iconography as depicted on monumental wall reliefs. A close comparison of the scenes may not only reveal how Egyptian themes and canonic principles were adapted whilst being introduced to a differently rooted cultural and regional background or modified within a given setting. A detailed examination of comparable scenes will allow determining – at least to some extent – how far the perception of the Kushites as indigenous or foreign rulers is reflected in both core areas