Elevating the elephant: Sudanese relations with the Mediterranean World c.300BC – AD400

About this talk

What was the significance of the elephant in ancient Sudan? How did this relate to the relationship between Sudan and the Mediterranean World? In this talk Tim Moller considers the nature of the elephant in Ancient Sudan and its significance in battles as well as the potential reasoning for its frequency in architecture and ancient sources. This talk is recommended for those with an interest in Ancient History, History, Classics, English Literature, English Language and Oriental Studies.

Scroll down to access Tim Moller’s talk as well as some further resources if you want to increase your knowledge of this topic!

Further Resources

For an overview of the role of elephants in warfare during this period and an insightful section on the use of elephants during the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC, which is the only known battle where Asian and African elephants were used against each other, have a look at this article by Roger Atwood by clicking here.

If you are interested in Ancient Sudan/ Nubia, then this page gives a great and brief summary on the history of Nubia. You can access it by clicking here

Nubia was also called Kush for a long period of time. If you want a longer history of what happened to the Kingdom of Kush, watch this TedTalk by Geoff Emberling by clicking here.

Tim Moller
Tim Moller

Tim Moller is a DPhil Classical Archaeology student at Wolfson College, Oxford. Prior to this, Tim Moller completed an MA in Ancient History at the University of Edinburgh and then a MSc in African Studies at the University of Oxford. Tim Moller’s research focuses primarily on Ancient Sudan and Egypt, as well as the relationship between Meroitic Sudan and the Greco-Roman region due to their shared contact region around Elephantine Island.
You can learn more about Tim Moller’s interests by clicking here.