THE QUEENS OF ETHIOPIA 25 in Acts viii. 27. This speaks of the journey of a eunuch of authority under Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, who had charge of her treasure, who came to Jerusalem to worship, and was baptized at his own suggestion by PhiHp. If he safely returned, this is noteworthy as constituting the first entry of Christianity into the Sudan, a movement which afterwards attained great proportions.

The rule of these Queens and the preceding Kings was remarkable for considerable activity in building — many temples, monuments, and pyramids, existing at Meroe, Nagaa, Amara, and Soba, near Khartoum, which, while not exhibiting the degree of Egyptian excellence, are of great merit. The representations of Kings and Queens demonstrate in many cases distinctly negro characteristics, and one of the most interesting is the sculptured portrait of Candace, Queen Amen-Tarit, in her temple at Nagaa, found by Lepsius.

The days of the Ptolemies were mainly peaceful in the Sudan, and apart from the hunting of elephants, and insignificant building and additions to temples, they appear to have been confined to trade.

The Romans, having conquered Egypt, quickly came into collision with the dark races of the south. Candace—perhaps Queen Amen-Tarit about 24 B.C. seized a psychological moment to attack Syene, the present Assuan. Success was not for long ; her army was dispersed and taken, and Augustus Caesar's victorious general, Petronius,