Alara of Nubia

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Alara was regarded as the founder of the Napatan royal dynasty by his 25th Dynasty Nubian successors. He unified all of Upper Nubia from Meroe to the Third Cataract and is believed to be attested at the Temple of Amun at Kawa. Alara also established Napata as the religious capital of Nubia. Nubian literature credits him with a substantial reign since future Nubian kings requested that they might enjoy a reign as long as Alara's. Some Archaeologists such as Tim Kendall from the University of Bristol believe he is the king 'Ary' whose Year 23 is inscribed in a now fragmented stela from the Temple of Amun at Kawa. Ary may be a variant of 'Alar'--Alara's name--while the historical setting favours such an identification with Alara since the latter is fairly well attested at Kawa. Robert Morkot, however, suggests that Ary was a pre-25th Dynasty Nubian king, but not Alara himself in his 2000 book, "The Black Pharaohs: Egypt's Nubian Rulers."

Alara was a deeply revered figure in Nubian culture. He was succeeded in power by Kashta who extended Nubia's influence to Elephantine and Thebes.

Preceded by unknown

Kushite king ??

Succeeded by Kashta