Noba is a term found in a number of historical sources discussing ancient and Medieval
Nubia
Nubia () ( Nobiin: Nobīn, ) is a region along the Nile river encompassing the area between the first cataract of the Nile (just south of Aswan in southern Egypt) and the confluence of the Blue and White Niles (in Khartoum in central Sud ...
. Its exact meaning is uncertain, with ancient sources themselves seeming confused about the region south of
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning the North Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via a land bridg ...
. Most likely it refers to two separate groups: the
Nuba, a people from southeast of Nubia, and a people later known as the
Nobatae, a group of unknown origin who invaded Nubia during the decline of
Meroe and most likely founded the kingdom of
Nobatia and gave their name to Nubia itself.
References
*Lobban, Richard. "Noba." ''Historical dictionary of ancient and medieval Nubia.'' Scarecrow Press, c2004
History of Nubia
Medieval Egypt
es:Noba