Queen Qalhata was a significant royal figure in the Kushite Kingdom during the 8th century BCE.

Queen Qalhata was a significant royal figure in the Kushite Kingdom during the 8th century BCE.

Queen Qalhata was a significant royal figure in the Kushite Kingdom during the 8th century BCE. She was a queen of Napata and the mother of Shabaka, one of the most prominent pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty in Egypt. Qalhata played a vital role in the royal family of Kush, which exerted a powerful influence over both Nubia and Egypt during this period. Her marriage to King Piye and her role as mother to Shabaka highlight her central position in the political and cultural milieu of the time.

As a Kushite queen, Qalhata would have been deeply involved in the religious and administrative aspects of the kingdom, supporting her son Shabaka’s ambitions to unify Egypt and Nubia under Kushite rule. Her presence symbolized the connection between the Kushite rulers and their divine authority, emphasizing her critical importance in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the era. Although few personal details about her life have survived, her influence can be seen through the accomplishments of her descendants.

• Name: Qalhata
• Birth Name: Qalhata
• Birthdate: c. 8th century BCE, Napata
• Death Date: c. 8th century BCE, Napata
• Age at Death: Unknown
• Job Title: Queen of Kush