(fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Ruler of Kermeh, in Nubia KERMEH, an area of NUBIA, modern Sudan, was in Egyptian control from the Old Kingdom Period (2575–2134 B.C.E.), but during the Second Intermediate Period (1640–1532 B.C.E.), when the HYKSOS ruled much of Egypt’s Delta region, A’ata’s people forged an alliance with these Asiatic invaders. A’ata’s predecessor, Nedjeh, had established his capital at BUHEN, formerly an Egyptian fortress on the Nile, displaying the richness of the Kermeh culture, which lasted from c. 1990 to 1550 B.C.E. This court was quite Egyptian in style, using similar architecture, cultic ceremonies, ranks, and government agencies.
When A’ata came to the throne of Kermeh, he decided to test the mettle of ’AHMOSE (r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.), who had just assumed the throne and was conducting a campaign by land and by sea against AVARIS, the capital of the Hyksos invaders. Seeing the Egyptians directing their resources and energies against Avaris, A’ata decided to move northward, toward ELEPHANTINE Island at modern ASWAN. ’Ahmose is believed to have left the siege at Avaris in the hands of others to respond to the challenge of A’ata’s campaign. He may have delayed until the fall of Avaris before sailing southward, but A’ata faced a large armada of Egyptian ships, filled with veteran warriors from elite units. The details of this campaign are on the walls of the tomb of ’AHMOSE, SON OF EBANA, at THEBES. The text states that ’Ahmose found A’ata at a site called Tent-aa, below modern Aswan. The Egyptian warriors crushed A’ata’s forces, taking him and hundreds more as prisoners. A’ata was tied to the prow of ’Ahmose’s vessel for the return journey to Thebes, where he was probably executed publicly. The Egyptians received A’ata’s men as slaves. ’Ahmose, son of Ebana, took two prisoners and received five more slaves as well.
An Egyptian ally of A’ata tried to regroup the Kermeh forces. ’Ahmose, son of Ebana, received three more slaves when this rebel and his forces were crushed as a result of new campaigns. Buhen became the administrative center of the Nubian region for Egypt as a result of the war, ending the Kermeh dominance there. The culture continued, however, until the New Kingdom collapsed. A military commander named Turi was installed as viceroy of Kush, or Nubia, under ’Ahmose’s son and heir, AMENHOTEP I.
