<P> The power of the 25th Dynasty reached a climax under Taharqa . The Nile valley empire was as large as it had been since the New Kingdom . New prosperity revived Egyptian culture . Religion, the arts, and architecture were restored to their glorious Old, Middle, and New Kingdom forms . The Nubian pharaohs built or restored temples and monuments throughout the Nile valley, including Memphis, Karnak, Kawa, and Jebel Barkal . It was during the 25th dynasty that the Nile valley saw the first widespread construction of pyramids (many in modern Sudan) since the Middle Kingdom . Writing was introduced to Kush in the form of the Egyptian - influenced Meroitic script circa 700--600 BC, although it appears to have been wholly confined to the royal court and major temples . </P> <P> Between 674 and 671 BC the Assyrians, tiring of Egyptian meddling, began their invasion of Egypt under King Esarhaddon, the successor of Sennacherib . Assyrian armies had been the best in the world since the 14th century BC, and conquered this vast territory with surprising speed . Taharqa was driven from power by Esarhaddon, and fled to his Nubian homeland . Esarhaddon describes "installing local kings and governors" and "All Ethiopians I deported from Egypt, leaving not one to do homage to me". </P> <P> However, the native Egyptian vassal rulers installed by Esarhaddon as puppets were unable to effectively retain full control for long without Assyrian aid . Two years later, Taharqa returned from Nubia and seized control of a section of southern Egypt as far north as Memphis from Esarhaddon's local vassals . Esarhaddon prepared to return to Egypt and once more eject Taharqa, however he fell ill and died in his capital Nineveh, before he left Assyria . His successor, Ashurbanipal, sent a Turtanu (general) with a small but well trained army which once more defeated Taharqa and ejected him from Egypt, and he was forced to flee back to his homeland in Nubia, where he died two years later . </P> <P> Taharqa's successor Tanutamun attempted to regain Egypt . He successfully defeated Necho, the subject ruler installed by Ashurbanipal, taking Thebes in the process . The Assyrians, who had a military presence in the north, then sent a large army southwards . Tantamani was routed, and the Assyrian army sacked Thebes to such an extent it never truly recovered . Tantamani was chased back to Nubia, and never threatened the Assyrian Empire again . A native Egyptian ruler, Psammetichus I, was placed on the throne, as a vassal of Ashurbanipal . </P>

Kerma which was part of the ancient nubian kingdom was probably