A closer look
Rome conquered almost everyone, but they absolutely met their match in a furious queen from the Kingdom of Kush. When the Roman Empire tried to tax Nubia in 24 BCE, Kandake (Queen) Amanirenas didn't negotiate. Having lost an eye in a previous battle, she rallied 30,000 fierce warriors and launched a devastating surprise attack on Roman settlements in Egypt. To send a crystal-clear message, her troops ripped the head off a shiny new statue of Emperor Augustus and buried it beneath the steps of a temple in Meroë, ensuring that her people would literally trample on the face of the Roman ruler every time they walked inside.
