The Nbs-tree and its geographies. Egyptian and Nubian traditions in Graeco-Roman temples

Although passing environmental elements, sacred trees were a somehow immutable part of the ancient Egyptian temple landscape, relating to mythological geography and religious practice. The nbs-tree, identified with Christ’s thorn jujube, was a widespread species in the Nile Valley, growing at the edges of cultivated land and even in desert oases. As a sacred tree, its name is often mentioned in the so called “geographical lists” of Graeco-Roman tradition, proving it to be one of the most venerated plants together with acacia (SnDt) and balanites (iSd). It was also included in the toponymy of many sites, suggesting strong mythological correlations with national and local deities. The major Egyptian cultic place was Hwt-nbs at Saft el-Henna, but the tree was very important also in Lower Nubia – and beyond, as far as p(A)-nbs, thanks to the association with the Nubian gods Amun of Pnubs and Thot of Pnubs. The paper presents an overview of the spatial distribution of the ancient nbs-tree according to Graeco-Roman sources, aiming at the reconstruction of phyto-mythological and phyto-geographical traditions between Egypt and Nubia. By analysing the occurrence of the botanical lemma in religious texts – such as the geographical records or the mythological accounts engraved on temple walls – and even considering some iconographical evidence, various aspects of a single res sacra will be described.