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Soleb Publishers are pleased to announce the free availability of the Arabic translation of

« Soudan, de la Préhistoire à la conquête de Méhémet Ali »

(«Sudan, from Prehistory to the Conquest of Muhammad Ali»)

«السودان، من عصور ما قبل التاريخ إلى فتح محمد علي»

https://www.soleb.com/livres/soudan-arabe/index.html

The pyramids of Merowe have inspired generations of travellers, yet Sudan, of which they are a symbol, remains largely unknown. Hence this encyclopedic work, the first comprehensive overview of the ancient civilizations that flourished there, from prehistory to the conquest by Muhammad Ali in 1820. Renowned experts present the latest scientific discoveries; however, this book is remarkably accessible thanks to the clarity of its contributions and the richness of its illustrations.

“Sudan is the high-tide mark of Mediterranean cultures: difficult to reach, it preserves on its distant sands what elsewhere the tide has long since swept away. But Sudanese cultures cannot be reduced to late and stubborn imitations of concepts forged in Egypt. In many areas, they innovated or perfected borrowed and recombined elements.” —Claude Rilly

It is obvious that the preservation of cultural, historical, and natural heritage cannot be a priority for a people struggling for survival amidst extremely violent conflicts and precarious living conditions. It is also clear that many Sudanese museums have been looted, destroyed, and burned (as have universities, schools, hospitals, vital infrastructure, etc.). No one knows what will be preserved when peace returns. We feel profound sadness when we think of all our Sudanese friends, trapped by the conflict or forced into exile.

“What has become of our friends?” asks Léo Ferré in his song “Pauvre Rutebeuf”. For them—and in order to humbly contribute to the preservation of Sudan’s history and culture—we believe we are rendering a valuable service by making available this translation of the French edition of «Sudan, from Prehistory to the Conquest of Muhammad Ali,» published in October 2021 and also available free of charge on the Soleb Editions website for all Arabic-speaking readers.

And for all our friends in Sudan, we have included at the end of this book some photographs that will remind us of the happy times spent in their company.

Claude Rilly, Egyptologist and linguist, internationally renowned specialist in the Merowe language, professor at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, research director at the CNRS (Llacan), director of the Sedeinga excavations, former director of the French section of the Sudanese Directorate of Antiquities (SFDAS).

Vincent Francigny, director of the Sai excavations, research director at the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), professor at Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV), former director of the French Archaeological Unit in Sudan.

Marc Maillot, resident then director of the French section of the Sudanese Antiquities Department (Sfdas), director of the Damboya archaeological mission and member of the Saï Island archaeological mission, attached to the National Museum of Natural History in New York, director of the Isac Museum in Chicago (formerly the Oriental Institute).

Salah El-Din Mohamed Ahmed, Secretary of Antiquities, former director of the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) of Sudan, Doha.

Olivier Cabon, publisher, Sudan enthusiast, and photographer of archaeological missions, provided editorial coordination, art direction, and layout, and took the photographs for the final section.

Mustafa Ahmad Khorto, an archaeologist and researcher specializing in Islamic antiquities, translated this work. He is an expert on the material culture of the early Islamic period in Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. He is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Frankfurt, Germany.

Published by Soleb, «Les Nilotiques» series, no. 28: Arabic translation of Sudan, from Prehistory to the Conquest of Muhammad Ali (no. 23, October 2021), in partnership with OpenEdition, Africae, and the CNRS. ISBN 978-2-918157-70-0: a free, fully interactive, high-definition digital file; 195 × 244 mm format; 644 pages; over 300 photographs and documents; 4 maps; 3 plans. Claude Rilly, Vincent Francigny, Marc Maillot, Olivier Cabon. Foreword by Salah ed-Din Mohamed Ahmed; texts translated by Mustafa Ahmad.

https://www.soleb.com/livres/soudan-arabe/index.html

«l’Égypte dure longtemps, regards croisés sur la réception en Occident de la civilisation pharaonique»

https://www.soleb.com/livres/egypte-dure-longtemps/index.html

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Conclusion, postface, bibliographie et table des illustrations:

— «l’Égypte dure longtemps.»

Gabrielle Charrak, directrice scientifique de cet ouvrage, doctorante en philosophie de l’art à l’École normale supérieure-PSL et élève de troisième cycle à l’École du Louvre (dir. Mildred Galland-Szymkowiak, Bénédicte Lhoyer), membre du laboratoire Pays germaniques (UMR 8547-CNRS/ENS) et du Centre de recherche de l’École du Louvre.

— «Des histoires pas tombées du ciel: des pyramides aux réseaux sociaux.»
Jean-Loïc Le Quellec, anthropologue et préhistorien français, spécialiste de l’art rupestre du Sahara et de mythologie moderne, directeur de recherches émérite au CNRS, a publié en 2024 Nos ancêtres les pharaons: cinq siècles d’illusions sur l’Égypte ancienne.

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Collection «les nilotiques», Issn 1639-3465, n° 27:

— Un volume relié pleine toile format 195 × 245 mm: dos rond, tranchefile, deux signets et jaquette, 336 pages, 153 illustrations, dont 37 pleine page: Isbn 978-2-35848-244-8;

— Un fichier numérique interactif gratuit: Isbn 978-2-918157-59-5.

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Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer la parution de cet ouvrage collectif publié sous la direction de Gabrielle Charrak; contributeurs: Bénédicte Lhoyer, Valentin Boyer, Johann Chapoutot, Dominique Farout, Léna Kowalska, Léa Legouix, Eléa Le Gloan, Julien Montassier, Guillaume Rangheard, Agnès Zins; préface de Christophe Barbotin; postface de Jean-Loïc Le Quellec. Une coédition éditions Soleb-éditions Bleu autour.

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