Meroe was an ancient state occupying the territory of the modern Sudan. Its borders in the antiquity ran across the Nile valley between the third and the fifth cataracts. In the Egyptian sources this country most frequently was called �the land of Kush�. This fact has greatly influenced the formation of local culture. The Meroites have adopted the Egyptian language and many ancient customs and rites of Egypt. As well in the VIIIth cent. BC, an independent state had already existed the rulers of which have conquered - for almost a century - Egypt. Even after Meroe had lost the rulership over Egypt, the Egyptian language remained the official language of the country untill the IInd cent.BC, when it was forced out by the Meroitic language and writing system - the first alphabetical system on the African continent. Egyphan power was established over the country in 2 mil. BC.