RAINHAS AFRICANAS E A LITERATURA ANTIGA: AS REPRESENTAÇÕES DAS CANDACES NO MEDITERRÂNEO ANTIGO

Abstract

This research aims to explore and analyze representations of African women in Antiquity, focusing on the Candaces, queens of the Kingdom of Kush, as depicted in Ancient literature. Through these analyses, we seek to understand how these figures and the African continent are portrayed in classical texts and their impact on the comprehension of African History in Antiquity. In this context, we examine the interactions between the African Kingdom and the Roman Empire, emphasizing the roles of Candaces Amanirenas and Amanishakheto in political negotiations and confrontations. Our study utilizes historiographic publications and research that provide a foundation for new interpretations regarding the role of African female leadership, revealing the diplomatic and cultural relationships between African kingdoms and the Mediterranean world. We also present studies on the importance of understanding Africa as a whole, challenging the prevailing Eurocentric perspective in historiography and proposing a decolonized approach to the teaching and research of African History. The ultimate goal is to expand understanding of the African continent and its women, highlighting the influence of the Candaces in the Mediterranean context and contributing to inclusive education that values African history on a global scale.