South of Egypt, in the region of Nubia, rose the Kingdom of Kush, a powerful civilization that rivaled Egypt for centuries. In the 8th century BCE, the Kushite king Piye invaded and conquered Egypt, establishing the 25th Dynasty. For nearly a century, these 'Black Pharaohs' ruled an empire stretching from the Mediterranean to the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. They revitalized Egyptian traditions, including the building of pyramids. In fact, there are more ancient pyramids in Sudan (over 200) than there are in Egypt, though they are smaller and more steeply sloped. The Kushites were also famous for their iron-working industry at the capital of Meroë and for their powerful female rulers, known as Kandakes (or Candaces), who led armies into battle. Their unique Meroitic script remains largely undeciphered, guarding many secrets of this sophisticated African superpower.