Expert: Ralph Salier - 6/30/2009

Question
Based on Archeological evidence what race were the Ancient Egyptians? I heard they were White during the early dynasties but then they became Black in the late dynasties through racial mixing with the Nubians.

Answer
Hi Jim,

The ancient Egyptians were north African or Semitic peoples.  This is not really Caucasian but rather African in origin vs. Eurasian in origin.  There was some "admixture" between various racial groups in Africa including the black Nubians and in fact, there were a number of Pharhaos that were black.  Later, some Caucasoid linage may have come into the picture with admixtures from the Hicksos and the Persians but this is not very clear.  Towards the end with the Greeks there was a lot of Caucasoid admixture.  Race was not as big an issue back then as it was in the post Renaissance.