Ruins of the Church of the columns at Old Dongola (II - IX - century a.D). Old Dongola was the capital of the Christian Kingdom of Makuria. The Eastern Roman Empire missioners converted the Nubian Kings and influenced the Nubian culture. They taught them to read and write in Greek and Coptic languages, the Byzantine art took over the local one and in the tombs they stopped putting the personal belongings. - See the Sudan (english) map with a complete picture set.