The earliest known religion--in the Nile Valley--was that of its ancient Egyptian rulers: the cult of the Pharaoh, the tale of the god Osiris, and many other gods, often in half animal form. It is unclear if this import persisted until the arrival of Christianity, nor to what extent it spread beyond the river valleys. The Coptic variety of the new religion became dominant in the river valleys from the fifth century. Today's religion arrived later, converting hinterland places like Kordofan first, and only overwhelming the lowlands in the 14th and 15th centuries.