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<< Our Photo Pages >> Meroë Pyramids - Pyramid / Mastaba in Sudan

Submitted by Andy B on Saturday, 16 January 2010  Page Views: 13192

Multi-periodSite Name: Meroë Pyramids Alternative Name: Nubian Pyramids, Merowe Pyramids
Country: Sudan Type: Pyramid / Mastaba
Nearest Town: Khartoum  Nearest Village: Bagrawiyah
Latitude: 16.938205N  Longitude: 33.748690E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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External Links:

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Meroe pyramids Creative Commons Image by By Old Man of Mow (John Patrick) on Flickr (Vote or comment on this photo)
Pyramids in Sudan. The Meroe Pyramids are located in the North-East of Sudan near the banks of the Nile in the area commonly known as Nubia. There are close to two hundred pyramids in a relatively small area, the ancient burial site of the Merotic Kingdom (sometimes known as the Kingdom of Kush).

The Pyramids are smaller than their Egyptian cousins but equally impressive due to their number. The first of the Meroe Pyramids were built about 800 years after the last Egyptian pyramids were completed. The Meroe pyramids were constructed from large blocks of sandstone. The are angled more steeply than the Egyptian pyramids.

More on visiting the pyramids at About.com Go Africa.
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Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Creative Commons : -Dunes versus pyramids- For an ancient city and civilization that flourished for nearly a thousand years, Meroe is one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries. It is unknown where the people of Meroe originated. An even greater mystery is where these Meroitic people are today and why these unconquerable ‘Masters of Africa’ left their ancient city, and seemingly vanished. From the sixth... (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Part of decoration of the wall in a pyramid chapel of Meroe, now British Museum, perhaps belonging to Shanakdakhetothe Creative Commons Image by Udimu (Vote or comment on this photo)

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Blick auf die Pyramiden des Südfriedhofs, im Hintergrund der Nordfriedhof Creative Commons Image by TrackHD (Vote or comment on this photo)

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Meroe: Pyramiden des Westfriedhofs - Noblengräber Creative Commons Image by TrackHD (Vote or comment on this photo)

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Doorway to the complex Creative Commons image from Flickr by Gordontour Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Aerial view of the Nubian pyramids at Meroe in 2001 Creative Commons Image by B N Chagny, Francis Geius - Mission SFDAS 2001

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Creative Commones image from Flickr by Michael Dziedzic Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Pyramids of Meroe in Sudan. From left to right: pyramide N6 (only chapel visible), N7, N8, N9, N11, N12 and N13. Creative Commons Image by Fabrizio Demartis

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by durhamnature : Old photo, from "Monuments of Sudan..." via archive.org Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Inside the entrance to one of the Pyramids near Bagrawiyah, northern Sudan. This was the area of Meroë, the ancient capital of Kush. Creative Commons image from Flickr by Gordontour Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by durhamnature : Old photo, from "Monuments of Sudan..." via archive.org Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by durhamnature

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Emerging from the sands Creative Commons image from Flickr by Gordontour Site in Sudan

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : English: Sudanese tourists at the pyramids of Meroe, Sudan. Creative Commons Image by Petr Adam Dohnálek

Meroë Pyramids
Meroë Pyramids submitted by Andy B : Plan of the pyramid field (North) of Meroe Source: D. Dunham, The royal cemeteries of Kush IV redrawn by Udimu

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 4.0km W 268° Meroë* Ancient Village or Settlement
 8.7km S 179° Abu Erteila Ancient Temple
 43.3km SW 231° El Kadada Neolithic Tomb Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 135.2km N 11° Statue of Taharqa Carving
 198.6km SW 222° Sudan National Museum Museum
 265.3km NW 313° Nuri Pyramids* Pyramid / Mastaba
 265.8km NW 307° Zuma Tumuli Round Barrow(s)
 266.0km NW 308° El-Kurru Tumuli Round Barrow(s)
 266.2km NW 308° El-Kurru Pyramids* Pyramid / Mastaba
 267.0km NW 310° Sanam Temple Ancient Temple
 269.8km NW 311° Gebel Barkal Temple of Amon* Ancient Temple
 270.1km NW 311° Gebel Barkal Mountain and Rock Formation* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature
 270.6km NW 311° Gebel Barkal Temple of Mut Ancient Temple
 270.6km NW 311° Gebel Barkal Temple B700 Ancient Temple
 270.7km NW 311° Karima Pyramids* Pyramid / Mastaba
 273.9km WNW 290° Wadi Abu Dom Rock Art Rock Art
 488.5km NW 317° Sesebi* Ancient Village or Settlement
 529.5km NW 318° Soleb* Ancient Temple
 542.2km NW 318° Sedeinga* Pyramid / Mastaba
 609.9km NNW 335° Buhen Stone Fort or Dun
 617.2km ESE 120° Aksum* Ancient Village or Settlement
 636.7km ESE 117° Yeha* Ancient Village or Settlement
 640.1km NNW 340° Abu Simbel Temple of Ramses II* Ancient Temple
 640.2km NNW 340° Abu Simbel Temple of Nefertari* Ancient Temple
 646.7km SE 143° Gorgora Rock Shelter* Cave or Rock Shelter
View more nearby sites and additional images

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Gebel Barkal Mountain and Rock Formation >>

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"Meroë Pyramids" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Drone Footage of Nubian Pyramids from National Geographic by Andy B on Wednesday, 27 May 2015
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Armed with a remotely operated mini­-helicopter, National Geographic engineer Alan Turchik gets a bird’s­-eye view of 3,000-­year-­old royal burial chambers.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7tAuPi_azU
With thanks to Jackdaw1 for the link
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Lost Kingdoms of Africa, Nubia by Andy B on Wednesday, 27 January 2010
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To see more about Meroe and other Nubian sites in Sudan, don't miss Episode 1 of Lost Kingdoms of Africa on BBC Iplayer for the next week or so

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pq946/Lost_Kingdoms_of_Africa_Nubia/
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Statues discovered in Sudan can help to read Africa oldest scripts by Andy B on Sunday, 17 January 2010
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A French Archaeological mission discovered three ancient ram statues within inscriptions that could help to decipher the oldest script in sub-Saharan Africa.

The statues, representing the god Amun, were excavated at El-Hassa, 180km north of Khartoum on a sacred causeway leading to an ancient temple. They were carved during Meroe empire, a period of kingly rule that lasted from about 300BC to AD 450.

"Merotic language, is one of the last antique writings, that still waits for its understanding... and it is the most ancient (sub-Saharan) African language written in script," said Vincent Rondot, head of the French Section of the Directorate on Antiquities of Sudan.

He said experts were still trying to work out the meaning of the words by comparing them with broken remnants of similar royal dedications in the same script.

Experts can pronounce the text and can read names, but cannot understand the words. Merotic is a branch of the same linguistic tree as languages spoken in contemporary Sudan and Eritrea, the French archaeologist said.

He said they were still trying to work out the meaning of the words by comparing them with broken remnants of similar royal dedications in the same script.

"It is absolutely essential to understand it... We only need to read the last words remaining on the inscription," said Rondot.

"This year we found one with the complete inscription around. So, for the first time, we have a complete text," he added.

The site where the ram statues were found is close to Sudan’s Meroe pyramids, a cluster of more than 50 granite tombs 200 kms (120 miles) north of the capital that are one of the main attractions for Sudan’s few tourists.

Rondot said the dig, funded by the French foreign ministry, would also provide vital information on the reign of a little-known king, Amanakhareqerem, mentioned in the inscriptions on the rams.

Source: Sudan Times
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article29632
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The Pyramids of Meroe by Andy B on Saturday, 16 January 2010
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The Pyramids of Meroe. Between the 5th and 6th cataracts. During the Meroitic Period over forty kings and queens were buried at Meroe. Forty generations of Nubian royalty are buried in Meroe, and every royal Nubian tomb is housed within a pyramid. The Meroitic South cemetery contained the tombs of three kings, Arikakaman, Yesruwaman, and Kaltaly, as well as six queens. Several hundred yards to the north, the Meroitic North cemetery held an additional 30 kings and 6 queens, successors of the South cemetery group.

Their tombs, built under steep pyramids, were all badly plundered in ancient times, but pictures preserved in the tomb chapels tell us that the rulers were mummified and covered with jewelry and laid in wooden mummy cases. The larger tombs still contained remains of weapons, bows, quivers of arrows, archer's thumb rings, horse harnesses, wooden boxes and furniture, pottery, colored glass and metal vessels, and other things, many of them imported from Egypt and the Greek and Roman worlds. Meroe belongs to the most important monuments of the beginning of civilization on the African continent.

Queen Bartare (260-250 B.C.) was the last monarch to be buried in Meroe. Tomb of Amanikhabale, and Queen Amanitore were also buried in Meroe.

More at
http://wysinger.homestead.com/nubian105.html
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Sudan’s ancient Pyramids bait for hardy tourists by Andy B on Saturday, 16 January 2010
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Think of ancient Pyramids — think of Egypt. Think again.

Some 1,300 kilometres (810 miles) south of Cairo and looming over the east bank of the river Nile, Sudan’s dozens of pyramids peek over the horizon, completely untouched by modern commercialism.

Sudan is better known as the location of Africa’s longest civil war than a holiday hotspot, but with a peace deal on the cards in the south, more tourists are visiting its monuments.

Unlike their larger Egyptian counterparts in Giza where a stream of hawkers greets visitors and fast food restaurants face the Sphinx, visitors can find themselves utterly alone with the Royal Pyramids of Meroe.

In the mid-6th century B.C. Meroe became the central city of the ancient Nubian Cushite dynasty, the "Black Pharaohs", who ruled some 2,500 years ago in the area from Aswan in southern Egypt to present-day Khartoum.

The Nubians were at times both rivals and allies of the ancient Egyptians and adopted many of their northern neighbours’ practices, including burying members of the royal family in pyramid tombs.

To the south of Meroe lies al-Musawwarat, an impressive array of temples papered with ancient drawings of animals, and the ancient city of Naga, impressive and under-researched sites.

But there are no guided tours or sound and light shows.

"I don’t speak English and have to rely on tips from tourists to get money to feed my family," said Mohammed, the lone employee holding the visitors book at al-Musawwarat.

That has not discouraged some adventurous visitors, undeterred by Sudan’s history of war, sanctions and host of militants wanted by the United States.

Awatis Saeed, director of information at the tourism ministry, said tourist numbers had risen in the past two years following the lifting of U.N. sanctions and on hopes for peace based on continuing talks between the government and rebels.

Tourist numbers in 2003 rose to 55,000 from about 44,000 in 2001, she said

"This year it looks to be even more and... we are working to promote Sudan and welcome more tourists here," she told Reuters.

BUMPY TRACK

It’s not all plain sailing for prospective tourists in Sudan. Travel around Africa’s largest country is complicated as foreigners need government permits issued only in Khartoum to take photos or move around.

Not to mention the lack of roads.

The tarmac road to Meroe was built only a few years ago, and a long, bumpy dirt track is still the only way to access al-Musawwarat and Naga.

Hiring a four-wheel drive is a must to get around Sudan where there are only five or six main tarmac routes in a country covering about one million square miles (2.6 million sq km) of territory.

Sudan also has a national park, Dinder, in the southeast. Now difficult to access and in a state of disrepair, in its prime Dinder boasted herds of elephants, game and lions with none of the crowds of Kenya’s equivalents.

The colourful Omdurman souk in Khartoum offers tourists perfumes, crafts and, as a testament to the under-regulated tourism industry, shops stuffed full with ivory products.

Vendors say the ivory comes from the lawless south, where for more than two decades a civil war has raged, claiming more than two million victims.

The southern civil war pits the mainly Christian, animist south against the Islamic government in Khartoum, complicated by issues of oil, ethnicity and ideology.

LEAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD AT HOME

Sudan played host to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the 1990s and the United States imposed sweeping economic sanctions in 1997 adding it to its list of states that "sponsor terrorism."

The U.S. sanctions mean ***** are almost impossible to use throughout Sudan and some tourists say they were daunted by Islamic Sharia la

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