Nubia’s Pyramids
When we think of pyramids, Egypt is probably the first place that comes to mind. But more pyramids are still standing in Sudan today than in Egypt. Sudan’s Nubian pyramids, located in the country’s central and northern regions, were built by the rulers and wealthy elite of the ancient Kushite kingdoms – one of Africa’s earliest civilizations. These pyramids were built between 2700 and 2300 years ago.
Layout of the pyramids of Meroë in 1821, via Wikipedia
The Kushites were heavily influenced by Egyptian culture. Although the custom was the result of Egyptian influence, Nubian pyramids have a distinct structure and proportions. With a smaller footprint, the resulting pyramids are narrower and taller.
The Nubian pyramids were built as tombs for royalty and wealthy citizens of Napata and Meroë. Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, the Nubian pyramids don’t have an internal burial chamber. Instead, beyond the offering chambers, the pyramids were found to be filled with rubble and dirt. The tombs were concealed underground – accessed by buried staircases beneath the pyramids. Archaeologists have found more than 255 pyramids in four different sites. Forty of the pyramids were partially demolished by Guiseppe Ferlini — an Italian treasure hunter — in the 1830s.
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