Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Like us on Facebook
Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Curiosmos
No Result
View All Result

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Pyramids of Meroe

Vladislav TchakarovbyVladislav Tchakarov
April 17, 2021 - Updated on January 21, 2024
in Ancient Civilizations
View of the pyramids of Meroe. Credit: Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP

View of the pyramids of Meroe. Credit: Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Everyone has heard of the Egyptian pyramids, but few people know that there are almost 200 pyramids in the desert of eastern Sudan, which differ from their counterparts in Giza in their small size and lack of valuable artifacts – the Pyramids of Meroe.

 

Unfortunately, over 40 of the pyramids were either partially or completely destroyed by treasure hunters. Credit: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah / Reuters
Unfortunately, over 40 of the pyramids were either partially or completely destroyed by treasure hunters. Credit: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah / Reuters

1. The ancient structures are located in the Meroe region (on the eastern side of the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum) – an ancient city on the territory of modern Sudan, which became the capital of the state of Kush after the destruction of Napata by the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt Psammetichus II in the 6th century BC.

2. The Meroe Pyramids were built between 720 and 300 BC. The entrances to the tombs were usually located from the East – facing the rising sun.

Related Posts

Shutterstock.

The Huaca Pucllana: A Massive Ancient Pyramid You Probably Never Knew Existed

July 3, 2019 - Updated on January 22, 2024
An image of the observational tower of El Caracol at Chichen Itza. Image Credit: Jumpstory.

10 Facts About El Caracol, An Ancient Observatory Where the Maya Studied the Stars

April 22, 2021 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Hieroglypics and frescoes inside one of the pyramids of Meroe. Credit: Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP
Hieroglyphics and frescoes inside one of the pyramids of Meroe. Credit: Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

3. The walls are covered with frescoes, hieroglyphs, and inscriptions, testifying to the influence of the culture of ancient Egypt on the development of the kingdom of Kush. The decorative elements of the stone pyramids of Nubia are borrowed from the cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

4. The first of the Europeans to reach the Pyramid of Meroe was Linan de Belfon in 1821. In the same year, they were first explored by the French scientist and traveler Frederic Cayo. In 1834, the Italian adventurer Giuseppe Ferlini undertook an expedition here. In search of treasures, Ferlini destroyed about 40 pyramids, 5 of them were destroyed to the ground. It is believed that Ferlini used explosives to achieve his goal.

Entrances to tombs. Credit: Abd Raouf / AP
Entrances to tombs. Credit: Abd Raouf / AP

5. Over the course of this destructive expedition, Ferlini discovered gold in only one of the pyramids of Meroe. It is known that the royal tombs have been plundered in the ancient past, so not much has remained for modern archaeologists. Ferlini later sold his loot to European museums.

6. Real dedicated archaeologists began excavating Meroe in 1902. In 1909-1914, they were led by the English archaeologist John Garstang (however, their results were never published). In 1920-1923, the royal necropolises were investigated by the American scientist George Reisner. The excavations of Meroe by the English archaeologist Peter Shinnie were of great importance.

Like most ancient monuments, the Pyramids of Meroe were built with extreme precision. Credit: Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP
Like most ancient monuments, the Pyramids of Meroe were built with extreme precision. Credit: Mosa’ab Elshamy / AP

7. The frescoes discovered in situ describe the burials of the rulers. Some were burned while others were mummified just like the pharaohs of Egypt.

8. In some tombs, archaeologists have discovered remains of people and animals which suggests that the local beliefs were similar to those in ancient Egypt. For example, rulers were often buried with their favorite animals and belongings in order to enjoy them in the afterlife too.

The Temple of Hathor, located south of the Pyramids of Meroe. The local culture shared similar beliefs to the Egyptian culture. Credit: Reuters / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
The Temple of Hathor, located south of the Pyramids of Meroe. The local culture shared similar beliefs to the Egyptian culture. Credit: Reuters / Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

9. Today, the ancient pyramids of Meroe are in danger of the approaching desert. Sand is the main problem in the preservation of this unbelievable necropolis.

10. Archaeological work continues to this day but the country does not have the money to fund large-scale work. This is why if you visit the pyramids of Meroe, you will see local workers digging the sands with shovels which is a nearly impossible task in the middle of the desert.


Join the discussion and participate in awesome giveaways in our mobile Telegram group. Join Curiosmos on Telegram Today. t.me/Curiosmos


Sources:

• Castellano, N. (2021, March 16). The Nubian Kingdom of KUSH, rival to Egypt.
• Mamo, A. (2021, March 22). Glimpses of Sudan’s FORGOTTEN PYRAMIDS.
• Taylor, A. (2015, May 04). The forgotten pyramids of meroë.

Share157Tweet98Share27ShareSend
Vladislav Tchakarov

Vladislav Tchakarov

Hello, my name is Vladislav and I am glad to have you here on Curiosmos. As a history student, I have a strong passion for history and science, and the opportunity to research and write in this field on a daily basis is a dream come true.

Related Posts

A photo showing the Gough Map. Image Credit: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
Ancient Civilizations

Scientists Find Evidence for “Welsh Atlantis” in Ancient Map

September 11, 2022 - Updated on January 21, 2024
An image of an ancient Egyptian pyramid and its reflection. Shutterstock.
Ancient Civilizations

The Birth of An Ancient Pyramid: How Egypt’s Oldest Pyramid Came to Be

January 3, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
A view of the Sphinx still covered in sand. Behind it, the Great Pyramid.
Ancient Civilizations

Is the Sphinx Hiding a Secret Past? 10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew

February 18, 2025
Built on the core of a volcano, the Sigiriya rock fortress still guards its secrets
Ancient Civilizations

Built on the core of a volcano, the Sigiriya rock fortress still guards its secrets

March 11, 2019 - Updated on April 19, 2025
A photograph of the Great Pyramid at sunrise. Shutterstock_
Ancient Civilizations

Did The Great Pyramid Shine “Like a Star” 4,500 Years Ago?

November 14, 2022 - Updated on January 20, 2024
An image of the Colossi of Memnon by Antonio Beato. 19th century. Image Credit: Brooklyn Museum.
Ancient Civilizations

Mystery in Stone: How Did the Ancient Egyptians Move Massive 720-ton Statues?

December 22, 2019 - Updated on May 19, 2022
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fair Use Notice
  • DMCA / Removal
  • Impressum
  • Contact
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Ownership and Funding Information
  • Impressum
CURIOSMOS.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists