Pyramids from Jebel Barkal
Coordinates: 18 ° 32 ′ 9 ″ N , 31 ° 49 ′ 27 ″ E
The pyramids of Jebel Barkal ( Arabic جبل بركل Dschabal Barkal , DMG Ǧabal Barkal , also Gebel Barkal ) are an ancient cemetery in Sudan in the west of the Jebel Barkal , which belonged to the Nubian city of Napata .
They are located between the 3rd and 4th Nile Cataracts, on the right (here western) bank of the Nile , about three kilometers southwest of today's city of Karima . During the first scientific excavation at Jebel Barkal from 1916 to 1920, 25 pyramids were uncovered under the direction of George A. Reisner. Since 2003, they stand together with other buildings in the region on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites .
Dating
The dating of the pyramids is difficult because they have been partially destroyed and, with one exception, no royal names have been found. Therefore, very few can be attributed to a particular owner and it is possible that none of them are a royal pyramid. Two groups of pyramids are distinguished according to the different architectural styles. The more southern, older group is dated to the time after Nastasen (ruled around 320 BC), around 250 BC. Dated. No king names were found here. With the exception of a few lower rows of stones, only the inner cones of rubble have been preserved as hills compared to the original shape.
The pyramids of the northern group belong to the Meroe period and are dated to the 1st century BC. They are among the best preserved pyramids in Sudan. The new Meroe style is evident in the smooth corner strips, which lead straight up in a straight line and stand out from the stepped surfaces. Ten pyramids have been preserved in this style at Meroe, and eight at Jebel Barkal. In contrast to their predecessors with two burial chambers, these pyramids have three chambers one behind the other, which, as usual, could be reached from the east via a long staircase. Members of a local dynasty independent of Meroe may have been buried. Only the name of Queen Nawidemak is known from one of the pyramids.
List of pyramids
| Surname | king | comment |
|---|---|---|
| Bar 1 | unknown | |
| Bar 2 | king | Name unknown |
| Bar 3 | queen | Name unknown |
| Bar 4 | queen | Name unknown |
| Bar 5 | unknown | |
| Bar 6 | Queen Navidemak | |
| Bar 7 | Sabrakamani Chaemnape | Assignment uncertain |
| Bar 8 | unknown | |
| Bar 9 | king | Name unknown |
| Bar 10 | queen | Name unknown |
| Bar 11 | unknown | |
| Bar 14 | king | Name unknown |
| Bar 16 | unknown | |
| Bar 17 | unknown | |
| Bar 20 | unknown | |
| Bar 21 | unknown | |
| Bar 22 | unknown | |
| Bar 25 | unknown |
See also
literature
- Dows Dunham : Royal tombs at Meroë and Barkal. ( The Royal Cemeteries of Kush , Volume 4) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Mass.) 1957.
