The untold story: the number of pyramids in Sudan is twice as many as the pyramids in Egypt

Sudan was once home to the Kingdom of Kush, a rival to Egypt that embraced its neighbor's culture and beliefs. The city of Meroe became its capital, where more than 30 kings were buried amid 200 pyramids. In comparison, there are only 118 pyramids in all of Egypt. The story of its rise and fall, its slender pyramids, and its ambitious rulers is a fascinating story that began more than 5,000 years ago.

"Black Pharaohs" and the Renaissance of the Nubian Empire

For 200 years, around 3000 BC, the Egyptian pharaohs sent their army south along the Nile in search of gold and granite for statues, ostrich feathers and slaves. They later built forts and temples to prove their dominance over the Nubians. The Nubians were the first inhabitants of the Middle Nile Valley, present-day northern Sudan and southern Egypt, and are believed to be among the first cradles of civilization.

The open area became known as the Kingdom of Kush, as the Kushites adopted all aspects of Egyptian culture, from gods to glyphs. They embraced it to such an extent that when the Egyptian Empire collapsed in 1070 BC, the Nubian dynasty, led by Alara, King of Kush, led the renaissance of Egyptian culture, including the construction of their own pyramids.

As the Nubian dynasty flourished militarily and economically, believing that they were the true sons of the Egyptian god Amun, they invaded their neighbors to the north. Alara's grandson, Beyi, moved to Egypt to rebuild the great temples, extending control over the entire Nile Valley, from Libya to Palestine to what is now modern Khartoum. Bey became the first pharaoh of Egypt's Twenty-fifth Dynasty, and Egypt was ruled for nearly 100 years by leaders now called the "Black Pharaohs."

Bei died in 715 BC, after reigning for 35 years. Although he returned to Nubia after the conquest of Egypt, he wished to be buried in the Egyptian style, a request to which his subjects agreed. Beyi, buried in the pyramid, was the first pharaoh more than 500 years ago to be buried in this way.

The reign of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty and the Black Pharaohs ended in turmoil when the Assyrian invasion of Egypt led to its fall from power. The victors deleted the names of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty from monuments throughout Egypt, destroying their statues and monuments to erase their names from history.

Founding of Meroe

After the Nubian pharaohs lost power, they retreated south to the city of Meroe, which lay along the Nile River and became the new capital. This new location was strategically located not only at the crossroads of African inland trade routes and caravan routes coming from the Red Sea, but also had significant natural resources – iron and gold mines that promoted the development of the mineral industry, especially goldsmiths. Meroe became the last great burial site for the royal pharaohs of Kush.

Pyramids of Meroe

Because of Meroe's distance from Cairo, the Kushites were able to retain their independence, developing their vibrant hybrid of Egyptian culture and religion until much of the fourth century CE. The Meroites built temples, palaces, and royal baths in their capital, but their greatest achievement was the construction of more than 200 tall pyramids in the Meroe cemetery, giving Sudan more pyramids compared to the whole of Egypt (255 in total compared to 118 in Egypt). . Some of the most impressive tombs here are the final resting place of thirty kings, eight queens and three princes.

Although less known than the collection of pyramids in Giza in Egypt, the Merowe complex in Sudan is striking. The pyramids, primarily dating from 300 BC to 350 AD, represent the tombs of the kings of the Kingdom of Kush. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet it still suffers from relatively little visit. The Nubian pyramids differ from the Egyptian pyramids in that they are smaller – six to 27 meters on the side, compared to the 230-meter-long Great Pyramid – with steeper sides. While the ancient Egyptians largely abandoned the pyramids and took refuge in hidden tombs, the Nubians continued to use the pyramids, most of which were built 2,000 years later than those in Giza.

By 300 CE, the kingdom of Kush was in decline. Diminishing agriculture and increased raids from Ethiopia and Rome led to the end of their rule. The advent of Christianity and Islam followed, and prayers to the Egyptian god Amun faded from memory.

Giuseppe Verleney, the robber of the pyramids

Over the centuries, rumours have spread about the relics of Meroe and the gold they contain, eventually reaching the Italian tomb robber Giuseppe Verleini. In 1834, Verleney arrived in Meroe, where he proceeded to loot the graves, which Frederick Cailliud had found "in good condition" just a few years earlier. In the Ban Naga valley, he leveled the pyramid of Amanishakhito starting from the top, and finally found its treasure of dozens of gold and silver jewelry. Overall, it is responsible for the destruction of more than 40 pyramids, damage that archaeologists still lament.

While Sudan's tourism industry is still small compared to Egypt and can be difficult to get around, there are plenty of reasons why a muqdam loves to visit. Historical sites such as temples, mosques and tombs are among the best places to visit, while scuba diving is equally appealing and offers some of the best experiences in the Red Sea.