Pyramids of Meroë

The Pyramids of Meroë are a large number of Nubian pyramids, encompassing three cemeteries near the ancient city of Meroë. The Meroë pyramids date to the later stage of the Kingdom of Kush (3rd century BCE–4th century CE) and were burial places for Kushite monarchs, other members of the royal family, and important officials and dignitaries.

Pyramids of Meroë

Pyramids of Meroë
Pyramids of Meroë Shown within Northeast Africa Show map of Northeast Africa Pyramids of Meroë Pyramids of Meroë (Sudan) Show map of Sudan
Location	River Nile State, Sudan
Region	Nubia
Coordinates	16°56′18″N 33°44′57″E
Type	Settlement
History
Cultures	Nubian (Kingdom of Kush)
Site notes
Condition	Ruins, partly restored

The three cemeteries collectively encompass over a thousand graves, out of which at least 147 were pyramids. The majority of the pyramids (at least 82) are from the southern cemetery and were not burials of royals.

On 8 September 2020, the pyramids were threatened for the first time by floods.

Pyramids and burials

Securely identified pyramids are marked with bold text.

Southern cemetery

The southern cemetery was used for royal Kushite burials for the first two or three generations in the Meroitic period (270 BCE onwards).^[1] The southern cemetery includes c. 220 burials, at least 90 of which had superstructures. Of these 90, at least 24 were pyramids.^[2] The tombs in this cemetery have been heavily pillaged.^[3]

• Beg. S 4 – Queen (non-ruling) Kanarta^[4]
• Beg. S 5 – King Amanislo^[5]
• Beg. S 6 – King Arakamani^[6]
• Beg. S 10 – Queen (non-ruling) Bartare^[1][7] (a.k.a. Karatari)^[8]
• Beg. S 503 – Queen (non-ruling) Khennuwa^[9]

• 
  The Southern Cemetery of Meroë
• 
  Detail of the Southern Cemetery. The large pyramids belong to Kings Arqamani and Amanislo

The Pyramids of Meroe

Northern cemetery

After briefly using the southern cemetery, the northern cemetery became the main site for royal burials.^[1] The northern cemetery contains 41 known pyramids, from 30 kings, eight queens regnant, and three other individuals (crown princes?).^[10]

Pyramids of Meroe (North Cemetery) at sun rise

Destructions

Great pyramid N6 , belonging to Queen Amanishakheto, before and after its destruction by the treasure-hunter Giuseppe Ferlini in the 1830s

Nubian pyramids of Meroë in 1821, by Frédéric Cailliaud

The North Cemetery

• Beg. N 1 – Queen Amanitore^[11]
• Beg. N 2 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Amanikhabale^[12]
• Beg. N 3^[13]
• Beg. N 4 – King Amantekha^[14]
• Beg. N 5 – Unidentified, perhaps Prince Arikhankharer^[15]
• Beg. N 6 – Queen Amanishakheto^[16]
• Beg. N 7 – King Arqamani^[17]
• Beg. N 8 – King (...)mr(...)t,^[18] perhaps identical with Adikhalamani^[18]
• Beg. N 9 – King Tabirqo,^[18] perhaps identical with Adikhalamani^[19]
• Beg. N 10 – Unidentified king, unused tomb^[20]
• Beg. N 11 – Unidentified queen regnant,^[21] perhaps Queen Nahirqo.^[21] The largest pyramid in the northern cemetery.^[10]
• Beg. N 12 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Tanyidamani^[22]
• Beg. N 13 – Unidentified king, likely King Naqyrinsan^[23]
• Beg. N 14 – Unidentified and destroyed, perhaps an unidentified king.^[24]
• Beg. N 15 – Unidentified and destroyed, perhaps an unidentified ruler.^[25]
• Beg. N 16 – Unidentified king; this pyramid was rebuilt at a later time. Perhaps King Amanikhareqerem (original)^[26] and King Aryesbokhe (rebuilt).^[27]
• Beg. N 17 – King Amanitenmemide^[28]
• Beg. N 18 – Queen Amanikhatashan^[29]
• Beg. N 19 – King Tarekeniwal^[27]
• Beg. N 20 – Unidentified king with the Horus name k₃-nht,^[30] perhaps King Teriteqas^[26]
• Beg. N 21 – Unidentified ruler,^[31] perhaps Queen Shanakdakhete^[31]
• Beg. N 22 – King Natakamani^[32]
• Beg. N 24 – Unidentified, perhaps an unidentified king.^[33]
• Beg. N 25 – Unidentified queen regnant,^[27] perhaps Queen Amanipilade^[34]
• Beg. N 26 – Unidentified queen regnant,^[27] perhaps Queen Patrapeamani^[35]
• Beg. N 27 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Tamelerdeamani^[27]
• Beg. N 28 – King Teqorideamani^[33]
• Beg. N 29 – King Takideamani^[36]
• Beg. N 30 – Unidentified, perhaps an unidentified king.^[37]
• Beg. N 32 – Unidentified queen regnant,^[27] perhaps Queen Amanikhalika^[38]
• Beg. N 34 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Aritenyesbokhe^[27]
• Beg. N 35 – Unidentified, perhaps an unidentified king^[39]
• Beg. N 36 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Amanitaraqide^[27]
• Beg. N 37 – Unidentified king, perhaps King (.)p(...)niñ^[35]
• Beg. N 38 – Unidentified king, perhaps King (...)k(...)^[35]
• Beg. N 40 – Unidentified, perhaps an unidentified king.^[24]
• Beg. N 41 – Unidentified, perhaps an unidentified king.^[24]
• Beg. N 43 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Amanikhedolo^[36]
• Beg. N 51 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Yesebokheamani^[27]
• Beg. N 53 – Unidentified king, perhaps King Arnekhamani^[40]
• Beg. N 56 – Unidentified, perhaps Prince Arikakahtani^[41]

Treasures and artifacts of the North Cemetery

Numerous treasures were discovered in the pyramids since the 19th century.

• 
  Lamp with handle in the shape of a horse, from the pyramid of Queen Amanikhatashan in Meroë (c.62-c.85 CE). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• 
  Usekh collar of queen Amanishakheto
• 
  Bracelet from the tomb of Amanishakheto
• 
  Some of the treasures found by Ferlini in the pyramid of queen Amanishakheto
• 
  Wall of the Pyramid chapel of Amanitenmemide
• 
  Detail of Pyramid Chapel Beg. N1

Western cemetery

The West Cemetery at Meroë

The western cemetery saw the longest continuous use, with burials dating back to the 9th century BCE. The western cemetery contains no burials of monarchs and was instead used by non-royal elites.^[42] There are over 800 graves in the western cemetery, out of which at least 82 were pyramids.^[42]

• Beg. W 19 – Prince Tedeqen^[43]

See also

• List of monarchs of Kush
• El-Kurru pyramids
• Jebel Barkal pyramids
• Sedeinga pyramids
• Nuri pyramids