Meroë

Meroe (pronounced [ mero ː ə ]; Greek: Μερόη; demotic: Mrwe, in Egyptian hieroglyphs: Mrw and Brw; meroitisch Medewi; Coptic Ⲡ ⲉ ⲣ ⲟ ⲩ ⲉ; alternative spelling Meroë ) was approximately from 400 BC to 300 AD, the capital of the historic kingdom of Kush. Therefore, the phase with Meroe as the capital is also known as the Kingdom of Meroe. The empire stretched from the great Nilkrümmung in Nubia to the foot of the Abyssinian mountains and was destroyed around 350 AD.

The ruins of temples and three pyramid groups of Meroe in Sudan today is 45 kilometers northeast of Schandi near the village Begrawija. The archaeological sites have been recorded on the proposal of the Sudan to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Structure of the city

The city consists of three parts:

Look in the Royal Baths

Remains of the city

Roman Bath

In the royal city there were the palaces and administrative buildings of the city. Particularly noteworthy is the so-called Roman bath. Here is a spa in the style of the Mediterranean was built. The bathroom was decorated with sculptures in classic style wall paintings, even in a classical style.

Temple complex of Amun

The Great Temple of Amun is oriented away from the Nile and looks more to the rising sun. To this temple around there are several smaller temples grouped. In just under four kilometers can be found in the east of the residential and temple city of the necropolis with numerous pyramids.

Temple of the Sun

Half way between home city and the pyramids is the so-called Temple of the Sun (M 250). This building consisted of an inner temple to the pillars around were ordered. This system was in turn surrounded by a wall. On a relief in the temple an image of this plant took place, so that you can reconstruct quite well. The so-called Temple 292 is also known as the Temple of Augustus. Here was found a bronze head of the Emperor Augustus, in which it is assumed that it is a piece of loot in the fight against the Romans. In the temple, there were paintings that have been preserved only in copies.

Necropolis

Plan of the northern pyramid field

Pyramids of Südfriedhofs in the foreground

Pyramids of the West Cemetery - Noble Tombs

History

The origins of the city are in the dark. In deep excavations there were simple huts. From later period objects with the names of kings Napatan Aspelta and Senkamanisken, suggesting that the city was already early of some importance. During this time, in the cemeteries even senior members of the royal family, for example, the Queen Mernua buried. From Arikamaninote under which the city is first occupied lyrically, we know that the king resided in Meroe and just to top it traveled to Napata and was buried there. Since Ergamenes the kings are buried in Meroe and built their pyramids here. In the Meroitic period more than 40 kings and queens were buried in Meroe. Up to the beginning of the 4th century AD, Meroe capital of the empire remained. The end of the city is not exactly known. While previous research assumed that the city went down with the kingdom of Kush, so there are now signs that they still continued to exist for some time, and possibly the seat of a Kleinkönigtums was. In the 4th century, the city was also invaded by the Aksumites, but probably no longer taught this rule one.

Gallery

Ornament plate at the pyramid N12 (2005)

Painted ceramic vessel from Meroe

Necklace of the Queen Amanishakheto

Royal Baths - display wall, Apedemak figures

Columns to the accessible pool of water

Reception

• The black queens. Documentation, Germany, 2005, 52 min, Director: Dethlev Cordts, Nicola von Oppel, Production: NDR, Summary of arte with four video clips