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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.
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.
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]
Detail of the Southern Cemetery. The large pyramids belong to Kings
Arqamani and
Amanislo
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]
Destructions
Great pyramid N6 , belonging to Queen
Amanishakheto, before and after its destruction by the treasure-hunter
Giuseppe Ferlini in the 1830s
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]
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]
Chapman, Suzanne E. (1952). The Royal Cemeteries of Kush: Volume III: Decorated Chapels of the Meroitic Pyramids at Meroë and Barkal. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dunham, Dows (1957). The Royal Cemeteries of Kush: Volume IV: Royal Tombs at Meroë and Barkal. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts.