This is the
lost city of Meroë in the sands of Sudan, inside the ancient citadel of the
Black Pharoahs with beautifully maintained pyramids as impressive as their more
famous counterparts in Egypt. It is situated 125 miles north of Sudan’s Capital
Khartoum is rarely visited in spite of being a Unesco World Heritage site. The
Sudan tourism industry has been overwhelmed by economic sanctions imposed over
the conflicts in Darfur and other regions though the famous pyramids of Giza,
the Sudanese site is largely deserted. Although, sanctions against the
government of President Omar al-Bashir long-running internal conflicts limit
its access to foreign aid and donations, while also hampering tourism.
Al-Bashir's government, which came to power following a bloodless Islamist coup
in 1989, has struggled to care for its antiquities. The barren site famous as
the Island of Meroë, as the ancient, long-dried river ran around it, once
served as the principle residence of the rulers of the Kush kingdom - one of
the earliest civilizations in the Nile region and recognized as the Black
Pharaohs. The height of these pyramids is ranging 20 to 100 feet tall, believed
to be built between 720 and 300 B.C.
One photographer Eric Lafforgue said, Egypt
doesn’t have the monopoly on pyramids, as Sudan has several of them, and
discovers new ones are on regular basis.
The entrances usually face east to greet the rising sun. Therefore, the
most beautiful and impressive pyramids form the Meroë Necropolis. However,
UNESCO World Heritage describes the site “The heartland of the Kingdom of Kush,
a major power from the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D.” It is also
explains that the property comprises of the royal city of the Kushite kings at
Meroe and the nearby religious site of Naqa and Musawwarat es Sufra.
Well, Meroë
and others bear the marks of more recent history, with several marked out by
their flat tops and the result of being dynamited by Italian explorer Giuseppe
Ferlini, who is in 1834, came here and pillaged the site. Thus, the pyramids
bear decorative elements inspired by Pharaonic Egypt, Greece and Rome. Though,
overeager archaeologists in the 19th century tore off the golden tips of few
pyramids and diminished some to rubble. In the recent times, local’s
inhabitants reported just a few tourists with white camels roaming the place,
watched by a handful of security guards. Moreover, Qatar has pledged $135
million to renovate and support Sudan's antiquities in the last few years, but
Mr Omar said Sudan still receives just 15,000 tourists per year. Source: Dailymail
