Our first view of the famous Pyramids of Meroë seen from the main Atbara-Khartoum road |
The Meroë Pyramids are also referred to as the Al Bajrawia Pyramids (Begarawiyah) |
Modern ruins near the Pyramids of Meroë, perhaps a former hotel |
The Pyramids of Meroë (Begarawiyah) - Northern Cemetery |
Royal Cemeteries of Meroe North and South Group of Pyramids |
Oh no...camel guys...let's hope they're not as annoying as Egypt |
The only other tourists we spotted at Meroë |
Sand dune, Meroë |
The Pyramids of Meroë date to the Napata Period of the Kingdom of Kush (ca 800-280 BC) |
The Pyramids of Meroë were discovered by western science in 1821 |
The site was heavily damaged in 1834 by an Italian treasure hunter |
Archaeologists excavated Meroë in 1844 and again 1902-1905 |
Pyramids of Meroë rising out of the sand |
The northern group consists of 44 pyramids |
Beg. N5 - Pyramid of Prince Arik-kharer, son of Amanitore |
The occupants of around half of the pyramids have been identified |
Sandy desert around the Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N5 (left) and Beg. N4 - Pyramid of King Aman-tekha (right), Meroë |
Northern group pyramids 9-13 seen from the southwest, Meroë |
Looking north - Pyramids 8-13, Meroë |
Pyramids 8-14 at Meroë with a gap at Pyramid 10 |
Beg. N8 - The Pyramid of Nahirqa(?) (Nayakhensan-mery-Isis ?) |
Dune at the northern pyramid group, Meroë |
Sanddune, Pyramids of Meroë |
Detail of pyramid Beg. N8 - the tomb of Nahirqa(?) (Nayakhensan-mery-Isis ?) |
Looking north from Pyramid 8 to Pyramids 9-13 with 14 alone at the end - Beg. N10 has been totally destroyed |
Several pyramids have been reconstructed by the Sudan Antiquities Department |
West face of Beg. N8 - Pyramids of Meroë |
Looking north from Pyramid 9 to Pyramids 11-13 with 14 alone at the end. Beg. N10 has been destroyed |
Beg. N14 - King's Pyramid (unidentified) at the northwest corner of the North Cemetery, Meroë |
Beg. N12 - the Pyramid of Kandake Shanakdakhete (right) and Beg. N13, the pyramid of an unknown king |
Beg. N11 - Pyramid of Queen (Nahirqa?), Meroë |
It is really a shame that these magnificent pyramids, which survived in tact for over 2000 years, were damaged so badly in 1834 |
Beg. N12 - the Pyramid of Kandake Shanakdakhete (right) and Beg. N13, the pyramid of an unknown king |
Beg. N11 (left) with a gap at the site of Beg. N10, then Beg. N9 and Beg. N8 on the right |
Beg. N12 - the Pyramid of Kandake Shanakdakhete (right) and Beg. N13, the pyramid of an unknown king |
Beg. N14 (left) and Beg. N13 (right), Northern Cemetery, Pyramids of Meroë |
Beg. N14, Pyramid of an unidentified king |
Beg. N15 is a mere mound in front of Pyramids 12-14, Meroë |
The northwest corner of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë, looking southeast |
The northwest corner of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë, looking southeast (tip of Beg. N20 on the left) |
eg. N20 - King's Pyramid (unidentified), Meroë |
eg. N20 - King's Pyramid (unidentified), Meroë |
Beg. N21 - King's Pyramid (unidentified), Meroë |
Restored chapel on the eastern face of pyramid Beg. N20, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N20, Meroë |
Looking south across the Northern Cemetery at Meroë from Beg. N20; Beg. N19 is the restored pyramid King Tarekeniwal |
View of the Southern Cemetery at Meroë with a camel-man trying to get my attention |
Camels settling in for the wait |
Beg. N19 - Pyramid of King Tarekeniwal (restored), 2nd C. AD |
At one time, all the Merotic pyramids had similar chapels to Beg. N20 |
Peak of Beg. N21 behind a dune - King's Pyramid (unidentified) |
Pyramid Beg. N21 |
Thankfully, the camel-jockeys at Meroë are not nearly as persistent as their cousins in Giza |
View to the north of the Royal Cemetery, Meroë |
Beg. N21 - King's Pyramid (unidentified) |
Beg. N21 - King's Pyramid (unidentified), Meroë |
Late afternoon sun behind the pyramids of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Beg. N22 - The Pyramid of King Natakamani, ca 20 BC |
Looking across the valley to the pyramids of the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
The Pyramid of King Natakamani sits away from the main set of pyramids at Meroë |
Sun behind the pyramid Beg N.21 |
Sand Dunes, Meroë, Sudan |
Sand Dunes, Meroë, Sudan |
The Southern Royal Cemetery, Meroë |
Beg. N22 - The Pyramid of King Natakamani, southwest corner |
Beg. N22 - The Pyramid of King Natakamani, Meroë |
Late afternoon sun behind the pyramids of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Beg. N22 - The Pyramid of King Natakamani, Meroë |
Five camels for three tourists - Meroë |
Five camels waiting for us - they're wasting their time |
Camels at Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N20 with the sand dunes of Meroë |
Pyramids Beg. N21 and Beg. N22, Meroë |
Man on a camel passing in front of the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
The Southern Cemetery of Meroë contains fewer pyramids than the Northern Cemetery |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
View of the northern pyramid group from the southern group, Meroë |
The three tourists at Meroë |
So far I have been unable to find a map with the Southern Cemetery's pyramids labeled |
A crumbling pyramid in the Southern Cemetery |
Patterns in the sand, Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. S7 on the left |
Pyramid Beg. S7 on the left |
Sand and Pyramid Beg. S7 with the Northern Cemetery in the distance |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Panoramic view of the southern hills at Meroë |
Panoramic view from the sanddune at the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Panoramic view from the sanddune at the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
View from the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Three pyramids in the Southern Cemetery |
Pyramid Beg S.10, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Hill above the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
The Southern and Northern pyramid groups, Meroë |
The Southern and Northern pyramid groups, Meroë |
The Southern pyramid group in the foreground, Meroë |
Pyramids of Meroë |
The ridge south of Meroë |
Pyramids of Meroë from the southern hill |
Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramids of Meroë, late afternoon |
Panoramic view of the valley beyond the southern hills at Meroë |
Sunset at the Pyramids of Meroë from the southern hill |
Sunset, Meroë |
Sunset, Meroë |
Sunset, Meroë |
Mahmoud preparing dinner at our camp on the south side of the southern hill |
We camped out beyond the southern hill |
Mahmoud at camp, Meroë |
Orion |
Dawn, Meroë |
Climbing the southern hill for sunrise, Meroë |
Just before sunrise at the Pyramids of Meroë |
The Pyramids of Meroë at sunrise - we've got the place to ourselves...not even the camel-guys are out yet |
Sunrise, Meroë |
The first rays of light touch the northern pyramids, Meroë |
First rays of light on the Northern Cemetery (Beg. N11-N12-N13) |
The morning light illuminating the northern pyramids while the hill keeps the southern pyramids in shadow |
Sunrise from the southern hill, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë, at sunrise |
Pyramid Beg N.20, Meroë, at sunrise |
Northern Cemetery at sunrise, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery at sunrise, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery at sunrise, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery at sunrise, Meroë |
The sun climbs high enough to light up the tallest pyramid in the southern group |
Looking west towards the Nile from the southern hill, Meroë |
Early morning, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery from the eastern hill, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery from the eastern hill, Meroë |
All the pyramids of the southern group now in the sunshine |
Southern Cemetery as the sun climbs over the ridge |
Pyramids of the Southern Cemetery of Meroë, very early morning |
Pyramids of Meroë, early morning from the southern hill |
Pyramids of Meroë, early morning from the southern hill |
Pyramids of the Southern Cemetery in the foreground |
Early morning at the Pyramids of Meroë |
Hiking along the ridge to the south and east of Meroë |
The Pyramids of Meroë with the green belt along the Nile in the distance |
Pyramids of the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramids of the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Black rock partially covered by sand, Meroë |
The Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery pyramids, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Meroë, early morning |
Northern Cemetery pyramids, Meroë |
Lone tree on the desert floor, Meroë |
Photographer at work, Meroë |
The Northern Pyramids, Meroë |
The Northern Pyramids, Meroë |
That looks like another good hill to climb, Meroë |
Sanddune snaking its way up a hill, Meroë |
Sanddune with the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Sanddune with the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Meroë from the east |
The Pyramids of Meroë from the eastern hill |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery from the eastern hill, Meroë |
On top of the eastern hill, Meroë |
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Sudan |
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Sudan |
Dune at Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramids Beg. N21 and Beg. N22, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22 off on its own, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22 rising out of the sand, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery from the east, Meroë |
Sand and the pyramids of Meroë |
Sand Dune, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Meroë |
The pyramids of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
The Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22, Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N22 |
Chapel of Pyramid Beg. N22, Meroë |
The main cluster of pyramids in the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Pyramids of Meroë |
Morning is the best time to photograph the chapels on the eastern faces of the pyramids, Meroë |
Many smaller pyramids sit in front of the main line in the Northern Cemetery |
Pyramids of Meroë |
Morning at the Pyramids of Meroë |
Morning at the Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. N21, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramids of Meroë, Northern Cemetery |
Pyramid Beg. N21 |
Pyramids of Meroë, Northern Cemetery |
Trygve and Karen at the Pyramids of Meroë |
Trygve and Karen Inda, Sudan |
Me on a cold morning at the Pyramids of Meroë |
Pyramid Beg N.21, Meroë |
Central pyramid cluster of the Northern Cemetery, |
Pyramid Beg N.19 in the center, restored |
Pyramid Beg N.20, Meroë |
Central pyramid cluster of the Northern Cemetery, |
Side view of Pyramid Beg. N21 looking north |
Pyramid Beg N.20, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg N.19 in the center, restored |
Pyramid Beg N.19 on the right and Beg N. 32 on the left |
Pyramids Beg N. 32 and Beg N. 19 |
Pyramids Beg N. 32 and Beg N. 19, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg N. 19, Meroë |
Northern pyramids Beg N. 20, Beg N. 21 and Beg. N 22 |
Pyramid Beg N. 20, Meroë |
Pyramid of King Tarekeniwal (Beg. N19) with the pyramids 11-13 on the right |
Fine chapel of Pyramid Beg. N19 |
Carving of King Tarekeniwal smiting his enemies |
Carving of King Tarekeniwal smiting his enemies |
Carvings of King Tarekeniwal smiting his enemies on Pyramid Beg. N19 |
Close up of the chapel and pyramid summit |
Pyramid No. 19 reconstructed 1980, Sudan Antiquities Service |
The tops of many of the pyramids were dynamited by an Italian treasure hunter in 1834 (Beg. N11) |
Pyramid Beg. N18 (center-left) |
Restored pyramids Beg. N32 and Beg. N19 |
Ruins of Pyramid Beg. N17 |
The tiny pyramid (Beg. N36) in front and to the right of the larger pyramid Beg. N7 |
Pyramid Beg. N4, the tomb of King Amanitecha, 3rd C. BC |
Pyramid Beg. N5, Tomb of Arikancharora, a prince or general |
Carving on Pyramid Beg. N5 |
Pyramid Beg. N5, Tomb of Arikancharora, a prince or general |
Carving over the door of Pyramid Beg. N5 |
Side view of the chapel of Pyramid Beg. N6 |
Northern Cemetery starting with Pyramid Beg. N6 on the left |
Northern Cemetery of Meroë - Pyramid Beg. N3 on left |
Pyramid Beg. N1 - Tomb of King Amanitore, ca 50 AD |
Pyramids of Meroë |
Panoranic view of the Northern Cemetery, Meroë |
We just about managed to complete our morning visit to Meroë before the first camel guys showed up |
Sudanese men looking to offer tourists camel rides, Meroë |
Northern Cemetery of Meroë with sand dune |
Northern Cemetery, Pyramids of Meroë |
Northern Cemetery of Meroë |
Northern Cemetery of Meroë |
Morning sun over the pyramids of the Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. S10 - the chapel was restored 1997-2001 by F. W. Hinkel |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Pyramid Beg. S10 - the chapel was restored 1997-2001 by F. W. Hinkel |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
Southern Cemetery, Meroë |
The luxury tented camp to the north of Meroë |
Begrawyia Archaeological Security Police, Sudan |
Meroë Royal City - near the Nile around 3km west of the Pyramids of Meroë |
A very worn out statue of a ram, Meroë Royal City |
Ruins of the Royal City of Meroë, former capital of the Kingdom of Kush |
Remains of the Temple of Amun, 270 BC, Meroë Royal City |
Carved stone from the Temple of Amun, Meroë Royal City |
Royal City of Meroë |
Ancient stone stairs, Royal City of Meroë |
Twisted acacia tree at the Royal City |
Royal City of Meroë |
Royal City of Meroë - palace ruins |
Royal City of Meroë - palace ruins |
Standing column at the Royal City of Meroë |
Pyramids of the necropolis of the Nobles 2km west of the Royal Cemetery |
Sudan Railroad passing the Royal City, Meroë |