Another upsetting factoid: the sleek, sturdy Meroitic pyramids originally had pointed tops, just as the Egyptian ones did. What happened? In 1834, this remote region had the bad luck to be found by a crazed treasure hunter. He stumbled around, bashing into ruins at random, and pried off the top of a least one pyramid, searching for treasure. He discovered a few pieces of gold jewelry belonging to one of the Kandake queens, although experts seriously doubt that it was hidden in the solid rocky top of a Meroe pyramid. After the news of his golden find spread throughout Europe, it motivated other unscrupulous types to ravage Nubia and decapitate their graceful pyramids one by one, in futile searches for treasure.
The untold story that connects all the dots.
If you've ever visited New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, you may have walked through the magnificent exhibit called the Temple of Dendur. Although petite, it's a genuine relic, over 2000 years old. Covered with hieroglyphs, it gives off that wonderful, slightly spooky vibe that all monuments Egyptian seem to have.
The Temple of Dendur was given to the US as a thank-you from the Egyptians. Prior to opening the Aswan Dam, they asked for American financial help to relocate some of their monuments to higher ground. Despite being an Egyptian gift, the Temple of Dendur has a fascinating, Meroitic-Egyptian story that dates to Queen Amanirena's day in the first century B.C.
This graceful sandstone temple once sat near the Nile River at Dendur. Its original purpose? To serve as a potent symbol of the showdown between the all-powerful Roman Empire and Amanirenas, the battle-savvy queen and ruler of Meroe.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
2
1
