The Other Pyramids

The main pyramids that we are most familiar, we associate with Egypt, and they are the three great Pyramids of Giza. But scattered throughout the area controlled by Egyptian kings lie hundreds of other lesser pyramids and ziggurats. But they were not the only ones to fully embrace their style of pyramids and incorporate them as tombs. Far to the south, controlling the regions of the lower Nile the Nubian Kings built hundreds of other lesser pyramids.

These Nubian pharaohs of Egypt’s 25^th dynasty, themselves took the Egyptian style of building and created hundreds of burial complexes first in Nuri and later in Meroe. These fields are riddled with small pyramids containing Kings and queens alike.

But even more how similar these monuments looked to there brothers in Upper Egypt at Giza.

As well as the scope found, specifically in Meroe

The difference though was more interesting. The Nubians would build them on a much smaller scale, more similar to today’s mausoleums; a less expensive and less time consuming but know less important and no lacking in meaning. They had a sharper angle giving them a more pronounced point. Also these were built more for markers then actual chambers with the tombs more in front and below the pyramids then in them. But they were also built with large temple like entrances devoted to a specific god or goddess to pray for the dead ruler.

Interestingly, the remains of horses were also found. They were buried upright and amazingly enough were missing their heads. They were draped and covered in long strings of beads and shells and plum ornamentals. They were supposed to be chariot pullers bringing the dead to the afterlife. I find it incredibly interesting that they would bury the horse’s upright but more so, why were the heads not buried with the animals following the sacrificial decapitation?

Nubian Pyramids