Meroe, Bajrawia, Northern Sudan

Photo entitled 'Another World'. Taken in Meroe, Bajrawia, Northern Sudan by Sudanese photographer Vit Hassan. See Vit's photostream at Flickr.

Found whilst browsing for the history of Meroe -
from The Italian Tourism Co. Ltd.:

Northern Sudan is one of Africa's most mysterious destination.The Nile river crosses the Sahara desert and along its valley lie very interesting archaeological sites of Egyptian and Meroitic civilization still unknown to the public. There are more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt.  The Nubian desert, the Eastern part of the Sahara desert and the Nile Cataracts, are only some of Sudan's natural wonders.

 

The Italian Tourism Co. Ltd., the only incoming operator owned by European, offers only the best itineraries, the best accommodations, the best organization. Our staff knows all the archaeological sites, the hidden Nubian villages, the nomads' settlements, the more spectacular desert landscapes.  Our Company operates from Khartoum where a full operation office with Europeans staff is open during the tourism season (October to April).

 

A professional approach, care for details, experienced tour leaders and high-quality food and equipment form part of The Italian Tourism Company. Each tour is led by an experienced and highly competent European tour leader (English and French speaking), fully-trained Sudanese tour staff including experienced desert drivers and cooks.

 

The magnificence of the archaeological ruins and the impressiveness of the pyramids are testimonial of the quality and of the importance of the Egyptian civilisation in the valley of the Nile. 

The most import historical phase begins when the Egyptian Pharaohs conquered the whole Nubian territory leaving the funerary temples and playing an important role on the local culture. 

Then after a silent period, we have information regarding the birth of a new reign called Kushitic with Napata as its capital (near the actual Karima). With it the golden Nubian period begins; in 725 b.C. the Nubian king Piankhi conquered Egypt. In this period the custom of building temples as mortuary monuments begins in Nubia after having been abandoned for several centuries in Egypt.

 

The Nubian pyramids have no mortuary room inside, the real tomb is dug inside the rock below and is connected with the outside with an inclined tunnel with a small temple at its access. Meroe was the most important centre in Sudan for a few centuries. Towards the 4th century a.C. the city undergoes a decline phase, when the Ethiopian Christian king of Axum, Ezana, invaded Meroe and with this it was put an end to long history of the Kushitic dynasty.

 

The Italian Tourism team awaits you to host for a wonderful experience in Northern Sudan.

”…two shapes, above all, will remain in the minds of those who have visited this archaic country: the profile of the Kushitic sharp, pointed and light pyramids and the beauty of the bodies and faces of the Nubian people…”