Meroë North Cemetery — Pyramid Beg. N.9 (King Tabirqo)
Meroitic Kingdom, c.180–170 BCE·Kushite (Meroitic)·🇸🇩 River Nile State, Bayuda, Meroë North, Sudan
About
About Meroë North Cemetery — Pyramid Beg. N.9 (King Tabirqo)
Royal pyramid Beg. N.9 in North Cemetery of Meroë belonging to King Tabirqo (Adikhalamani Tabirqo, c.180–170 BCE). 18.6 m base, steep 68° sandstone pyramid with pylon chapel and descending stair to pillared chamber. Garstang 1910-12 and Woolley excavations; burial intact with bronze vessels. UNESCO 1336 island of Meroe.
Why it mattersTypical Meroitic steep pyramid with double-pylon chapel; Garstang/Woolley typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tabirqo identification vs Adikhalamani debate
Theories
- 01Meroitic pyramid revival synthesis Napatan steep form
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.180–170 BCE
- Period
- Meroitic Kingdom, c.180–170 BCE
- Culture
- Kushite (Meroitic)
- Builders
- Kushite (Meroë)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb — king Tabirqo (Reisner chronology)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.180–170 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c.500 CE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.1100 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground
Structures & features
16.9389° N · 33.7509° E · 380 m · 2 mapped features
Pylon chapel — west-facing reliefs
chapelPylon entrance chapel with relief of king before Amun and Apedemak
16.9390° N · 33.7508° EVaulted burial chamber and stair
chamberStair descending to two-pillared chamber with vaulted roof and sarcophagus bench
16.9388° N · 33.7510° E