Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple
Meroitic (300 BCE–300 CE Great Enclosure; Lion Temple 230 BCE Arnekhamani)·Meroitic (Arnekhamani, Amanitore) with elephant training centre·🇸🇩 River Nile State, Butana, Musawwarat es-Sufra, 35 km north of Naqa, Wadi es-Sufra, Sudan
About
About Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple
Musawwarat excavated by Hintze 1960–, Apedemak lion temple and elephant ramp. Recorded context — Period: Meroitic (300 BCE–300 CE Great Enclosure; Lion Temple 230 BCE Arnekhamani); Culture: Meroitic (Arnekhamani, Amanitore) with elephant training centre; Field status: excavated; Materials: sandstone, elephant ramp, fresco lion; Condition: preserved — UNESCO 2011.
Why it mattersKey Meroitic (Arnekhamani, Amanitore) with elephant training centre temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
- 02Ceremonial centre
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. 230 BCE Lion Temple; Great Enclosure 200 BCE
- Period
- Meroitic (300 BCE–300 CE Great Enclosure; Lion Temple 230 BCE Arnekhamani)
- Culture
- Meroitic (Arnekhamani, Amanitore) with elephant training centre
- Purpose
- Great Enclosure (500 m walls, 20 temples) with Lion Temple of Apedemak and elephant pens — Meroitic pilgrimage/elephant training centre
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1929
- Excavation
- Excavated
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple
c. 230 BCE Lion Temple; Great Enclosure 200 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple
c. 400 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple
On the ground
Structures & features
16.4250° N · 33.3260° E · 440 m · 3 mapped features
- Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — Principal Templetempletemple at Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — primary structure16.4233° N · 33.3272° E
- Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — Northern Altaraltaraltar at Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — subsidiary complex16.4236° N · 33.3257° E
- Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — Shrine Annex 3shrineshrine at Musawwarat es-Sufra — Great Enclosure and Lion Temple — subsidiary complex16.4270° N · 33.3240° E
Gallery