Soleb Temple and Pyramid Field
Soleb · Sulb · Temple of Soleb · Soleb Pyramid Necropolis
New Kingdom (Amenhotep III, 1391–1353 BCE) with Napatan reuse 750 BCE·Egyptian New Kingdom (18th Dynasty, Amenhotep III) Nubian frontier·🇸🇩 Northern State, west bank of Nile north of Third Cataract, Sudan
About
About Soleb Temple and Pyramid Field
Festival temple of Amenhotep III (1400 BCE, Nebmaatre) at Soleb on west bank, 55×25 m sandstone pylon temple dedicated to Amun and deified king, with sphinx avenue to Nile and satellite pyramids/shaft tombs for priests and Kushite reuse (Horemheb to Napatan). Largest Egyptian temple south of Amara West. Five mudbrick shaft pyramids 8–12 m base in adjacent cemetery with chapel reliefs. Excavated Schiff-Giorgini IFAO 1950s–70s, re-studied Beaux and Walsh. Meroitic church overlays temple hypostyle.
Why it mattersSouthernmost full Egyptian temple in Sudan; sed-festival architecture; bridge between Egyptian colonial and Napatan pyramid field at Third Cataract.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Amenhotep III sed temple at this southern frontier
- 02Meroitic church reuse liturgy continuity
Theories
- 01Temple as colonial Jubilee seat legitimising Nubian viceroyalty; later Napatan adoption
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.1380 BCE temple; pyramids c.1400–650 BCE
- Period
- New Kingdom (Amenhotep III, 1391–1353 BCE) with Napatan reuse 750 BCE
- Culture
- Egyptian New Kingdom (18th Dynasty, Amenhotep III) Nubian frontier
- Purpose
- Jubilee (sed-festival) temple for deified Amenhotep III and colonial elite pyramid cemetery at southernmost Egyptian temple-town
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1380 BCE temple; pyramids c.1400–650 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1200–600 BCE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
20.4330° N · 30.3350° E · 215 m · 3 mapped features
Soleb Amun temple
temple55×25 m sandstone pylon temple sed-festival
20.4330° N · 30.3350° ESphinx avenue
avenueAvenue with ram sphinxes to Nile quay
20.4328° N · 30.3355° EPriests' pyramid cemetery
cemeteryCluster of 8–12 m mudbrick pyramids with chapels
20.4340° N · 30.3345° E