Nubian Pyramids Erased from History

The Nubian Pyramids: More Numerous Than Egypt's But Deliberately Erased From History On November 1, 1820, Italian explorer Giuseppe Ferlini arrived in Meroe, a small village in modern-day Sudan, where he encountered the remnants of a vast ancient city. Ferlini's discovery sparked a wave of interest in the region, but the true significance of his findings would take centuries to uncover. Historian Basil Davidson would later visit the site in 1965, shedding new light on the history of the Nubian pyramids.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that ancient Egypt was the sole repository of pyramid-building expertise, with the Great Pyramids of Giza being the pinnacle of architectural achievement. The standard story goes that the Egyptians built these massive structures as tombs for their pharaohs, and that the practice of pyramid-building died out with the decline of the Egyptian empire. However, this narrative overlooks the fact that another ancient civilization, the Nubians, also built pyramids, and in greater numbers than the Egyptians.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Kathryn A. Bard argues in her book "An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt" that the Nubian pyramids were built between 200 and 300 AD, with the majority constructed during the Kushite period. According to historian Robert Morkot, who wrote "The Blacks in Ancient Egypt", the Nubian kingdom of Kush was a major power in the ancient world, with its capital at Meroe. The Nubians built at least 220 pyramids, compared to the approximately 130 pyramids built by the Egyptians. German explorer and historian Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who traveled to Nubia in 1814, documented many of these pyramids in his writings. Burckhardt's accounts, along with those of other historians such as William George Browne, who visited the region in 1792, demonstrate that the Nubian pyramids were an integral part of the region's architectural landscape. By 1821, Ferlini had already begun excavating the pyramids, and his findings were later published in his book "Voyage sur la côte orientale de la mer Rouge". As historian Basil Davidson notes in his book "Africa in History", the Nubian pyramids were deliberately erased from history, with many being destroyed or left to decay, and their existence ignored or downplayed by European historians.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Karl Richard Lepsius and John Gardner Wilkinson deliberately omitted the Nubian pyramids from their records, focusing instead on the Egyptian pyramids. The decision to exclude Nubian pyramids was likely driven by the prevailing Eurocentric view of ancient history, which prioritized Greek and Roman civilizations over African ones. As a result, the Nubian pyramids were left out of popular accounts of ancient history, and their existence was gradually forgotten. The Egyptian Antiquities Service, led by Auguste Mariette, also played a significant role in suppressing the history of the Nubian pyramids, as they concentrated on excavating and preserving Egyptian sites. This deliberate exclusion was further exacerbated by the fact that many Nubian pyramids were destroyed or damaged during the construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s, erasing physical evidence of their existence. The lack of attention and funding for Nubian archaeological sites also hindered the preservation and study of these pyramids.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Nubian pyramids' history had a direct impact on the development of Sudanese tourism, as the country's rich cultural heritage was overlooked in favor of Egyptian attractions. The construction of the Aswan Dam, which flooded large areas of Nubian land, also displaced thousands of people, leading to the loss of cultural traditions and historical knowledge. One specific modern consequence of this event is the design of the Sudanese pound, which features an image of the Nubian pyramids, a nod to the country's forgotten history. The lack of recognition for Nubian pyramids also affected the livelihoods of local communities, who could have benefited from tourism and cultural preservation efforts.

The Line That Says It All

The Nubian pyramids remain a footnote in most history books, a forgotten chapter in the story of ancient Africa.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Nubian Kingdom and ancient African history.