المصورات الصفراء | |
 Apedemak Lion Temple | |
  Musawwarat es-Sufra Shown within Northeast Africa Show map of Northeast Africa Musawwarat es-Sufra Musawwarat es-Sufra (Sudan) Show map of Sudan | |
| Alternative name | Musawwarat es-Sufra |
|---|---|
| Location | Musawwarat es-Sufra,River Nile (state),Sudan |
| Region | Nubia |
| Coordinates | 16°24′57″N33°19′25″E / 16.41583°N 33.32361°E /16.41583; 33.32361 |
| Type | Sanctuary |
| Official name | Archaeological sites of theIsland of Meroe |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, v |
| Designated | 2011 (35thsession) |
| Reference no. | 1336 |
| Region | Arab States |
Musawwarat es-Sufra (Arabic:المصورات الصفراءal-Musawwarāt as-sufrā,Meroitic:Aborepi,Old Egyptian:jbrp, jpbr-ˁnḫ), also known asAl-Musawarat Al-Sufra, is a largeMeroitic temple complex in modernSudan, dating back to the early Meroitic period of the 3rd century BC.[1] It is located in a large basin surrounded by low sandstone hills in the westernButana, 180 km northeast ofKhartoum, 20 km north ofNaqa and approximately 25 km south-east of theNile. With Meroë and Naqa it is known as theIsland of Meroe, and was listed as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2011.[2] Constructed in sandstone, the main features of the site include theGreat Enclosure, theLion Temple of Apedemak and theGreat Reservoir. Most significant is the number of representations of elephants, suggesting that this animal played an important role at Musawwarat es-Sufra.
The site of Musawwarat es-Sufra was originally mentioned byLinant de Bellefonds in 1822, and then shortly thereafter byFrédéric Cailliaud. The first detailed description of the site was made byCarl Richard Lepsius. Archaeological fieldwork was conducted by the Butana expedition of theHumboldt University of Berlin under the direction of archaeologistFritz Hintze from 1960 until 1970. The team re-erected the Lion Temple, collapsed in antiquity, and constructed a new roof. These investigations continued after a gap of several decades and are ongoing.[3]
The Lion Temple is a single-chambered rectangular 14.21 m in length, 9.13 m in width and 4.7 m in height temple withpylon and six columns made of drums. Erected by KingArnekhamani and dedicated toApedemak the temple bears inscriptions in Egyptian hieroglyphs and representations of elephants and lions on the rear inside wall as well as reliefs of Apedemak depicted as a three-headed god on the outside walls.[4] A 3D model of the Lion Temple can be seenhere. An Animation of the Lion Temple 3D model can be viewhere.
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The Great Enclosure is the main structure of the site. Much of the large labyrinth-like building complex, which covers approximately 45,000 m2, was erected in the third century BC.[5] According to Hintze, "the complicated ground plan of this extensive complex of buildings is without parallel in the entire Nile valley".[6] The maze ofcourtyards includes three (possible) temples, passages, low walls, preventing any contact with the outside world, about 20 columns, ramps and two reservoirs.[7][8]
There were many sculptures of animals, such as elephants and most of the walls of the complex bear graffiti and masons’ or pilgrims' marks both pictorial and inMeroitic or Greek script.[9] The scheme of the site is, so far, without parallel inNubia andancient Egypt, and there is some debate about the purpose of the buildings, with earlier suggestions including a college, a hospital, and an elephant-training camp.[3] According to the scholarBasil Davidson, at least fourKushite queens —Amanirenas,Amanishakheto,Nawidemak andAmanitore — probably spent part of their lives inMusawwarat es-Sufra.[10]
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The Great Reservoir is aHafir to retain as much as possible of the rainfall of the short, wet season. It is 250 m in diameter and excavated 6.3 m into the ground.[11]
TheZamani Project document cultural heritage sites in 3D to create a record for future generations.[12][13][14][15] The documentation of the Great Enclosure of Musawwarat es-Sufra and the Apedemak (Lion) Temple is based on terrestrial laser-scanning[16][17] and was carried out in 2009.[18] 3D models, animations, plans and images of some of the temples are online available atwww.zamaniproject.org
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