South of Egypt along the Nile, the Kingdom of Kush built its own tradition of pyramid-building that outlasted Egypt's, eventually producing more pyramids in total, though smaller and steeper, than Egypt has today.
Background
Kush had long traded with and fought against Egypt before its rulers conquered Egypt outright around 727 BCE, founding Egypt's 25th dynasty and ruling as pharaohs for roughly a century before retreating south.
“Smaller, steeper, and more numerous — Sudan holds more pyramids than Egypt.”
The Key Events
After losing control of Egypt, Kushite kings continued building pyramid tombs at Meroë and other royal cemeteries for centuries, developing their own writing system, Meroitic script, which remains only partially deciphered today.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
Sudan's roughly 200-plus Nubian pyramids receive a fraction of the visitors Egypt's do, despite their number and archaeological importance, and continue to be studied for clues about an African kingdom that ruled the Nile for centuries.
- Meroitic script, developed by Kush, is still only partly deciphered.
- Kushite pharaohs ruled Egypt as its 25th dynasty for about a century.
- The pyramid fields at Meroë are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
References & Further Reading
- László Török, *The Kingdom of Kush*
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe
- Britannica, entry on Kush
- The Sudan National Museum, Nubian antiquities overview
