"Pyramid, Meroë, Sudan."

"Pyramid, Meroë, Sudan." Steel. 1999. 36" x 26" x 24"

Subject The Kingdom of Kush (derived from the Egyptian name for Nubia ) emerged in the Sudan after the collapse of the New Kingdom in Egypt, which it conquered in 760 B.C. The Kush pyramids of Meroë date from this time to AD 320, and were inspired by Egyptian non-royal pyramids of the New Kingdom, specifically those at Deir el-Medinah ( 1300 - 1100 BC ). In the Meroë region, there are more than 50 such pyramids usually 20 - 25m high with sides at a 70 degree incline. On the eastern side of each pyramid, there is an antechamber for sacrifices. The burial chamber, with its own antechamber, is below the pyramid with an entrance substantially in front of the pyramid's antechamber. Object The image is actually a composite of two pyramids, and a result of a mistake in reading an image. The reference for the sculpture was the book "Egypt: From Prehistory to the Romans", by Dietrich Windung ( Taschen ). Page 42, presents two images of steep pyramids: one from Deir el-Medinah, and the other from Meroë. Reading the Meroë image, it appeared that the front pillars abutted the pyramid, as in the case of the Egyptian pyramid. However, this was an illusion of the photograph. Subsequent research proved that the pillars belonged to a temple-style antechamber. However, the visual image was so strong that I decided to retain the merged image. Further Information: There is little information about Meroë. However, the following may be of interest: Wildung, Dietrich. Egypt : From Prehistory to the Romans. Taschen. July 1997. ISBN: 3822882526 http://www.the-spoiler.com/Sinjin/ INDY/itext12.html http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/PROJ/NUB/Nubia.html