Things to Do in Barkal

by uglyscot, 4 more photos
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the sistrum shaped columns

At the pinnacle end of the Jebel Barkal are the remains of what would have been a palace and temples , possibly as many as 13 temples and 2 palaces. Though nowadays it is difficult to imagine this mass of stones and columns as being such. Alongside there are inscribed blocks of stones from the Egyptian era, including 159 lines of hieroglyphics erected by King Piye [Pianki].
When the site was excavated lots of bread moulds were discovered beside the temples,possibly from bread offerings to the priests. The temple pointed to the mountain where there was a cut out temple to Amun and Mut. Two sistrum shaped columns are standing with the face of Mut with cow's ears.

For a clear view of the temple layout visit Mafi_Moya's Barkal page, taken from the top of the mountain.

Address: Jebel Barkal


	visit the Barkal Pyramids	Tip Rating:

Updated By uglyscot

on April 13, 2008

by uglyscot,
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a pyramid in good
condition

The Barkal pyramids are in much better condition than those of Nuri.They are in front of Barkal mountain. There were over40 belonging to Kings and queens. The pyramids are from 6 -30 m high, tall and narrow with an incline of about 70 degrees. There occupants were mummified and had jewellery , and were in wooden mummy cases, as shown on wall reliefs.
Archaeologists are still not in agreement as to the chronology of the Meroitic pyramids, but it seems as if the Barkal and Bejrawiya groups are contemporaneous after examining the style of the pyramids, the chapels and decorations. All are made of stone laid horizontally in courses, and filled with rubble, which then collapses if the outer layers are damaged or removed. The Meroitic period is generally accepted as being between 500 BC - 500 AD, with the capital at Meroe.

Address: Jebel Barkal

Directions: near Karima


	Visit the Museum	Tip Rating:

By uglyscot

on March 3, 2008

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lion

The museum at Jebel Barkal is quite small with a few statues and artefacts found at the site.
We arrived just after a bus party, so decided to visit the ruins and temple first, but were told we had to visit the Museum first. The reason for this was that the same man [guide] has the key to both .A young backpacker, red in the face tried to join the group, but was turned back.

Apart from the few statues, artefacts and a skeleton, there are posters with information bout the site and the history of the region.
I have read that there is a fee to enter the sites, obtainable from either Khartoum or Merowe, but I don't really know. We were not charged anything- there were localswith us, but elsewhere we were told interested Sudanese are free.

Address: near Karima


	Jebel Barkal	Tip Rating:

By uglyscot

on March 3, 2008

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The pinnacle- like a pharaoh
wearing the crowns

This table top mountain was revered by the Ancient Egyptians as the main residence of the god Amun. The pinnacle that looks like [ depending on the viewer] the uraeus [cobra] of kingship, or the shape of a king gave rise to this belief. The locals also believe it is a special place.
Ot is sandstone massif dominating the plain around it. Although steep and rocky, it is possible to climb, and the coming down is aided by the presence of a sand dune. See Mafi_Moya's page.

Directions: near Karima


	Barkal Village and other affected by floods	Tip Rating:

Updated By uglyscot

on March 3, 2008

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village

The village lies behind the mountain, and like others faced the floods of 1988, which caused destruction in the area. Houses were destroyed and abandoned, the owners moving to higher ground, building on rocks and outcrops. Driving through is like visiting a ghost town. originally I thought people may have left to work in the Gulf, or migrated to Khartoum. If so, this was a minority. A travelling companion put me right by explaining about the flood.
I was curious about the pigeon houses, looking like castle towers.

Address: near Karima


	Barkal village

By mafi_moya

on March 5, 2004

by mafi_moya
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If you come here it's probably to see the mountain and ruins so the village itself usually gets forgotten about. With Karima so close there's no reason to stay here but it's still worth a walk through. A good walk is from Karima, around the back of the mountain and through the edge of the desert, entering the village from behind - there's some interesting houses built into the rocks and some friendly families.


	The tooth

By mafi_moya

on March 5, 2004

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On the edge of the mountain is this strange tooth-like rock jutting up towards the sky. The locals have literally dozens of stories about how it got there and what it signifies - ask and ye shall be told!


	The ascent

By mafi_moya

on March 5, 2004

by mafi_moya
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The climb to the top of the mountain - and getting back down again - is one of the best bits. On the Barkal village side there's a very steep sand bank that you climb up and down. The mountain is so small that if there were steps it'd take about a minute to walk up - ploughing your way through the sliding sand can take a few minutes longer. Coming back down again is a case of running and hoping for the best - hey, if you fall then it's only sand!


	The Museum

By yurxlnc

on March 23, 2008

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a lion

The museum is quite small but has many posters giving information on the history of Sudan, as well as a few artifacts from nearby sites. The guard or guide has the key to the museum and the Amun temple, and forced us another bus party to enter the museum first, so that he could then lock it, and take us to the temple.
I don't remember seeing any notice about opening times, nor did we pay to enter.

Address: Barkal

Directions: near karima


	visit the temples

By yurxlnc

on March 23, 2008

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columns

The temples have been described elsewhere. There may not be much to see now, but there must have been quite a complex at some time. Now only a few columns remain standing, and sarcophagus or stones inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics.