Shendi Things to Do

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Nagaa is an interesting archaeological site. It has a well preserved Temple of Hathor, and several less well preserved Egyptian temples. The structure of the temples is still visible though much of the stone work has fallen. One building with pylon type entrance is in good condition,with a single chamber behind and the remains of a portico in front. On the southern pylon tower appears King Netek Aman and on the northern Queen Amanteri, who ruled at Meroe from 15 BC to 15 AD. Each is accompanied by a lion,and they are smiting groups of captives. The walls of the chamber are covered with relief's showing various gods and goddesses, but the temple appears to have been principally dedicated to the Lion God Apedemak and is subsequently known as the Lion Temple. There are also the remains of a large temple dedicated to Amun.

Work is still ongoing, and I believe the avenue of rams has been restored to some extent since I was there.

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There are three monuments at Naga. The first one you see is actually a Roman kiosk in quite good repair. Further up the slope is a temple designed in the typical Egyptian style with temples, courtyards etc. It is in a fair state of delapidation.
Even further up the hill as another temple [to Amun?} in even greater need of repair.
The site is almost like a museum in the desert.

Since I first saw it, there has been a lot of repair and excavation taken place. the avenue of ram sphinxes has been replaced, I believe.

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There are more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt, but on a much smaller scale. The pyramids of Begrawia are steeper and smaller than the pyramids of Egypt. Most of them have lost their pointed tops because treasure hunters broke into them after one pyramid was found to have gold in the top.
Recently a German team of archaeologists have reconstructed some of the pyramids. Although they show the form the pyramids originally had, to many people the concrete reconstructions are a bit of an eye-sore.
Many of the pyramids have a small temple in front of them with decorated walls.
Sand blowing up against the monuments has helped to protect them, as well as cause damage by erosion.