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Usli. Na prahu říše boha Amona

100%

Bárta M., Turek J.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

2015

issue 14

104-114

The Czech Institute of Egyptology exploration of the archaeological site at Usli came to its fifth season. The site is becoming an important stone in the overall mosaic of the ancient history of the Sudan. The seasons 2014 and 2015 focus - ed on the New Kingdom Temple No. 1 and on the Kushite Palatial Complex including Temple No. 3 and a large circular structure discovered by the 2013 geophys ical survey. The overall length of Temple No. 1 was at the minimum of 40 metres, with its width equating to at least 17.50 metres. The temple was oriented from south-east (front part, entrance) to north-west (rear part), i.e. with the entrance away from the Nile just as in the case of the small brick temple detected further north-west of Temple No. 1. The Sandstone Temple consisted of (at least) one columned court featuring four columns along the shorter and six along the longer walls; of the excavated column bases, more than one half was uncovered in situ. Further, there was a pronaos featuring four columns. This gave way to three sanctuaries (or a triple sanctuary) located at the very rear side of the structure. The 2014 field campaign confirmed the poor state of preservation of this mon ument. In general, the above-ground part of the structure has been entirely eroded and quarried away; the small fragments bearing remains of the original decoration are unfortunately insufficient to study the original decoration motives or to ascertain which deities were actually worshipped in the temple’s sanctuaries. The fact that the structure was of high importance is indicated by the 2009 discovery of a royal statue (Bárta et al. 2013a) and by the presence of numerous fragments of gold foil discovered in 2014. Some important data were acquired from the 2015 spring campaign at Usli. First, considering the large rightangled structure located to the south of the main “palace” building. Its size, sandstone column bases and perfect layout of the sandstone pavement suggest it was a building of a higher status. The discovery of wall paintings creates an extraordinary context that is probably connected to a religious function of the building. The current hypothesis is that this structure might have been a temple servicing the main “palace”. Paintings were originally covering the whole interior surface of the walls of this structure designated as Temple No. 3. The presumption of contemporaneity between Temple No. 3 and the main “palace” building seems to be support - ed by the existence of an outside pavement that we tentatively interpret as a paved courtyard. The “courtyard” pave ment covers almost the whole area between Temple No. 3 and the main “palace” building. The area between these two buildings was later cut by a large circular structure. The circular structure is clearly cutting into the wall of Temple No. 3. The possible functional interpretation of the large circular feature (11 meters in diameter) is that it was a large well. Final chronological consideration will be possible after the comparison of relevant radiocarbon dates and evidence of scarce finds of pottery (Napatan, Meroitic ceramics) and stylistic examination of wall paintings.

Merojské královské město ve Wad Ben Naga

88%

Onderka P., Vrtal V.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

2015

issue 14

121-135

Almost two thousand years ago, Wad Ben Naga was one of the most important centres of the so-called Island of Meroe. The ancient city developed on the right bank of the Nile, to the north of Wadi Kirbikan, at a distance of ca. 80 km upstream from Meroe, the capital of the Mer - oitic kingdom. The site gained its significance through its highly strategic location, controlling numerous trade routes meeting at the site. At the same time, it formed a southern limit of one of two core areas of the kingdom, stretching between Meroe in the north and Wad Ben Naga in the south. A settlement of a considerable size existed at Wad Ben Naga already at the turn of the Napatan and Meroitic periods. In the early Meroitic period, it developed into a royal city and distinctive administrative centre. In its heyday, around the beginning of the Christian era, the city went through an intensive building boom, namely during the reigns of Queen Amanishakheto, King Natakamani and Queen Amanitore. Today the archaeological site covers circa 4 km2 and can be divided into three main zones: Central Wad Ben Naga with the ruins of the ancient city, and the Northern and the Southern Cemeteries. Since 2009, the National Museum of the Czech Republic has carried out archae - ological research at the site. During the research, re-excavation of structures unearthed by the Sudanese expedition of Thabit Hassan Thabit, active at the site between 1958 and 1960, was carried out. In the past three years, the expedition has focused on the excavation of the socalled Typhonium, identified as a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.

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2 Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

1 Bárta M.

1 Onderka P.

1 Turek J.

1 Vrtal V.

2 2015

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Usli. Na prahu říše boha Amona

Merojské královské město ve Wad Ben Naga