Nubian Pyramids

The Nubian pyramids in present-day Sudan number approximately 255 -- more than twice Egypt's total -- and were built by rulers of the ancient Kingdom of Kush. Concentrated at Meroe, Nuri, and El-Kurru, they served as tombs for kings, queens, and nobles from roughly 650 BC to AD 320. Unlike Egyptian pyramids, Nubian burial chambers lie beneath the structures rather than within them, and the pyramids are smaller, ranging from 30 to 100 feet tall. Meroe's northern cemetery alone contains 41 royal tombs and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site of Nuri includes the tomb of King Taharqa, who conquered Egypt as the 'Black Pharaoh'.