Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a temple in Sudan that is approximately 2700 years old. This temple dates back to the time when a vast kingdom called Kush existed in the region. Today’s Sudan, Egypt and parts of the Middle East were included under this kingdom. The remains of the temple have been found in the medieval citadel of Old Dongola. The site is located between the third and fourth ‘cataracts’ (waterfalls) of the Nile in modern Sudan.
Some of the stones in the temple were decorated with figures and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Analysis of the iconography and script suggests that they were part of a 1st millennium BC structure. In a statement, archaeologists from the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archeology at the University of Warsaw said the find was a surprise because nothing older than 2,700 years has been found from Old Dongola.
Which deity was worshiped in the temple?
Archaeologists have found fragments of inscriptions inside some of the remains of the temple. According to one of these the temple belonged to Amun-Ra of Kava. Egyptologist David Wizorek, who collaborated with the research team, told LiveScience in an email. Amun-Ra was a deity worshiped in Kush and Egypt, and Kawa is an archaeological site in Sudan that contains a temple. At the moment it is not clear whether the newly found remains belong to the same temple or some other.
The discovery of the remains raised many questions
Julia Budka, who has worked extensively in Sudan, told LiveScience in an email that this is a very important finding that raises many questions. Although Julia is not part of the discovery of the remains of the temple. But he believes that more research is needed to find out the exact time of the temple. She adds that there is also a question whether the temple existed at Old Dongola or whether the relics were transferred from Kava or some other place.