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Sudan

Nubian Lion Temple

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Nubian Lion Temple, Ancient temple in Naga, Sudan

The Nubian Lion Temple is an ancient sanctuary with two roughly 36-foot-high monumental figures on its pylon, depicting rulers holding weapons and standing over kneeling prisoners. The structure displays intricately carved reliefs on its walls that combine religious and political power in stone.

A king and queen commissioned this temple around 1–20 CE as part of the ancient trading city of Naga. The project marked a high point of Nubian architecture during that period.

The temple walls show the lion-headed god Apedemak in detailed reliefs, representing a blend of Egyptian and Nubian religious beliefs. These images were a visible sign to worshippers of how their gods connected different cultures together.

The temple sits approximately 170 kilometers northeast of Khartoum and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors should plan ahead since the location is remote and transportation options may be limited.

The reliefs show the king and queen at equal heights performing identical actions, reflecting gender equality in Nubian society. This detail stands out from Egyptian temples, where such paired depictions were far less common.

Location: Khartoum

GPS coordinates: 16.26876,33.27284

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:07

Photography locations in Sudan

40 elements

Sudan offers photographers a substantial mix of ancient monuments, desert formations and river landscapes. The country contains more than 200 pyramids at Meroe, Nuri and El-Kurru that differ markedly from their Egyptian counterparts. These Nubian structures rise from the desert with few visitors present, allowing unobstructed shooting. The National Museum of Sudan in Khartoum and the museums at Kerma and Karima display artifacts from the kingdoms of Kush and Meroe. Archaeological sites including Jebel Barkal, Soleb Temple, Naqa and Al-Musawwarat es-Sufra document the region's historical position as a crossroads of African and Mediterranean cultures. The confluence of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum creates a distinct dividing line between differently colored waters. Tuti Island and Sabaloka Gorge provide perspectives on the river environment. The Nubian Desert, Bayuda Desert with its volcanic cones and the Kassala Mountains present different desert settings. At the Red Sea port of Suakin, 19th-century coral stone buildings slowly deteriorate, while Sanganeb National Park gives access to coral reefs. The markets of Omdurman and Kassala, along with the Sufi shrine at Sheikh Hamad-al Nil, record contemporary Sudanese life. These locations provide substantial photographic opportunities in a country that receives considerably fewer tourists than its neighbors.

Around this place

Nubian Lion Temple

Nubian Lion Temple, Ancient temple in Naga, Sudan

Photography locations in Sudan

Meroë

Pyramids of Meroe

Naqa

The Mahdi's tomb

National Museum of Sudan

Presidential Palace in Khartoum

Musawarat

Tuti Island

Shambat Bridge

Masjid Al-Nilin

Mac Nimir Bridge

St. Matthew's Cathedral

Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation

Tuti Bridge

Sudan National Botanical Garden

Republican Palace

Farouq mosque, Khartoum

GNPOC Headquarters

Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe

Nile Street, Sudan

Khaniq as Sablukah

Ethnological Museum of Khartoum

Temple of Amun, Naqa

Sixth cataract of the Nile

Pyramid XI at Meroe

Khartoum War Cemetery

Souq Omdurman

Mussawarat es-Suffra

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