Western deffufa, Ancient mudbrick temple in Kerma, Sudan.
The Western Deffufa stands 18 meters tall with multiple levels, interior staircases, columned rooms, and passageways leading to a rooftop platform.
Built around 2400 BCE, this structure served as a central temple during the Kingdom of Kerma, which maintained independence until Egyptian conquest in 1450 BCE.
The temple contains underground chambers connected through galleries, with archaeological evidence revealing a limestone altar used for religious ceremonies and animal sacrifices.
The structure remains the largest preserved mudbrick building from ancient Nubia, accessible through the archaeological site of Kerma along with other historical remains.
Archaeological excavations revealed that this temple belonged to an advanced civilization with planned streets, distinct neighborhoods, and sophisticated architectural techniques.
Location: Kerma
GPS coordinates: 19.60083,30.40990
Latest update: March 3, 2025 01:41
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.
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