Sudan - The Temple of Soleb

 The Temple of Soleb is a pharaonic temple located 50 km between the second and the third cataracts on the west bank of the Nile. The area of Soleb had a long history of use; near the temple are prehistoric graves, a Nubian A-Group, Kerma Culture, New Kingdom Necropolis, and a Meroitic cemetery. The temple of Soleb, constructed during the reign of Amenhotep III (1378-1348 BC), was dedicated to Amun, but after Akhenaten assumed power, it was rededicated to Aten. An inscription of the official Ramessu dating to the reign of Ramesses III was found there, indicating that the temple continued in use over the next several generations. The temple was built of sandstone with its plans conforms to the Egyptian Traditions, with a peristyle court and hypostyle hall leading to the sanctuaries. The temple can be entered through a pylon doorway and proceeds down long avenue of ram sphinxes leading to a small courtyard with four pillars, and through a second pylon doorway into a sun court with pillars (peristyle court). The walls of the first courtyard display several religious scenes as well as Sed-Festival scene, or the Jubilee, which was intended to renew the king’s royal powers and to re-affirm his divine nature. This sun court leads to hypostyle court with thirty-six pillars. Continuing along the main axis, one enters the inner hypostyle hall with twenty-four pillars. During the Eighteenth Dynasty Soleb is considered to be as one of the major expressions of the Egyptian presence in Nubia at the time the region was being integrated into the Egyptian kingdom. Due to its high economic and commercial potential as a central area providing gold and its access to the sub-Saharan product, Soleb was governed by the Viceroy of Nubia, the King’s son of Kush.