Soleb Temple Pyramid Field — Amenhotep III
Soleb Temple · Temple of Soleb · Soleb
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c.1380 BCE (Amenhotep III)·Ancient Egyptian (Nebmaatra Amenhotep III)·🇸🇩 Northern State, Sudan
About
About Soleb Temple Pyramid Field — Amenhotep III
Soleb Temple (Nebmaatra — Mansion of Millions of Years) on west bank at Soleb between 2nd-3rd Cataracts: Egypt's largest Nubian temple (134×56 m) built by Amenhotep III for Amun and self-deification. Six pylon courtyards with jubilee sed-festival reliefs, granite columns and colossi. Associated pyramid field for priests east of temple. Excavated by Michela Schiff-Giorgini (1957-77) and Michela Schiff Giorgini Foundation Milan. Reliefs copied by Lepsius show tribute Nubians. Marks zenith of Egyptian empire at 20°N. Late deterioration from salt.
Why it mattersKey Ancient Egyptian (Nebmaatra Amenhotep III) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Amenhotep III built so far south (20.4°N) beyond Sesebi
- 02Purpose of sed-festival reliefs outside Egypt
Theories
- 01Jubilee self-deification temple marking empire's southern coronation
- 02Copy of Luxor Karnak ritual architecture for Nubian legitimacy
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1380-1350 BCE (Amenhotep III, 18th Dynasty)
- Period
- New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c.1380 BCE (Amenhotep III)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Nebmaatra Amenhotep III)
- Purpose
- Great temple of Amun and Nebmaatra at Soleb on Upper Nile, with associated small pyramids and jubilee scenes — southernmost great Egyptian temple
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1380 BCE (Amenhotep III)
Temple foundation — sandstone quarried at Jebel Dosha
c.1350 BCE
Sed-festival decoration
1957
Schiff-Giorgini excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
20.4363° N · 30.3339° E · 195 m · 2 mapped features
Great Temple of Soleb (Nebmaatra)
templeSix-pylon sandstone temple 134 m long with sed-festival reliefs, granite palm columns and colossus fragments
20.4364° N · 30.3339° EPriests' pyramid field east
cemeteryMudbrick pyramid chapels 4-6 m base for priests and officials east of temple enclosure
20.4362° N · 30.3340° E