Musawwarat es-Sufra
المصورات الصفراء | |
Apedemak Lion Temple | |
Musawwarat es-Sufra Shown within Northeast Africa Musawwarat es-Sufra Musawwarat es-Sufra (Sudan) | |
| Alternative name | Musawwarat es-Sufra |
|---|---|
| Location | Musawwarat es-Sufra, River Nile (state), Sudan |
| Region | Nubia |
| Coordinates | 16°24′57″N 33°19′25″E / 16.41583°N 33.32361°E |
| Type | Sanctuary |
| Official name | Archaeological sites of the Island of Meroe |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, v |
| Designated | 2011 (35th session) |
| Reference no. | 1336 |
| Region | Arab States |
Musawwarat es-Sufra (Arabic:المصورات الصفراء al-Musawwarāt as-sufrā, Meroitic: Aborepi, Old Egyptian: jbrp, jpbr-ˁnḫ), also known as Al-Musawarat Al-Sufra, is a large Meroitic temple complex in modern Sudan, dating back to the early Meroitic period of the 3rd century BC. It is located in a large basin surrounded by low sandstone hills in the western Butana, 180 kilometres (110 mi) northeast of Khartoum, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Naqa and approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south-east of the Nile. With Meroë and Naqa it is known as the Island of Meroe, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Constructed in sandstone, the main features of the site include the Great Enclosure, the Lion Temple of Apedemak and the Great Reservoir. Most significant is the number of representations of elephants, suggesting that this animal played an important role at Musawwarat es-Sufra.