Musawwarat es-Sufra

Musawwarat es-Sufra
المصورات الصفراء
Apedemak Lion Temple
Musawwarat es-Sufra is located in Northeast Africa
Musawwarat es-Sufra
Shown within Northeast Africa
Musawwarat es-Sufra is located in Sudan
Musawwarat es-Sufra
Musawwarat es-Sufra (Sudan)
Alternative nameMusawwarat es-Sufra
LocationMusawwarat es-Sufra, River Nile (state), Sudan
RegionNubia
Coordinates16°24′57″N 33°19′25″E / 16.41583°N 33.32361°E / 16.41583; 33.32361
TypeSanctuary
Official nameArchaeological sites of the Island of Meroe
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, iv, v
Designated2011 (35th session)
Reference no.1336
RegionArab 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.[1] It is located in a large basin surrounded by low sandstone hills in the western Butana, 180 km northeast of Khartoum, 20 km north of Naqa and approximately 25 km 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.[2] 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.