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Altars in the sand. Abu Erteila cult area.
Portal of the Italian language

Altars in the sand. Abu Erteila cult area.

Categories: Uncategorized -Culture and creativity -Archaeology and Heritage

Exhibition of the replicas of the three decorated basements found in Abu Erteila in Sudan.

Altari nella sabbia. 3.5
Altari nella sabbia. 3.5

The Altars in the Sand exhibition, inaugurated last April 15,  presents to the public the  replicas of the three altars found between 2015 and 2017 in the main temple of Abu Erteila by the ISMEO archaeological mission, supported with MAECI funds.

The three bases, decorated with divine figures and bearing Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions, have been counted by the Sudanese authorities as one of the main discoveries of Nubian archeology and their discovery has been the subject of widespread coverage in the international press.

The altars can be considered as supports, on the top of which the priests placed objects of worship. The first altar found, in excellent condition, lay exactly in the same position in which it was abandoned by the ancient devastators of the building. Each side houses the silhouette of a long-limbed female effigy with raised arms, in the act of supporting the sky, made up of the representation of eight stars.

The mission operating in Abu Erteila, thanks to the support of MAECI and ISMEO, designed the making of the replicas in order to promote their knowledge outside of Sudan, too. The production of a replica is an extremely delicate operation and must be performed with the utmost caution to ensure complete protection of the original during execution and its integrity at the end of the operations. The chosen technique was that of a direct replica with silicone casts.

Through the explanatory panels, the visit to the exhibition allows to delve into the knowledge of the ancient kingdom of Meroe, which extended in part of present-day Sudan. The replicas are in effect inserted in a reconstructive scenario of the main temple of the site and are accompanied by didactic panels on the Meroitic kingdom and on the activities of the Mission, as well as on the finds.

Two prototypes of the support found in the naos have been made and have been donated to Sudan: one is now housed inside the Sudanese FAO room, and the other is exhibited in the rooms of the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum. For the first time, on the occasion of the exhibition, the three altars are presented in their entirety and at the end of the exhibition they will reach one of the Italian headquarters of the ISMEO for a permanent exhibition.

Gallery

Altari nella sabbia. 5.5

Altari nella sabbia. 5.5

Altari nella sabbia. 5.5
Altari nella sabbia. 2.5

Altari nella sabbia. 2.5

Altari nella sabbia. 2.5
Altari nella sabbia. 4.5

Altari nella sabbia. 4.5

Altari nella sabbia. 4.5

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