Kushite pyramids at Meroë are described as smaller and steeper than Old Kingdom Egyptian pyramids (bases c. 4.5–17.5 m; angles 60°–73°).
Claim about The Pyramids of Meroë · Stance: supporting
Nomination dossier describes typical royal funerary pyramids at Meroë as ranging from about 4.5 m to 17.5 m square at the base and having steep sides (60°–73°), contrasting with the Great Pyramid’s angle.
Site
- The Pyramids of Meroë Shendi, River Nile State, Sudan
Evidence for and against
- Nomination dossier describes pyramid base-size range and steep angles (60°–73°)
Other claims about The Pyramids of Meroë
- The nomination dossier provides a component-level coordinate for Meroe 2 (North and South cemeteries).
- The Southern Cemetery contains more than 200 graves and includes early phases; initial Meroë royal burials in the 3rd century BCE were placed here before shifting north.
- Conservation and visitor infrastructure issues are explicitly noted in the nomination dossier (sandstone fragility, need for conservation, limited interpretation on-site).
- UNESCO decision records inscription on the World Heritage List under criteria (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v).