Historyof Christianity in the lands of My Toil
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE LANDS OF MY TOIL: PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
The city <strong>of</strong> Meroe was on <strong>the</strong> edge <strong>of</strong> Butana and <strong>the</strong>re were two o<strong>the</strong>r Meroitic cities <strong>in</strong> Butana:<br />
Musawwarat es-Sufra and Naqa. The first <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sites was given <strong>the</strong> name Meroe by <strong>the</strong> Persian<br />
k<strong>in</strong>g, Cambyses, <strong>in</strong> honor <strong>of</strong> his sister who was called by that name. The city had orig<strong>in</strong>ally borne <strong>the</strong><br />
ancient appellation Saba, named after <strong>the</strong> country's orig<strong>in</strong>al founder. The eponym Saba, or Seba, is<br />
named for one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sons <strong>of</strong> Cush (see: Genesis 10:7). The presence <strong>of</strong> numerous Meroitic sites<br />
with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> western Butana region and on <strong>the</strong> border <strong>of</strong> Butana proper is significant to <strong>the</strong> settlement <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> core <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> developed region. The orientation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se settlements exhibit <strong>the</strong> exercise <strong>of</strong> state<br />
power over subsistence production.<br />
The site <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city <strong>of</strong> Meroe is marked by more than two hundred pyramids <strong>in</strong> three groups, <strong>of</strong> which<br />
many are now <strong>in</strong> ru<strong>in</strong>s. They have <strong>the</strong> dist<strong>in</strong>ctive size and proportions <strong>of</strong> Nubian pyramids.<br />
Pyramids <strong>of</strong> Meroe - Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Cemetery<br />
As is easily seen, <strong>the</strong> Egyptian Pyramids have wide square base and have almost equal sides <strong>in</strong><br />
triangular structure. Nubian Pyramids stands on small squares and are taller than <strong>the</strong> Egyptian ones.<br />
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