Pyramids in Sudan (NYTimes)
Trying to decipher Meroitic in Beirut
This morning in Beirut, my students and I took a virtual field trip to Sudan to study the history, culture, and language of ancient Nubia. One day, I hope to take some of them on an “actual” field-trip to Sudan–which has more pyramids than even Egypt–and work with them to decipher Meroitic (well, a professor can dream–can’t she?).
In addition to our discussion of Nubian pharaohs, “race” politics, and Nubian religious rituals, we also explored modern-day forms of religious devotion in Sudan–such as the ecstatic dance of the dervishes, who whirl like dust devils throughout the desert…
