Uronarti

Uronarti was an ancient Egyptian settlement located below the Second Cataract. It is well known for its triangular-shaped fortress, constructed between the reigns of Middle Kingdom rulers Senusret I and Senusret III, in the nineteenth century BCE. The site was one of several established in Nubia during this period as Egyptians sought to expand their influence to the south.

It is documented that Senusret III conducted four military campaigns into Kush and established a line of forts within signalling distance of one another; Buhen being the northernmost and the others along the banks of the Nile were Mirgissa, Shalfak, Uronarti, Askut, Dabenarti, Semna, and Kumma. The Kushites captured Buhen during the 13th dynasty, and held it until Ahmose I recaptured it at the beginning of the 18th dynasty. It was stormed and recaptured by indigenous forces at the end of Egypt's 20th dynasty.

The triangular shaped fortress located on an island took advantage of the narrow passage of the Nile between the walls of a canyon. Amongst the series of protective fortresses, Uronarti was the second only to Askut as the smallest. Its fortifications included bastions, buttresses, ramparts, battlements, and loopholes. The walls of the fort were about five metres thick and ten metres high, with a length of approximately 120 metres and width of 60 metres. The literature speculates that the imposing fortresses constructed during this period exceeded the military requirement and may be considered a form of monumental architecture in the manner of the Giza pyramids or temple of Karnak.

The fortress was excavated by George Reisner and the site has not been submerged by Lake Nasser created by the Aswan Dam in 1964.

Temples dedicated to Dedwen and Montu were located near the site.

References

Reisner, George A. and Noel F. Wheeler. Second Cataract Forts. Volume II: Uronarti,Shalfak, Mirgissa: Excavated by George Andrew Reisner and Noel F. Wheeler - Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, 1967

Smith, Stuart T. [http://www2.ulg.ac.be/archgrec/IMG/aegeum/Aegaeum5(pdf)/Smith.pdf Administration at the Egyptian Middle Kingdom Frontier: Sealings from Uronarti and Askut]

External links

* [http://www.yare.org/essays/fortresses.htm article and map]