It lies 250 kilometres (160 mi) northeast of Khartoum in Butana, upstream of Wadi Hawa, near Meroë and the Nile. Near Basa is a completely decayed temple which was excavated in 1907. It was built by Amanikhabale and probably dedicated to Apedemak, the lion-headed warrior god worshiped in Nubia by Meroitic peoples.