Labyrinth of Hawara
Hawara Labyrinth · Labyrinth of Egypt · Temple of Amenemhat III
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty c.1860–1814 BCE·Ancient Egyptian (Amenemhat III)·🇪🇬 Faiyum Governorate, Egypt
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domain
About
About Labyrinth of Hawara
Lost monumental temple of Amenemhat III at Hawara (c.1860–1814 BCE): Herodotus described 3000 chambers (1500 above, 1500 underground) as surpassing pyramids; Strabo visited; now only limestone chip scatters and Petrie's excavated pyramid remain after stone robbing. Modern geophysics (Matasovic 2008) detected anomalies maybe floors. Pyramid of Amenemhat III (58 m high mudbrick) still standing adjacent, capped in Tura limestone originally.
Why it mattersMost famous lost temple of classical antiquity literature; barometer of Herodotus reliability
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Herodotus 3000 chambers exaggeration factor
- 02Georadar anomalies true temple floors vs water table
Theories
- 01Faiyum hydraulic state center model
- 02Pyramid complex standard but enlarged
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1840 BCE labyrinth and pyramid complex
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty c.1860–1814 BCE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Amenemhat III)
- Purpose
- Mortuary temple and administration of Faiyum reclamation; labyrinth ritual crypt for deity Sobek
- Abandoned
- Roman quarrying stripped to foundations
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1860 BCE
Amenemhat III reign begins, Faiyum project
1814 BCE
Pyramid and labyrinth completed
450 BCE
Herodotus visits and describes
1888
Flinders Petrie excavation pyramid
On the ground
Structures & features
29.2742° N · 30.9011° E · 25 m · 2 mapped features
Pyramid of Amenemhat III Hawara
pyramidMudbrick pyramid with collapsed cap, entrance flood trap system
29.2720° N · 30.9005° ELabyrinth field (now rubble scatter)
temple foundationDense limestone chip field 300x250 m maybe walls
29.2741° N · 30.9011° E
Gallery