Pyramid of Hawara
Hawara Pyramid · Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara · Labyrinth of Hawara
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty mid·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Fayum Governorate, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Hawara
Second pyramid of Amenemhat III (12th Dynasty) at Hawara, 58 m high 105 m base, brick core with limestone casing now stripped, near Fayum depression. Famous for associated 'Labyrinth' mortuary temple described by Herodotus and Strabo as exceeding Karnak: Petrie 1888 revealed vast columned mortuary temple 158 × 120 m with courts. Unique quartzite burial chamber with 45 t lid and internal mudbrick vault trick.
Why it mattersLabyrinth – largest mortuary temple known; Herodotus Book II description key to classical historiography.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Amenemhat built two large pyramids (Dahshur then Hawara)
- 02Labyrinth plan incompletely mapped due to water table
Theories
- 01First Dahshur pyramid suffered structural cracks from groundwater, forcing second tomb at Hawara near Fayum hydraulic project
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. 1850–1803 BCE (Amenemhat III, second reign pyramid)
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty mid
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Tomb of Amenemhat III (second pyramid after Dahshur Black Pyramid fault)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1850–1803 BCE (Amenemhat III, second reign pyramid)
Initial construction
c. 1117 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
29.2742° N · 30.8989° E · 30 m · 3 mapped features
Quartzite burial chamber
chamberMonolithic quartzite chamber 45 t lid
29.2742° N · 30.8989° EMortuary Temple (Labyrinth) foundations
templeLepsius/Herodotus Labyrinth 158x120 m
29.2745° N · 30.8980° EEntrance south side
entranceUnusual south entrance
29.2740° N · 30.8988° E
Gallery