Hawara Pyramid Fayoum Egypt tours, prices, booking, reviews
Hawara Pyramid Fayoum called the Black Pyramid. In fact, the pyramid constructed by Amenmehat III. He was the sixth Pharaoh of the 12th dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt. It was around 1850 BC. The pyramid situated 9 kilometers to the East of the El Fayoum city. It built out of brick stones and then coated by limestone. In fact, the pyramid was a large structure and 58 meters high. Moreover, each side of the base of the pyramid was around 100 meters long. In fact, Hawara Pyramid Fayoum has a burial chamber. It cut out of rock in the beginning in the shape of a rectangle. And then, a large single piece of quartzite put inside the cavity of the burial chamber. At the end of the building process, this piece of quartzite emptied to build the burial chamber.
In fact, it indeed is the most important section of any pyramid in ancient Egypt. The chamber became a room with four walls. Each wall is half a meter thick, seven meters high and two meters and a half wide. In fact, the thieves were able to enter the burial chamber. It was through an opening in the ceiling. They stole all the valuable and important items that the priests have put inside it. It was in spite of all these precautions carried out by Amenmehat III to protect his pyramid. Hawara Pyramid Fayoum constructed with the sarcophagus of the King. In fact, it made out of quartzite and positioned inside the burial chamber. Three blocks of stones put on top of the large stone. In fact, the large stone used to close the opening that leads to the burial chamber.
Further details about Hawara Pyramid Fayoum Egypt:
The whole pyramid built over these stones. The inner passageways of the pyramid built and designed in a fascinating artistic style. In fact, it was to deceive the thieves. The thieves indeed were clever in stealing the gold and jewelry. In fact, the gold and jewelry buried with the kings and queens of ancient Egypt.
Hawara Village:
The village of Hawara located 9 kilometers to the South East of El Fayoum city. In fact, it indeed is one of the wonderful Egyptian destination. The village of Hawara situated around 100 kilometers to the South East of Cairo. In fact, Hawara known since ancient Egypt and it called Hat Wa’art which means the footsteps. And then, it named Laprincess. Some historians believe that this name derived from the name of the Temple of Amenmehat III in Hawara.
In fact, the “Laprent” or the temple located at the outlet of the lake. Some archeologists to unearthed some of the most wonderful portraits in Hawara. In fact, they now and called “the Portraits of the Fayoum”. These are 146 portraits of different people. They drawn with paint and date back to the period from the 1st to the 3rd centuries AC.
Amenmehat III:
In fact, the king Amenmehat III is the builder of Hawara Pyramid Fayoum. He ruled Egypt in the 19th century BC and was the son of the King Sesostris III. The last one made great achievements during his reign. In fact, the achievements were like having peaceful political conditions with the neighboring countries. The countries located to the North and East of Egypt. Furthermore, he also had Nubia which located to the South under his control. In fact, Amenmehat remained the king of Egypt for 45 years. He and he followed the steps initiated by his precursors of the 12th dynasty. Moreover, he added 17,000 acres to the area of planted land in the Fayoum. In fact, he made use of a large section of the huge Qarun Lake at the time. Furthermore, he had many constructions which erected in the region.
In fact, it is like his pyramid and mortuary temple in Hawara. He also had some sections of Medinet Madi which dedicated to the god Sobek. Amenmehat III also interested in mining for different materials. It was to assist him in his constructions. In fact, in this period, mining activities of turquoise in Sinai flourished. He also had some additions constructed in the goddess Hathour temple in Serbet El Khadim in Sinai. The favorite wife of Amenmehat III called Aat. Her tomb unearthed near his pyramid in Dahshur. In fact, it constructed before his other achievements in the Fayoum. Actually, the king never pleased with his pyramid in Dahshur. The pyramid severs obstacles and faults which found even during the building process. That is why, he guided his efforts, money, and time to Hawara Pyramid Fayoum.
Hawara Pyramid Fayoum Construction:
Amenmehat III wanted his new pyramid in Hawara will not fall down. it was after his failure attempt in Dahshur. That is why the engineers constructed it with a much lower angle than the other pyramid in Dahshur. There was a smaller pyramid which located on top of the original pyramid. In fact, the lower plan and design of Hawra Pyramid Fayoum complicated. Moreover, maybe it influenced by the design of the step Pyramid of Saqqara. The last one built early in the beginning of the period of the Old Kingdom. The first feature of Hawara Pyramid Fayoum was different from the previous pyramids. In fact, the previous pyramid which built before it during the period of the Old Kingdom. Amenmehat III made the entrance to his pyramid in the Southern section.
The entrance to the previous pyramids are in the Northern section of the pyramids. In fact, it was an intelligent idea by the King. The idea was to mislead any thieves who want to rob the items which put inside the pyramid. Moreover, Amenmehat III built a long staircase which leads the thieves to a small room. In fact, it was to let thieves beleive that it is the burial chamber. The real burial chamber entered through a narrow short passageway. It located on the ground and blocked by a large stone that weighs more than 45 tons. A hidden opening in the ceiling gives way to another passageway. In fact, it runs in different directions; to the East, the North and then finally to the West. It makes it more difficult to reach the antechamber. In fact, the antechamber enables the passer to enter the burial chamber.
The tomb of Nefruptah:
In fact, Nefruptah tomb located near Hawara Pyramid Fayoum. It located a half kilometer to the North of the pyramid. The princess Nefruptah is the favorite daughter of the King Amenmehat III. The tomb constructed out of limestone and it used to contain a granite sarcophagus. In fact, it transferred to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority. When the princess passed away, a beautiful sarcophagus made for her. It positioned inside Hawara Pyramid Fayoum. In fact, it was a contradiction to the habits of the kings and royal family of ancient Egypt. They they used to put the sarcophagus of the king only in the burial chamber. An offerings table and three utensils made out of silver found inside the tomb. Moreover, a necklace which belonges to the princess found inside her tomb.
Mortuary temple of Amenmehat III:
Beside the Pyramid of Hawara, lies also the ruins of the Mortuary Temple of Amenmehat III. In fact, the temple attached to the pyramid when they first constructed. This temple used to contain 12 halls with ceilings. Six of them positioned to the North and the other six positioned to the South. In fact, the Mortuary temple of Amenmehat III used to have a large fortified wall. Furthermore, it used to contain more than 300 different rooms and chambers. Half of them located under the ground and they hosted the mausoleum of the king. The rest of the rooms situated above the ground. Nothing remains of this structure today except the pillars of the ground floor. In fact, the underground floor not excavated until today.
