Herodotus described two towering pyramids rising from Lake Moeris, each topped with a seated statue and reportedly ~600 ft tall — way taller than the Great Pyramid at 454 ft. Egypt has at least 138 pyramids spanning from Djoser (~2670 BC) to Dorkha (~660s BC). The legendary Egyptian Labyrinth was part of the Hawara tomb complex near Faiyum (ancient Crocodilopolis), built south of Amenemhat III's pyramid. Lake Moeris's only remnant today is Lake Qarun. Herodotus's 'city of Gelonus' in Scythia may correspond to Bilohrud (Bilsk) in Ukraine. Fascinating how classical accounts still challenge and reshape archaeology. 🏛️
Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara Labyrinth and Herodotus's twin pyramids of Lake Moeris
EgyptGeneral
Key facts
- Egypt has at least 138 pyramids constructed between approximately 2670 BC (pyramid of Djoser) and the 660s BC (pyramid of Dorkha)
- The Egyptian Labyrinth described by classical writers was part of the Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara tomb complex, situated in front of the pyramid of Amenemhat III
- Amenemhat III was a pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom
- Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara is located near the modern city of Faiyum, anciently known as Crocodilopolis
- The site has occupation going back to the 5th millennium BC, featuring a temple to Sobek
- Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara and Lake Moeris are in the Faiyum Oasis; today only a fragment of the lake remains, known as Lake Qarun
- Herodotus described Lake Moeris as having a circumference of 3,600 stadia (about 420 miles), elongated north-south, with a greatest depth of 50 fathoms
- Herodotus reported two pyramids standing 300 feet out of the water, each topped by a stone statue of a seated figure
- At the reported dimensions, these pyramids would have been about 600 ft (182 m) tall, exceeding the Great Pyramid of Giza at 454 ft (138 m)
- The Great Pyramid was originally 480 ft (146 m) tall
- Herodotus is identified with the archaeological site of Bilohrud (Bilsk) in modern Ukraine for the previously doubted city of Gelonus in Scythia
Site mentioned
Sources
The Lost Egyptian Labyrinth of Hawaratheancientconnection.com
The Pyramid of Hawara is attributed to the Pharaoh Amenemhet III of the 12th Dynasty in ancient Egypt and is located about 9 kilometers east of the oasis of ...
Hawara Pyramid Fayoumdeluxetoursegypt.com
Pyramid of Hawara – located in Hawara, south of Crocodilopolis (Medinet al-Fayyum). Built during the XII dynasty for the pharaoh Amenemhet III.
Hawaraen.wikipedia.org
It is the site of a pyramid built by King Amenemhat III of the 12th dynasty, between the 19th and 18th centuries BC. Amenemhat III was the last powerful situ.
History of Hawaravirtualhawara.com
Amenemhat III is thought to have constructed two pyramids, one at Hawara and another a Dahshur. It is believed that the pyramid a Dahshur was abandoned in ...
Labyrinth of Egypten.wikipedia.org
The Labyrinth of Egypt was a structure, or temple, built south of Amenemhat III's pyramid at Hawara. Not much is known about its use, but it was probably a ...
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