Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III At Dashur

Black Pyramid of Egypt

King Amenemhat III built the Black pyramid during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (2055-1650 BC). It is one of the five remaining pyramids of the original eleven pyramids at Dahshur ( Dahshur is a royal necropolis located in the desert on the west bank of the Nile approximately 40 kilometres south of Cairo. It is known chiefly for several pyramids, two of which are among the oldest, largest and best preserved in Egypt, which are Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid built from 2613-2589 BCE. ) in Egypt.
It was named the Black pyramid for its dark, decaying appearance as a rubble mound.The Black Pyramid is not as well known as the Bent or Red Pyramids at Dashur, as it has been closed to tourists due to its collapsed condition.

The Black pyramid was the first to house both the deceased pharaoh and his queens. 

Its Structure and shape 

It was originally about 75 meters tall with a base 105 meters long and an incline of 57°.It was built  out of mudbrick and then covered the outside with white limestone[Typical for pyramids of the middle kingdom ].

Today it appears without its original glory.

The pyramidion, which is the capstone of a pyramid, was covered with inscriptions and religious symbols.

The design of the Black Pyramid was very ambitious, with several passageways and chambers for two queens in addition to the king. The pyramid has two entrances on the south end of the east and west sides, with staircases leading into the interior.

The king was not buried there. When construction of the pyramid was nearly complete, the architects of Amenemhat III became aware of structural problems. The pyramid was being crushed under its own weight– walls and ceilings were being pushed down and doorframes began to buckle, so the workers quickly reinforced it with mudbrick and cedar beams. While their quick thinking saved the pyramid from immediate collapse, it had to be abandoned as the burial place of the king. Amenemhat III chose the site of Hawara, south of Cairo in the Fayum region, as the location of his new pyramid.

Thanks
MR