Home > Siwa Oasis

Although the oasis is known to have been settled for at least 12,000 years, there is no evidence of any connection with ancient Egypt until the 26th Dynasty, when a necropolis was established. Greek settlers at CyreneCyrene can refer to: Cyrene, a figure from Greek mythology Cyrene, a Greek colony in Libya (north Africa) 133 Cyrene, an asteroid See also: Cyrenaica, the region around Cyrene. made contact with the oasis around the same time ( 7th century BC8th century BC 7th century BC 6th century BC other centuries) ( 700s BC 690s BC 680s BC 670s BC 660s BC 650s BC 640s BC 630s BC 620s BC 610s BC 600s BC other decades) ( 2nd millennium BC 1st millennium BC 1st millennium AD) Events Scythians arrived in Asi), and soon the oracleFor alternate usages of "Oracle", see Oracle (disambiguation Oracles are human beings who make predictions, or offer insight, based on a (claimed) connection to the Gods. In the ancient world many sites gained a reputation for the dispensing of oracular w of AmmonFor the people in the Bible, see Ammon (nation). For the extinct mollusc see Ammonite. Ammon was the Graecized name of a major Egyptian deity, in the native language Amun "the hidden one" (alternative spelling "Amon"). He was one of the Ogdoad and was mar became famous; the oracle is said to have confirmed Alexander the Greatbust of Alexander the Great Alexander III (late July, 356 BC June 10, 323 BC), King of Macedon ( 336 BC-323 BC), known as Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders of the ancient world. Following the unification of the multipl as both a divine personnage and the legitimate PharaohThis article refers to the historical Pharaoh. For Pharaoh in the Book of Abraham, see Pharaoh (Book of Abraham). Pharaoh Standard Hebrew Paro Tiberian Hebrew Paroh is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. See History of E of Egypt during a visit made prior to his campaign of conquest in PersiaPersia is the historical name for the state of Iran. The name was used in the West due to the ancient Greek name for Iran, Persis''. Persia is used to describe the nation of Iran, its people, or its ancient empire. The name Persia comes from a province in. The Romans later used Siwa as a place of banishment. Evidence of Christianity at Siwa is dubious, but in 708 the Siwans resisted an Islamic army, and probably did not convert until 12th century. A report of 1203 mentions only seven families totalling 40 men living at the oasis, but later the population grew to 600.

The first European to visit in modern times was W. G. Browne , who came in 1792 to see the ancient temple of the oracle. The oasis was officially added to Egypt by Muhammad Ali in 1819, but his rule was tenuous and marked by several revolts. Siwa was the site of some fighting during World War I, and during World War II, the British Army's Long Range Desert Group was based here.

The ancient fortress of Siwa, built of natural rock salt, mud brick and palm logs and known as the Shali, although now mostly abandoned, remains a prominent feature, towering five storeys above the modern town. Other local historic sites of interest include the remains of the oracle temple, Gebel al Mawta (the Mountain of the Dead) - a Roman-era necropolis featuring dozens of rock-cut tombs, "Cleopatra's Bath" a natural sulphur spring, and Fatnas Island.

The people of the oasis speak a distinct language called Siwi.