Siwa Oasis

Lore & Background

The Siwa Oasis has been settled since at least the 10th millennium BCE, with the earliest evidence of connection to Ancient Egypt dating to the 26th Dynasty, when a necropolis was established. Ancient Greek settlers at Cyrene made contact around the 7th century BCE, and the oracle temple of Amun (Greek: Zeus Ammon) was consulted by Herodotus, who was told the god took the image of a ram. Alexander the Great reached the oasis during his campaign to conquer the Persian Empire, supposedly by following birds across the desert, and the oracle confirmed him as both a divine personage and the legitimate Pharaoh of Egypt, though his motives remain contested. In the 12th century, Al-Idrisi noted the oasis was inhabited mainly by Berbers with an Arab minority; a century earlier, Al-Bakri stated only Berbers lived there. The Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi traveled to Siwa in the 15th century and described the local language as similar to that of the Zenata. The ancient fortress of Siwa, known as the Shali Ghadi, was built on natural rock using kershif (salt and mud-brick) and palm logs. Only one building in the Shali complex, a mosque, has been repaired and is in use. The Shali remains a prominent feature, towering five stories above the modern town and lit at night by floodlights.

Reader's Guide

Siwa Oasis holds significance as a remote cultural and historical site in Egypt, known for its ancient oracle of Amun-Ra, which attracted figures like Alexander the Great and was documented by Herodotus. Its isolation, until a tarmac road was built in the 1980s, fostered a unique Berber culture with distinct crafts, dress, and language (Siwi). The oasis features about 200 natural springs, two large salt lakes, and supports thousands of date palms and olives. The Shali Ghadi fortress, the ruins of the oracle temple, the Gebel al Mawta necropolis, and Cleopatra's Bath are key historic sites. Siwa also saw military activity during both World Wars, serving as a base for the British Long Range Desert Group and being occupied by Axis forces. The legacy of Siwa includes its role in ancient Egyptian and Greek history, its preservation of Berber traditions, and its ongoing appeal as a tourist destination, though modern influences have gradually replaced traditional silver ornaments with gold jewelry.

Did You Know?

• The oasis reaches −19 meters (−62 ft) below sea level.
• Alexander the Great reached Siwa by following birds across the desert, according to his court historians.
• The ancient fortress Shali Ghadi was built of kershif (salt and mud-brick) and palm logs.