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The Siwa Oasis (Arabic: واحة سيوة) is an oasis in Egypt, located between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Libyan Desert, approximately 50 km east of the Libyan border, and some 560 km from Cairo. Location: About 80 km in length and 20 km wide, it is one of Egypt's most isolated settlements, home to about 23,000 people, the majority of whom are ethnic Berbers who speak a distinct language known as Siwi. Agriculture is the main activity, primarily the growing of dates and olives. Although the oasis is known to have been settled since at least the 10th millennium BC, there is no evidence of any connection with ancient Egypt until the 26th Dynasty, when a necropolis was established. Greek settlers at Cyrene made contact with the oasis around the same time (7th century BC), and soon the oracle of Ammon became famous; the oracle is said to have confirmed Alexander the Great as both a divine personnage and the legitimate Pharaoh of Egypt during a visit made prior to his campaign of conquest in Persia. 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 of Egypt in 1819, but his rule was tenuous and marked by several revolts. Siwa was the site of some fighting during World War I and World War II. The British Army's Long Range Desert Group was based here, but also Rommel's Afrika Korps took possession three times. German soldiers went skinny dipping in the lake of the oracle, which was considered a sacrilege. Soon after, the Germans were defeated. The ancient fortress of Siwa, built of natural rock salt, mud brick and palm logs and known as the Shali Ghali ("Shali" for city, and "Ghali", dear), 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 and "Cleopatra's Bath" a natural sulphur spring. Another attraction is Fatnas Island, a palm-fringed peninsula located on the edge of a freshwater lake. The lake has largely been drained in recent years due to intensive agricultural usage - a major problem affecting the entire oasis - and the "island" is now surrounded largely by mud flats. It remains a popular with tourists on visits coinciding with sunset.
Culture The Siwan people are known for their traditional crafts, including ornate silver jewelry, colorful wedding dresses, pottery and baskets made from the emblematic date palm fronds. See Also | ||||||||
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