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Siwa Oasis |
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Siwa Oasis
The Siwa Oasis is located in the Western desert close to the Libyan border. It is Egypt's most distant oasis town and the Siwans have built-up their own distinct Berber culture. Siwans speak their own language and produce exquisite jewelry and handicrafts works.
An adequate road and a small airport have helped the Siwa Oasis to gain a place on the tourist map but it is still on the process of gaining ground as a popular tourist destination.
The place oasis is known for its scenic beauty, hot springs and the historical fact that Alexander traveled here to visit the Oracle of Amun.
Background:
Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt's isolated settlements, with roughly 23,000 people, mostly ethnic Berbers who speak their own language called Siwi. Agriculture is the prime activity, mostly of dates and olives, appended by basketry.
History:
The oasis is known to have been settled since the 10th millennium BC. The early Egyptian name for Siwa was Sekht-am (meaning "palm land")
Greek settlers at Cyrene established contact with the oasis around 7th century BC and the oracle temple of Ammon (Zeus Ammon) was already famous since the time of Herodotus .The oracle is rumored to have interacted with Alexander the Great, prior to his campaign of conquest in Persia, and gave a detailed overview of his future victories before his campaign of conquest in Persia.
The Romans however used Siwa as a place of banishment. Evidence of Christianity at Siwa is doubtful but in 708 the Siwans withstood an Islamic army, and did not change until the 12th century.
During the time of World War I and World War II Siwa was the site of some of the bloodiest battle. The British Army's Long Range Desert Group had a base there. German soldiers went to the extent of going skinny dipping in the lake of the oracle, which was considered an act of blaspheme.
Important locations:
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The deserted fortress of Siwa, till date remains significant feature.Other local historic sites of interest include:
- Remains of the oracle temple
- The Mountain of the Dead
- Roman-era necropolis sporting dozens of rock-cut tombs;
- "Cleopatra's Bath" - natural sulfur spring.
If you are adventurous enough to try out a different location, opt for Siwa oasis this vacation and for more information regarding Tourist Attractions in Egypt, click on our website Egyptflightshub.com
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