Temple of the Oracle of Amun

The ruins of the well-known Temple of Amun at Siwa in Egypt are what is left of the home of one of the most famous oracles from ancient times: the Oracle of Amun. This important religious site was dedicated to the Egyptian Sun god Amun and served as a place for an oracle, which were seen as manifestations of gods. This concept later influenced Greek religion and became linked to Zeus.

In 331 B.C., the priests of Amon recognized Alexander the Great as the son of the Sun God. Alexander aimed to be a pharaoh, but Egypt wouldn't accept him unless he was deemed divine.

When Alexander the Great arrived at Egypt's borders, he faced no resistance in claiming the territory. The Egyptians were suffering under Persian control and were eager for a change. This made it a breeze for Alexander to take charge and briefly become the king of Egypt. While he was in Egypt, Alexander took a journey to the Siwa Oasis to visit the Temple of Amun. During this adventure, he won the hearts of the Egyptian people.

Visiting Amun Temple in Siwa Oasis is an experience that's hard to put into words. It's the only temple in Egypt that's dedicated to Alexander the Great, which is why some people call it the Temple of Alexander the Great. This temple was built while Alexander was still alive, around 332 BC, and it honors both the Oracle of Amun and Horus. It wasn't until 1938 that the temple was rediscovered during a search for the Valley of the Golden Mummies, which is just a short distance away. The temple and the valley are located about three miles from El Qasr in the Siwan Oasis.

Amun Temple in Siwa stands out as the biggest temple in the oasis, featuring 45 distinct chambers. One cool thing about the Temple of Alexander the Great is the striking red altar right by the entrance. This altar is crafted from red granite, which isn’t found in the local area, suggesting it was hauled across the desert to be placed there . Sadly, Amun Temple Siwa has seen better days, and a lot of the artwork and carvings have faded away. Still, there are plenty of interesting artifacts left behind, like statues of Re, Coptic Christian pottery, and even some Asian carvings.

If you're planning to check out the Amun Temple in Siwa, there are a couple of things to remember. The temple isn't open all the time; you can only visit it when you make a request. If you want to see both the temple and the Valley of the Golden Mummies, you'll need to book a guide in advance.