History
The ancient Siwa Oasis (Arabic Santariya ) [Egyptian Santar ]. It is an Oasis in the western Egypt , near the border of Libya, at a depression of 18 metres below sea level. The oasis is 82 kilometers long and has a width varying between 2 and 20 kilometers ..... (EO) It was occupied as early as Paleolithic and Neolithic times. It was first mentioned, more than 2500 years ago in the records of the Pharaohs during the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty (663-525 BC). In 450 BC Siwa appeared in Herodotus history of the Persian invasion of Egypt. After conquering the Nile Valley in 525 BC the Persian King Cambyses dispatched his troops to destroy the Siwan Oracle as it dared to predict his death during his campaign. The entire army, Herodotus reported, was lost in a sandstorm on its way to the oasis. In 331 BC, Alexander the Great came to Siwa to consult the diviners of the Oracle. The priests there prophetically told him that he would conquer the world. The Siwan people are mostly Berbers. They are the true Western Desert indigenous people, who once roamed the North African coast between Tunisia and Morocco. They inhabited the area as early as 10000 BC, first moving towards the coast but later towards the inland, as other conquering invaders arrived. Hence, Siwa is considered to be more North African than Egyptian ..... Online Bibliography Links 7th century BCE: Temple of Amon is constructed. 331 BCE: Siwa is visited by Alexander the Great, who comes to visit the famous Oracle of Temple of Amon , seeking confirmation that he is the son of the god Zeus, as well as upholding the image of him, also being the son of the god Amon. 1203: The town of Shali is founded. 1792: After 2,000 years of relative isolation, the first European visitor comes to Siwa. 19th century: Siwa becomes part of modern Egypt. 1986: A road between Marsa Matrouh at the coast and Siwa is opened. 2005: A new road from Cairo directly to siwa will be opened, which will make it easier to reach this beutiful oasis.