The “Temple of Predictions”… Here Alexander the Great landed his travels and was crowned as the son of Amun

Ruins ignite in you a state of nostalgia for the time of chivalry. Old-fashioned columns tell historical stories full of glories of victory and anthems of love in a distant era. Positive energy charges your feelings, and an unforgettable view, as palm trees, Bedouin houses, lakes, and eyes stretch in front of you, promising you an exceptional trip.

Here is the “Temple of Prophecies”, which is one of the most famous shrines of the Siwa Oasis, in the Egyptian governorate of Matrouh, as it rises on a plateau 30 meters above sea level. The privacy of the temple among the well-known Egyptian antiquities is due to its being the landing site of the god Amon, according to ancient Egyptian beliefs, which made simple people rush to the place in the past. A request to consult the “idol”, and to find out what the days hold through the priests of the temple, hence the name of the temple, which is also known as the “Temple and Neighborhood of Amun”.

According to the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the history of the temple dates back to the 26th Dynasty that lived about 2,600 years ago, as the inscriptions in the “Holy of Holies” area indicate that it was established by King Ahmose II; The most prominent kings of that Pharaonic family.

Ruins and walls tell history (Facebook)

Among the major events that gave the “Temple of Predictions” more historical importance is the asylum of Alexander the Great. One of the most famous military leaders in human history, to the temple, in 331 BC, as part of his war campaign on the East, as he was so intelligent that he understood the nature of the ancient Egyptians, and wanted to approach them by wooing their main idol; So that the people would accept him as ruler of Egypt, which is what actually happened. Indeed, the priests crowned the Macedonian leader as “the son of Amun,” and from here the temple sometimes bears the name “Temple of Alexander.”

According to historians and researchers, the man’s relationship with the temple did not stop at this point. The leader, who conquered most of the kingdoms of the earth, wanted to seize the opportunity of his presence in a temple whose great reputation is based on predictions that enjoy great credibility, so he went to the priests and asked them a direct question that could not bear any ambiguity. Will he rule the world as he dreams and hopes? The answer came: Yes, it will rule the world, but not for long!

Among the strange stories about the temple is the campaign launched by the Persian King Cambyses against Egypt in 525 BC. with the aim of demolishing the temple, claiming that it is a source of corrupt beliefs, but the army entrusted with the demolition disappeared in the Siwa desert, and it was never found, according to what Dr. Hussein Abdel-Basir, archaeological researcher and director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Museum, indicated.

During your tour, you will find that the architectural design of the place is divided into three parts: the main temple, the ruler’s palace, and the guards’ pavilion. The temple contains several extensions, such as the sacred well in which washing and purification took place.

… and tells the story of eras and times (Facebook)

The splendor of the temple is not limited to its history and major events, but extends to the supernatural astronomical phenomena, as the temple witnesses a phenomenon called the “spring equinox”, in which the sun perpendicular to the place, twice a year, in spring and autumn, where the longest day of the year occurs, and after 90 A day is the longest night.

Siwa Oasis, which hosts the temple, is about 820 km from Cairo, where you can visit the place via luxury tourist buses that depart from the capital. Of course, your visit to Siwa is not limited to the “Temple of Predictions”; There are a number of other historical monuments and shrines, such as the “Treasury” and “Umm Ubaidah” temples, of which only a few ruins remain. The oasis also includes the “Mountain of the Dead”; It is a huge cemetery distributed on three levels designed according to the Greco-Roman style, starting with an entrance, then a long hall, then an internal burial chamber, and most of these tombs were looted in previous periods of time.

The oasis is an amazing source of medical tourism because of its dry weather and lack of moisture, as a result of its location in the heart of the Western Desert, near the Libyan border. Here you have the opportunity to enjoy the hot white sand that treats rheumatism, joint pain and the spine. The oasis also contains a number of springs and wells, such as “Cleopatra’s Bath” and “Ain Al-Arayes”, as well as safari opportunities, overnight in the desert, and barbecues.

Specialized sites recommend a number of accommodation options for you, ranging from five-star hotels to guest houses and lower-priced camps, such as Siwa Shali Resort, Dream Lodge, Al-Nahiya, and Qasr. Al-Salam, Grand Siwa Home, and Camphor House Siwa. Experts recommend visiting the “Temple of Predictions” and other landmarks of Siwa, from the beginning of November until the end of March, when the intense summer heat disappears and you enjoy an atmosphere of warmth and mild weather.