Egyptian Team Discovers Roman Temple in Western Desert

The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site of Haj Ali, which is 350 meters from Gebel Al-Mawta (Mountain of the dead), in Siwa oasis successes to discover a Roman temple dated back to the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D)

Dr. Aiman Ashmawi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities department, said “The discovered temple of huge limestone foundations in rectangular shape measured 40 meters from north to south and 8.5 meters from east to west. The entrance is in the northern side with small two rooms on each side.

The entrance leads to a courtyard of 25 meters in length then another room leads to the sanctuary. The temple surrounded by enclosure wall measures 71 meters by 56 meters.”

Abd El-Aziz Demiry, General Director of Matrouh and Siwa Antiquities, said “One of the most important discovered parts is a limestone block with inscriptions in Greek topped with a ledge shows the sun disc surrounded with cobras.

The inscriptions helped in defining the name of the emperor. The block measures 5 meters by 1 meter and found in 3 parts.”

Mr. Demiry also added that the block is in good condition and it was transferred to the storeroom in Siwa to conduct the necessary preservation needed.  

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #Siwa #Oasis #RomanTemple #Discovery #EmperorPius

The sites in Siwa are safe according to the Minister of Antiquities

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister State of Antiquities, said that the antiquities sites in Siwa oasis are completely safe and away from the fire which broke out in Taaouny and Mashandat areas of Siwa and devoured 60 acres of arable land.

The fire broke out on Tuesday in an olive grove, 15 kilometers west of the Siwa Oasis.

The Minister explained that the nearest site is in Maraki area which is half a kilometer away from the fire and he was following the situation minutes by minute with the head of Egyptian Antiquities department and the directors of the sites in Siwa since the fire broke out and till it was extinguished this morning.

 Oracle Temple,Siwa Oasis

Dr. Abdel Hamed Marouf, Head of the Egyptian antiquities department said “There is an advanced plan to secure the archaeological sites against fires and robbery and it is developed according to the changes on the ground.”

Siwa Oasis is located in the Western Desert, 300 kilometers off the coast of the Mediterranean to the south-west of Marsa Matrouh.