Theme Week Egypt – Siwa Oasis

Tuesday, 23 May 2017 - 12:00 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination:
Category/Kategorie: General, Union for the Mediterranean
Reading Time:  9 minutes

Historic Center of Siwa with famous mud brick architecture © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0

Historic Center of Siwa with famous mud brick architecture © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0

The Siwa Oasis is an oasis in Egypt, between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Western Desert, nearly 50 km (30 mi) east of the Libyan border, and 560 km (348 mi) from Cairo. About 80 km (50 mi) in length and 20 km (12 mi) wide, Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s most isolated settlements, with 23,000 people, mostly Berbers who developed a unique culture and a distinct language of the Berber family called Siwi. Its fame lies primarily in its ancient role as the home to an oracle of Ammon, the ruins of which are a popular tourist attraction which gave the oasis its ancient name Ammonium. Historically, it is part of Ancient Libya.

The ancient fortress of Siwa, known as the Shali Ghadi (“Shali” being the name of the town, and “Ghadi” meaning remote), was built on natural rock (an inselberg) and made of kershif (salt and mud-brick) and palm logs. After it was damaged by three days of heavy rains in 1926 it was abandoned for similar unreinforced construction housing on the plain surrounding it, and in some cases those in turn have been replaced by more modern cinder block and sheet metal roof buildings. Only one building in the Shali complex has been repaired and is in use, a mosque. Gradually eroded by infrequent rains and slowly collapsing, the Shali remains a prominent feature, towering five stories above the modern town and lit at night by floodlights. It is most easily approached from its southwest side, south of the end of the paved road which curves around from the north side of the Shali. Several uneven pedestrian streets lead from the southwest end of the Shali into it, the ground rent in places by deep cracks. Many of the unreinforced kershif buildings bordering the streets of the Shali are also split by large cracks, or they are partially collapsed. Other local historic sites of interest include: the remains of the oracle temple; the Gebel al Mawta (the Mountain of the Dead), a Roman-era necropolis featuring dozens of rock-cut tombs; and “Cleopatra’s Bath”, an antique natural spring. The fragmentary remains of the oracle temple, with some inscriptions dating from the 4th century BC, lie within the ruins of Aghurmi. The revelations of the oracle fell into disrepute under the Roman occupation of Egypt.

Siwa Central Square © panoramio.com - Raki Man/cc-by-3.0 Modern Siwa © flickr.com - Vyacheslav Argenberg/cc-by-2.0 Siwa spearmint © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0 Pigeon Towers © Roland Unger/cc-by-sa-3.0 Siwa salt lake © flickr.com - tronics/cc-by-2.0 Siwa Oasis with date palm orchards from Tomb_Mountain © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0 Historic Center of Siwa with famous mud brick architecture © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0 Mountain of the Dead © Kevin Gabbert
<
>
Historic Center of Siwa with famous mud brick architecture © Michael Hermann/cc-by-sa-4.0
Agriculture is the main activity of modern Siwi, particularly the cultivation of dates and olives. Handicrafts like basketry are also of regional importance. Tourism has in recent decades become a vital source of income. Much attention has been given to creating hotels that use local materials and display local styles. The traditional culture of Siwa shows many features unusual in Egypt, some reflecting its longstanding links with the Maghreb and the fact that the inhabitants are of Berber origin. Until a tarmac road was built to the Mediterranean coast in the 1980s Siwa’s only links with the outside world were by arduous camel tracks through the desert. These were used to export dates and olives, bring trade goods, or carry pilgrims on the route which linked the Maghreb to Cairo and hence to Mecca. As a result of this isolation, the Berber inhabitants of the Oasis developed a unique culture manifested in its crafts of basketry, pottery, silverwork and embroidery and in its style of dress. The most visible and celebrated examples of this were the bridal silver and the ensemble of silver ornaments and beads that women wore in abundance to weddings and other ceremonies. These pieces were decorated with symbols which related to Siwa’s history and beliefs and attitudes.

The best known of these pieces are a huge silver disc called ‘adrim’ and a torc, called ‘aghraw’ from which it hung over the breast. A girl would give up the disc at a special ceremony at the Spring the day she was married. The jewellery, which was made by local silversmiths, comprised silver necklaces, earrings, bangles, hair ornaments, pendants and many rings. For a wealthy woman, the full ensemble could weigh as much as five or six kilos. These pieces are decorated with symbols common to Berber people across North Africa designed to promote good health, fertility and to protect the wearer from misfortune. Some of the same signs and patterns are found on the embroidery which embellishes women’s dresses, trousers and shawls. The arrival of the road and of television exposed the oasis to the styles and fashions of the outside world and the traditional silver ornaments were gradually replaced by gold. Evidence of the old styles and traditions are however still in evidence in the women’s embroidery and costume.

Here you can find the complete Overview of all Theme Weeks.

Read more on LonelyPlanet.com – Siwa Oasis, Wikitravel Siwa Oasis, Wikivoyage Siwa Oasis and Wikipedia Siwa Oasis. Learn more about the use of photos. To inform you about latest news most of the city, town or tourism websites offer a newsletter service and/or operate Facebook pages/Twitter accounts. In addition more and more destinations, tourist organizations and cultural institutions offer Apps for your Smart Phone or Tablet, to provide you with a mobile tourist guide (Smart Traveler App by U.S. Department of State - Weather report by weather.com - Johns Hopkins University & Medicine - Coronavirus Resource Center - Global Passport Power Rank - Democracy Index - GDP according to IMF, UN, and World Bank - Global Competitiveness Report - Corruption Perceptions Index - Press Freedom Index - World Justice Project - Rule of Law Index - UN Human Development Index - Global Peace Index - Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index). If you have a suggestion, critique, review or comment to this blog entry, we are looking forward to receive your e-mail at comment@wingsch.net. Please name the headline of the blog post to which your e-mail refers to in the subject line.




Recommended posts:

Share this post: (Please note data protection regulations before using buttons)

The Chilehaus in Hamburg

The Chilehaus in Hamburg

[caption id="attachment_154364" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Chilehaus © Sebastian Warneke/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Chilehaus (Chile House) is a ten-story office building in Hamburg. It is located in the Kontorhausviertel. It is an exceptional example of the 1920s Brick Expressionism style of architecture. This large angular building is located on a site of approximately 6,000m², spanning the Fischertwiete Street in Hamburg. It was designed by the German architect Fritz Höger and finished in 1924. ...

[ read more ]

Great Synagogue in Plzeň

Great Synagogue in Plzeň

[caption id="attachment_227886" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Otto Domes/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Great Synagogue (Czech: Velká Synagoga) in Plzeň (Pilsen), Czech Republic is the second largest synagogue in Europe. A Viennese architect Max Fleischer drew up the original plans for the synagogue in Gothic style with granite buttresses and twin 65-meter towers. The cornerstone was laid on 2 December 1888 and that was about as far as it got. City councillors rejected the plan in a clear case of tower envy a...

[ read more ]

The Munich Residenz

The Munich Residenz

[caption id="attachment_6587" align="alignleft" width="590"] Munich Residenz © Gryffindor[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs in the center of the city of Munich. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture and room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and the museum displays 130 rooms. The three main parts are the Königsbau (nea...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Los Angeles

Theme Week Los Angeles

[caption id="attachment_26643" align="aligncenter" width="590"] East Los Angeles Basin, seen from Mulholland © Lan56/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Los Angeles, officially the City of Los Angeles, often known by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California and the second-most populous in the United States, after New York City, with a population of 3,9 million. It has a land area of 469 square miles (1,215 km2), and is located in Southern California. The city is the focal point of the larg...

[ read more ]

Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre

Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre

[caption id="attachment_193057" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Maurice07/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, also known as Şişli Kültür ve Ticaret Merkezi (Şişli Culture and Trade Centre) is a modern shopping mall located on the Büyükdere Avenue in the Şişli district of Istanbul. Opened on 15 October 2005, Istanbul Cevahir was the largest shopping mall in Europe in terms of gross leasable area between 2005 and 2011, and is one of the largest in the world. ...

[ read more ]

The Oval Cricket Ground in London

The Oval Cricket Ground in London

[caption id="attachment_231169" align="alignnone" width="590"] The Oval © Chino990/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, located in the borough of Lambeth, in south London. The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since it was opened in 1845. It was the first ground in England to host international Test cricket in September 1880. The final Test match of the English season is traditionally ...

[ read more ]

Soltau in the Lüneburg Heath

Soltau in the Lüneburg Heath

[caption id="attachment_169727" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Heide Park Resort © Dirk Thierfelder/cc-by-sa-2.5[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Soltau is a mid-sized town in the Lüneburg Heath in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony. The town is nationwide well known especially because of a nukber of tourist attractions, such as Heide-Park, Soltau-Therme, Designer Outlet and Abenteuerresort Lüneburger Heide in nearby Bispingen. Soltau lies centrally between Bremen, Hamburg and Hanover on the river Böhme. The name Soltau ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Scottish Borders - Galashiels

Theme Week Scottish Borders - Galashiels

[caption id="attachment_191798" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © geograph.org.uk - Walter Baxter/cc-by-sa-2.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Galashiels is a town in the Scottish Borders and historic county of Selkirkshire, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala". The town, with a population of around 12,600, is a major commercial centre for the Borders region. The town is known for textile making, and is the location of Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles and Design, Galashiels Academy and one campus...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Asturias - Langreo

Theme Week Asturias - Langreo

[caption id="attachment_217540" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Astur1[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Langreo (Asturian: Llangréu) is a municipality and town of northern Spain, province of The Principality of Asturias. It is the 4th largest town of Asturias with 43.000 inhabitants. Langreo is located in the centre of Asturias, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-east of Oviedo. It was an important mining and metallurgical center. In the neighbourhood fruit and cider are produced, and there are still important coal mines, f...

[ read more ]

Čakovec in Northern Croatia

Čakovec in Northern Croatia

[caption id="attachment_160801" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Republic Square © Silverije/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Čakovec is a city in northern Croatia, located around 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and the largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated Croatian county. Most of the historical buildings in the city of Čakovec are located in its center or nearby park. The city's historical core has been ...

[ read more ]

Return to TopReturn to Top
Luxor - Winter Palace Hotel © Rowan
Theme Week Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner...

Rosarito Beach © flickr.com - cesar bojorquez/cc-by-2.0
Baja California in Mexico

Baja California (English: Lower California) is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 31 states...

Yorktown Battlefield © National Park Service Digital Image Archives
Yorktown in Virginia

Yorktown is located in York County in Virginia. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight...

Schließen