Gabal El Mawta| The Mountain of the Dead in Siwa Oasis
Gabal El Mawta or the Mountain of the Dead is a mountain located in the oasis of Siwa. Siwa is an Oasis in the western desert and it is very special and beautiful nature: It is covered by palms, trees, natural springs, and salted Lakes which make it one of the top destinations for medical tourism. The Mountain of the Dead enables you to see a scene that doesn’t exist anywhere else where you can watch the life and death in one scene while seeing the beautiful nature full of life and the tombs back thousands of years. During your visit to the mountain as one of Egypt Desert Safari Tours, you will discover a great story.
During the Second World War, the citizens of Siwa escaped to the mountain to find a safe shelter away from the danger of the war; Indeed, they found that the mountain included a large number of caves and small cavities which made it a good choice for being safe away from the weapons and fire of the war. During their existence, they have discovered a great archeological discovery that these caves encompass mummies back to various ancient Egyptian civilizations. Therefore, the mountain gained the name of Dead Mountain or as in the Arabic Language “ Gabal El Mawta”.
A few kilo Meters away from Shali, The Mountain of the Dead includes more than 3000 tombs for mummies from various nationalities. The mountain is formed from limestone rocks While climbing it you will find that the caves are like catacombs containing a large number of tombs and it ends with a wide foyer. The Ptolemies and Romans buried their dead people in the mountain in the Oasis of Siwa. These tombs' design combines Greek art and Egyptian art.
In addition, these tombs contain Patterns and drawings from the ancient Egyptian ages, one of the most famous tombs is the tomb of “ Si-Amun”. It is believed that He is a Greek man. You can also find the Goddess Isis holding the key of life with her crown and above her head the Sun. Book your tour now to Siwa Oasis by choosing your vacation from Egypt Classic Tours to Egypt
General info about Siwa Oasis
Egypt is a country with a rich history and it is possible to see archaeological monuments in all regions of the country. The Mountain of the Dead in Siwa is yet another of these archaeological landmarks and among things recommended when you take Trips from Cairo to Siwa Oasis.
Siwa Oasis and the Mountain of the Dead
Siwa Oasis is located about 560 kilometers from Cairo, and here is one of the most important burial sites of the 26th dynasty, the Mountain of the Dead.
The Ancient Tombs of the Mountain of the Dead
Mountain of the Dead, in Arabic (Gabal Al-Mawta), located in Siwa Oasis is a Mountain where several tombs were carved on its base, terraces, and at the top. Most of them are tombs for Romans and they differ in terms of shape and size, some of them are just small pits on the ground while other tombs are symmetrically carved with recesses and rooms inside.
The Discovery and Legends of the Mountain of the Dead
The mountain is one of the main attractions of Siwa Oasis. The discovery of the Mountain of the Dead took place in 1944, during World War II.
History tells that the people of Siwa went to the mountain to hide when German, British and Italian troops were fighting in this part of the desert. Along the way, they discovered the existence of the pharaonic tombs. Local legend says Alexander the Great may also be buried there. However, his grave was never found yet.
Exploring the Ancient Cemetery of the Mountain of the Dead
When you go to the Siwa Oasis from Cairo, you will visit the Mountain of the Dead which holds thousands of graves cut into its rocky bed, where inscriptions helped date the oldest graves for researchers and scholars. Burials continued in this cemetery until the end of the Roman era.
