![]() ![]() Seeking the Oracle at Siwa Two sides of a clepsydra or water clock depicting Alexander the Great as Pharaoh making an offering to a deity, c. The temple shows little Egyptian architectural influence, however, perhaps indicating that the religious practices were only superficially Egyptianized. Amun was one of the chief Egyptian gods, who was worshipped as the king of the gods. 570-526 BCE) built a shrine to Amun at the oasis to assert Egyptian control and win the favor of the Libyan tribes more fully. During the 26th Dynasty, the Pharaoh Amasis (r. The first signs of an Egyptian presence date to the 19th Dynasty when a fort was constructed at the oasis. Until the domestication of the camel, Siwa was too isolated to be fully incorporated with Egypt. The Oracle at Siwa was located in a deep depression known as the Siwa oasis which is located in an isolated part of the desert towards the northwestern border with Libya. History of the Oracle at Siwa Marble head of Zeus-Ammon, c. Seeking to further legitimize his rule and follow in the footsteps of the heroes and conquerors of the past, Alexander the Great also decided to visit the Oracle at Siwa. He reformed the tax code along Greek lines, organized the military forces to occupy the land, founded the city of Alexandria, restored temples to the Egyptian gods, dedicated new temples, and offered the traditional pharaonic sacrifices. During his time in Egypt, Alexander the Great sought to establish his rule in a pattern that would repeat itself across the Ancient Near East. The Egyptians had long resented Persian rule, so they greeted Alexander as a liberator and made no notable attempts at resistance. It was also necessary to ensure that a rival would not seize Egypt and attack Alexander’s territory. Egypt was also a wealthy land and Alexander needed money. Persia still possessed a powerful navy which could threaten Greece and Macedonia, so Alexander needed to destroy all its bases. The conquest of Egypt was necessary for Alexander the Great to secure his lines of communication. Rather than pushing eastwards into the heart of the Persian Empire, he instead marched his army south into Egypt. Following two great battles and several sieges, Alexander the Great had taken over most of Persia’s territory in Anatolia, Syria, and the Levant. In 334 BCE, Alexander the Great crossed the Hellespont and began his invasion of the mighty Persian Empire. Late 4th Century BCE, via The British Museum Alexander the Great Invades Egypt Steal depicting Alexander the Great as Pharaoh offering wine to the Sacred Bull, c. ![]()
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