Al-Zayyan, Temple and Fortress in the Kharga Oasis

One of the main features in the Kharga Oasis is the Roman (in fact of Greek origin) Temple of Xian Palace (Qasr Al-Xian, Zaijan named Sweet Palace, Palace Zaiyan), which was located in the old town Takhoneourit student, which the Greeks named the Tchonemyris.
The city is mostly unexcavated, but it was certainly of great importance as a major source of water in ancient times, and can be a place for travelers stopped for the night. The rest of it is still possible to see near the wall of mud and brick on the west side. There was a through-Saharan Africa, which led from the palace of Xian to Esna during the Roman era.
In fact, the structure itself is only part of the castle, one of a series built during this period, and the remaining space dedicated to housing. At the outset it was built during the Ptolemaic era, when he was well known large (Tchonemyris), but was restored and enlarged by the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius in 138.
Adobe is surrounded by the ruins of a rectangular enclosure (in fact, almost square) measurement of the wall about 26 meters from 28 meters. Within this Roman temple dedicated to Amun Hibis, who was known Amenibis. The temple of the sandstone was too small when it was built during the Ptolemaic era, which measures only about 7.5 by 13.5 meters. , Then the Romans built a room of bricks, about 22 feet long, compared with the main structure of the old. Temple faces south, and can be entered through the door is built of sandstone in the curtain wall of mud brick. In the cage, reads the inscription: "For the great god of Amenibis Tchonemyris and other gods of the temple, in order to maintain eternal Antonius Caesar, God and all his household ..." Inscription, dated 11 August AD 140, it passes the name of the governor and other officials involved in the restoration. The main building of the temple today is composed of the court to lead to a shrine or a camera that provides a range that has evolved specialized in the northern wall, and a lobby with stairs leading to the surface.
German geographer, George Schweinfurth, visited the site during the late 19th century and Potter found, and coins, glass and cast bronze in the region. Record is that one of the families of the village of the bronze as fertility charms. Apparently, the locals believe they are great powers.
Between 1984 and 1986, the temple through extensive renovation. In addition, new fossils have begun recently by the Egyptian Antiquities Organization. Parts of the structure is rebuilt, part of the survey in the ovens and discovered a reservoir of water and a cache of Roman coins. Included other efforts to measure the draft by a team from the University of Osaka, Japan.


Slightly lower than the base Palace Xian, easy 18 meters below sea level, the lowest level in the oasis. Here, the community of ancient tombs can also be found.