CHAPTER III

THE HISTORY OF SIWA

FIRST PERIOD. THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER AMMON

The Siwan Deity — A local religion — Legendary origin of the God — Herodotus — The Kingdom of the Ammonians — Lysander’s visit — Cambyses — A lost army — Cimon’s death foretold — The “Fountain of the Sun” — The temples — The King’s court — The temple to-day — Alexander visits Siwa — His adventures on the way — Ritual of the temple — Decline of its fame — Strabo’s theory — The Romans — Christianity 74

SECOND PERIOD. MEDIÆVAL SIWA

Arab invasion of Egypt — Attempts to subjugate the oasis — Arab historians — The marvels of Siwa — Hidden cities — Emerald mines — Siwans become Mohammedans — King Rashwan — “The Thirty” — Sidi Suliman — Legends about him — Style of living — Quarrel between east and west — Civil wars — Recent disturbance — Browne at Siwa — Hornemann 89

THIRD PERIOD. THE TURKISH RULE

Invasion of Siwa — Hassein Bey — Colonel Butin — Ali Balli, the Omda — Hamilton at Siwa, his imprisonment — Punitive expedition — Death of Yousif Ali — Turkish mamurs — A desert firebrand — “The Widow’s War” — Osman Habun — Abdel Arti, smuggler — Death of “The Habun” 102

FOURTH PERIOD. SIWA AND THE WAR

The Italians in Tripoli — German intrigues — The Senussi confraternity — Mohammed el Senussi, his life at Siwa — Caves of the Kasr Hassuna — Growth of the Senussi — Mohammed el Mahdi — Sayed Ahmed — The situation in 1915 — Evacuation of Sollum — Capture of the crew of the _Tara_ — Matruh — Battle on Christmas Day — Wadi Majid — Battle of Agagia and occupation of Barrani — Sayed Ahmed at Siwa — Occupation of Sollum — Sayed Ahmed goes to Dakhla and back — Siwans revolt — Battle of Girba — Occupation of Siwa — Rescue of _Tara_ crew by Duke of Westminster — Sayed Ahmed retires to Constantinople 117