Temple of Umm Ubaydah

Deep within the mystical sands of Siwa Oasis, far from Egypt’s crowded tourist trails, lies the Temple of Umm Ubaydah — a site shrouded in history, legend, and the quiet magic of the desert.

Today, only a few scattered remains survive, but the spirit of this sacred place continues to whisper stories of a time when Siwa was one of the most important religious centers in the ancient world.

A Temple Once Worthy of the Gods

The Temple of Umm Ubaydah was dedicated to the worship of the powerful god Amun, the chief deity of ancient Egypt, and particularly revered in Siwa. Built during the 26th Dynasty (around the 6th century BCE), it once stood as a symbol of the oasis’s deep religious significance.

It’s believed that the priests of Amun here held enormous influence, and Siwa’s temples were visited even by kings and conquerors seeking the oracle’s wisdom — Alexander the Great himself famously traveled to Siwa to consult the Oracle of Amun.

While Umm Ubaydah was not the oracle temple itself (that honor belongs to the nearby Temple of the Oracle at Aghurmi), it formed an essential part of Siwa’s sacred landscape, offering a more private place of devotion to Amun.

What Remains Today

Much of the Temple of Umm Ubaydah was destroyed in the 19th century when stones were taken for local building projects. Only a few walls and scattered blocks survive today, some still bearing traces of ancient carvings.

Yet standing among these ruins, surrounded by the silence of the desert and the timeless energy of Siwa, visitors can still feel the echo of prayers once carried on the desert winds.

Why You Should Visit

In a world where many ancient sites are crowded and heavily restored, the Temple of Umm Ubaydah offers something rare — authenticity.
It invites you to use your imagination, to step back in time, and to experience the raw, untouched beauty of Egypt’s hidden heritage.

If you crave more than just a typical sightseeing tour — if you seek a genuine connection to history, legend, and the spirit of the desert — then the Temple of Umm Ubaydah in Siwa is calling.