Birket Qarun - Qasr Qarun
At the southwest end of the Birket Qarun is the site of Qasr Qarun, most conveniently reached on a moderately good road (22mi/36km) from Medinetel-Fayyum via lbshawai and El-Shawashna.
Qasr Qarun is a reasonably well preserved temple of the Late Ptolemaic period, surrounded by the remains of an ancient city, probably Dionysias, on the extreme western verge of the Roman province.
Qasr Qarun is a reasonably well preserved temple of the Late Ptolemaic period, surrounded by the remains of an ancient city, probably Dionysias, on the extreme western verge of the Roman province.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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From here there was a caravan route to Bahriya, then known as the Oasis Minor. A circular foundation wall marks the position of an ancient cistern. The Temple, 63ft/19.20m wide across the facade and 89ft/27m long, is built of carefully dressed blocks of extremely hard sandstone. Like almost all the temples in the oases, it was dedicated to the ram headed Amun-Khnum, of whom there are two representations at the top of the rear wall of the open top storey. Above every doorway of the temple is a winged sun. There are no ancient inscriptions.
Related Attractions
Qasr Qarun Chambers
On the lower floor are the chambers dedicated to cult purposes: first three antechambers, the floors of which slope down towards the sanctuary, and the sanctuary itself, divided into three small rooms at the back. On either side of the sanctuary is a narrow corridor with three chambers opening off it. Over the doorways of the two antechambers and the sanctuary the usual cavetto cornice is replaced by a row of royal cobras. Flanking the antechambers are side rooms from which it is possible either to go down into the cellars or to climb two flights of stairs to the upper floor, on which there are various other chambers, and from there to the roof. From the roof there are extensive views of the sand covered remains of the ancient city, the lake and the desert.
Qasr Qarun Forecourt
The entrance, facing east, is reached by way of the forecourt, a high and well built platform 43ft/13m from front to rear. On the facade of the temple, to the right (north) of the doorway, stands a huge half column, a relic of the colonnade which once flanked the court.
Qasr Qarun Small Temples
To the east of the main temple can be found two smaller temples, reasonably well preserved. One, on the same axis as the main temple, is a kiosk, similar in ground plan to the Philae Kiosk. The other, 220yd/200m from the first, is larger, with walls of well fired brick on stone foundations. At the far end of the sanctuary is an apse like recess, and on the two side walls are two engaged half columns, which the fragments lying around show to have been of the Ionic Order.
Roman Fort
Northwest of the Qasr Qarun site are the remains of a Roman fort of the time of Diocletian. Defended by nine towers, it was constructed of kiln fired brick with limestone blocks built in at certain points.
