Qasr Qarun

The temple stands at Dionysias, a caravan town at the desert edge where the road to the Bahariya oasis began, and it was built in the Ptolemaic period for Sobek, the crocodile god of the Faiyum, in his local form as Sobek of Shedet. It is unusually complete: a compact limestone block with its walls, internal chambers, staircases and much of its roof still standing, so you can walk the interior corridors, climb to the roof and look out across the lake and the desert. Undecorated for the most part, it gives a clear reading of how a small temple was planned. Around it lie the mud-brick remains of the town and a later Roman fort of the third or fourth century AD, built when this was a frontier post.

What's there

• A temple with its roof on - internal corridors and stairs still walkable.
• The roof terrace - views over Lake Qarun and the desert edge.
• The Roman fort - a late frontier garrison beside the temple.
• Mud-brick town remains - the caravan settlement of Dionysias.

When to go

October to April, and late afternoon for light across the lake from the roof. One to two hours. It is a long drive around the lake from Faiyum city, so combine it with Tunis or the lake shore rather than making a special trip.

Good to know

The interior passages are dark and low and a torch helps considerably. The roof access is by a steep narrow stair with no rail. The temple is undecorated, so those hoping for reliefs will find it plain. The drive out is long on poor road and there are no facilities at the site.

Nearby

Lake Qarun runs east from here; Tunis village is on the southern ridge.

Key facts