Ancient site · Siwa Oasis، Matrouh
Mountain of the Dead (Gebel Al-Mawta)
A conical limestone hill honeycombed with hundreds of rock-cut tombs featuring exquisite Greco-Roman and Pharaonic funerary murals.
The story
Rising 1 km north of Shali, this necropolis hill dates from the 26th Dynasty through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. Highlights include the Tomb of Si-Amun with vibrant frescoes harmonizing Greek and Egyptian iconography, the Tomb of the Crocodile, and Ni-perpathot. The caves served as air-raid shelters during World War II.
Visiting tips
Request the local antiquities custodian to unlock the painted tombs to view original polychrome murals preserved for over 2,300 years.