Ancient site · Faiyum
Qasr Qarun Temple
A Ptolemaic-era temple beside Lake Qarun in Faiyum, famed for the annual sunlight that reaches its inner sanctum.
The story
This archaeological site lies near Lake Qarun in Faiyum Governorate and centres on a temple from the Ptolemaic period. The temple was dedicated to the god Sobek and later to Dionysus. Between 330 BC and AD 640 the town was known as Dionysias. In the Islamic era local people named it Qasr Qarun because of its closeness to the lake, a name unrelated to the Qarun of the Quran.
Good to know
- The temple was dedicated to the god Sobek and later to Dionysus.
- Each year on 21 December the sun illuminates the inner sanctum.
- From 330 BC to AD 640 the town was known as Dionysias.
Visiting tips
Per Wikivoyage, listed hours are Sunday to Thursday 8:00 to 16:00 and Friday to Saturday 8:00 to 18:00. Please check hours and prices before visiting.