Qasr el-Sagha (Zarew) Temple
Qasr el Sagha · Zarew Fayum temple
Middle Kingdom (1990–1650 BCE)·Egyptian (12th Dynasty)·🇪🇬 Faiyum Governorate, Qasr el-Sagha, NE of Lake Qarun (Birket Qarun), Egypt
About
About Qasr el-Sagha (Zarew) Temple
Unfinished Middle Kingdom temple Qasr el-Sagha (Dyn 12, c.1870 BCE) on Lake Qarun's north shore, 7 shrines for Sobek. Mudbrick temenos 70×35 m, causeway 11 km to Lake. Base for Fayum water works of Amenemhat III.
Why it mattersOnly unfinished Middle Kingdom temple showing construction stages.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Abandonment reason (king death vs lake shift)
- 02Causeway function
Theories
- 01Lake regulation cult (Arnold)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1870 BCE under Amenemhat III unfinished
- Period
- Middle Kingdom (1990–1650 BCE)
- Culture
- Egyptian (12th Dynasty)
- Purpose
- Sobek temple for Fayum irrigation project cult
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1870 BCE
Temple begun under Amenemhat III
c. 1800 BCE
Abandoned unfinished
1900
Caton-Thompson survey
present
UNESCO World Heritage part of Wadi Rayyan
On the ground
Structures & features
29.5970° N · 30.6800° E · 12 m · 2 mapped features
Seven Shrines of Qasr el-Sagha
shrineSeven barrel vaulted shrines 8×6 m for Sobek
29.5980° N · 30.6810° ECauseway of Qasr el-Sagha
causewayStone causeway 11 km to lake shore
29.5960° N · 30.6790° E