Although built under Roman rulers, the walls are decorated according to ancient Egyptian patterns.
The tiny altar inside the holiest of the holy.
The Deir el-Hagar dates back to the 1st century CE, and the carthouches of the emperors of the period, Nero, Vespasian, Titus and Domitian are found around the walls. The temple itself is among the smallest you will ever see, but considering its remoteness out here in the Sahara desert it must not be neglected. The temple is in good condition, a result of the structure being covered by sand for centuries. The temple was dedicated to the Theban triad Amon-Re, Mut and Khonsu, as well as to the god of the oasis, Seth. But its present name calls it a monastery, which is not wrong. A few centuries after its construction was it converted into a Coptic monastery. The entrance fee is surprisingly high, EŁ20.
The back of the temple, where most of the outer walls are intact.
