Song of Siwa

Inspiration for the book …

On July 1^st, 1964, I started work as a Research Assistant for Professor William J. Darby, Division of Nutrition, Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Six weeks later in August, 1964 I was posted to the US Navy Research Hospital #3 [NAMRU-3] in Cairo, Egypt, where I assisted with field research on diet- and nutrition-related topics (both contemporary and historical). During 1965-1966 I made two research-related visits to Siwa and Qara oases, and into the Qattara Depression region in the western desert of Egypt.

Through my site visits I became even more interested in Siwa and Qara oases. How could one not become excited about a remote location such as Siwa, when the adult male inhabitants still wore Greek-style togas; the adult females wore astonishing beautifully embroidered dresses with classic sunburst designs; where the young girls proudly displayed their silver jewelry? How could one not become excited when during afternoons and evenings there were opportunities to hear sagas chanted by story-tellers … stories that reached back to before the dawn of time?

Listening to the chanting and being present to hear the sounds, the drumming and chanting, lulled me back into a different time and place… and at that spot in my mind I imagined great heroes who accomplished great things … and from these experiences the idea to write the Song of Siwa was born.

Overall central theme …

The Song of Siwa is a fictional reconstruction of events that could have taken place within this region of northern Africa/western Egypt from earliest remote antiquity down to the historical visit of Alexander of Macedon.

The book focuses on the cultural transformation of a small group of stone-age hunters who settled in the Siwa, a remote oases in the western desert of modern Egypt … Events unfold through a presumed oral history transmitted through the centuries that unites the modern residents, reinforces pride and identity with their ancient ancestors who initially arrived at the oasis.

The Song of Siwa is a fictional reconstruction and told in the form of a chant (similar to The Song of Roland or Cantar de Mio Cid). The events as related take place at the Marzuk-Iskander festival (mulid) held every 15 years at Siwa. The central component of the festival is recitation of the ancient epic, Song of Siwa, followed by the presentation and viewing of ancient clan relics that provide the background basis and foundation for the festival.

Introduction to the main characters …

Marzuk: Leader of his band of Ice Age hunters who after numerous trials and difficulties guides them to safety, ultimately reaching Siwa oasis where they find refuge under the protective spirit of god Zagilie;

Gosla: Marzuk’s mate and responsible for construction of Zagilie’s temple at Aghourmi in the Siwa oasis. Gosla is mother of the twins Zel and Zechen;

Tella: Leader of the Qara clan branch who is successful in his death duel with the evil Ferzin and reunites the clan factions;

Ne-pet: Chemi [ancient Egyptian] healer who arrives at Siwa during an epidemic, provides medical treatment, and ultimately becomes responsible for the medical training of Bar-is, a local Siwan youth;

Bar-is: Eager to see the broader world outside of Siwa, accompanies Ne-pet to the Black Land [Nile Valley] and undertakes training in the Chemi House of life. Bar-is ultimately is forced to accompany the Persian army during their military campaign against Siwa;

Cambyses: King of Persia, conqueror of the Black Land;

Iskander: Alexander of Macedon, known in Siwa as the Third Priest [Al-Kahana Thalthe]; conqueror of the ancient world (from the Mediterranean to India); considered a benevolent ruler over the Chemi. Iskander visits Siwa to learn his origins, whether or not he was the son of god or man. Iskander still revered today at Siwa as the protective spirit over the oasis.

Reader appeal …

While the Song of Siwa is a work of fictional history, themes of love, betrayal, faith, discovery, pain and anguish, warfare, redemption – and other human strengths and weaknesses – flow through the epic chanted by the elders. Readers interested in ancient Egypt, the Persian and Macedonian periods of occupation along the Nile Valley will find the information presented in the Song of Siwa stimulating and insightful. If readers wish documents that support components of the epic story, there is an extensive bibliography.

It is the author’s wish that on their next trip to Egypt, readers would consider visiting Siwa to explore the oasis, and to immerse themselves in the history and lore of this captivating location.