Ptolemies and Egypt Flashcards
What territories did the Ptol empire include? Their signif?
Nile delta
Cyrenaica (north africa tip) - buffer zone for G west threats + good for trade and naval bases
Cyprus - timber and copper source
Cilicia
Koile Syria - unstable territory but when controlled, was a good eastern buffer zone
What geo-poltical consideration is important for understanding Egyptian politics? Relevance under Ptolemies?
split between the north and south (lower and upper Egypt)
The north (lower E) was where Ptol power was centred which meant upper E could pose a threat
How was Alexandria indicative of Ptol priorities?
coastal - good for trade and navy
looked over the Med
Northern capital
intercultural
What proportion of Alexandria was made up of the royal district? Significance?
1/3
demonstrates the extent to which royal and dynastic factors played into the dev of the city
What is the problem with the textual evidence for Alexandria? What does archaeology show?
Emphasises the Greek cultural influence to an inaccurate extent.
Greater cross cultural interactions and influences in the built environs, decor, and personal items.
What three categories does Polybius use to differentiate the citizens of Alexandria?
natives, mercenaries, and Alexandrians (G heritage but grew up in the city)
What city acted as a key religious centre for Ptol Egypt? How did this occur? Political signif?
Memphis
Home of the Apis Bull (thus Apis)
Large temple for patron God Ptah which had group of politically influential priests associated with it
What was the relationship between the Ptol dynasty and high priests of Ptah? Evidence?
close, mutually beneficial
Grave stele of Psenptais III that celebrated life and honours
What was the cultural scene in Memphis like? Evidence?
Mixed, had been since Pre-Ptol period with Phoenicians, Jewish communities, and Egyptians together and appearing to share cultural practices
Ptolemaios, son of Glaukias - grave on which he refers to himself as Greek, lies in a phon cult sarcophagus, within Egyptian Serapeum tomb.
What was the organisation of the Fayum under the Ptols? Cultural scene?
made up of small villages and military camps
Strong Greco-Macedonian presense
How did the Ptols change the Fayum region?
irrigation of the previous oasis that meant people could live there and made it an economically agricultural centre
What was the southern (Upper E) capital of Egypt?
Thebes
How did Upper Egypt culturally differ from Lower E?
much greater Pharaonic influence with little hellenism
When was the Great Theban Revolt? Significance?
206-186 BCE
Rebels were intending to express dissatisfaction at hellenism and changes under Ptolemies
What is the problem with the sources for the Great Theban Revolt?
Graffiti by a rebel
Priestly text records an impious group of rebels immorally fighting against Ptolemaic dynasty
What evidence derives from Dryton in Pathyris? Political signif
created archive records
His family represents evidence of cultural mixing w him and his wife using G names but 5 daughters had Egyptian ones BUT in formal exchange they had greek alternatives
Indicates the administration language etc was Greek
What region did the Ptolemies economically exploit? Resources acquired?
Red Sea
African, Arabian, and India links; elephants; gold
Who was put to work for Ptol mining? Significance?
POWs and criminals (ess slave labour)
Ptols clearly cunning and resourceful in their economic policies
When was Alexandria founded? By whom?
331 BCE
AtG
What developments occured in Alexandria under Ptol I?
grid plan laid out
large city walls
large palace in Lochias
irrigation system
Temples - Serapis, Isis, Eleusis
What was the character of changes to Alexandria under Ptol I?
leaning towards hellenistic
What Alexandrian developments were completed under Ptol II Philadelphos?
harbour split into W commercial one and E ‘Royal/Great harbour’ for navy
hepastadium = bridge that split the two and connected isaldn Pharos and the city
Lighthouse, built on Pharos at mouth of Great harbour, of limestone, statues and fire on top
agora and emporium east of entrance to hepsstadium
theatre in lit sources but not archaeologically attested
hippodrome
lageion (stadium)
banqueting pavillion/permanent tent, in lit, cld have 100 guests
Royal cult temples - shrine of Ptol I and Berenice, Arsinoeion, obelisk for Arsinoe
Under who was the greatest development for Alexandria as a city done?
Ptolemy I Philadelphos
What Alexandrian developments were completed under Ptol III Euergetes?
Serapeum, T of Serapis
T of Osiris (Egyptian cult)
When was Serapeum, Alexandria built? Key features?
under Ptol III (246–222 BC)
G ones: large temenos, Doric frieze, Corinthian columns.
Egyptian ones: cult statue style, water-clock.
Greek and Egyptian inscrips on foundation plaques - made of gold, silver, bronze, faience, Nile mud, and opaque glass.
What Alexandrian developments were completed under Ptol IV Philopator?
epigraphic evidence for Fountain of Arsinoe (II or III)
thalamegos (catamaran) - floated on the Nile hosting royal banquets
sema (not found in arch) - family tomb containing AtG, Berenice II, and poss other ptols
general continuation/maintenance of previous buildings
What precedent was there for public images of Ptol queens?
pre-hellenistic tradition of royal women in religious guise (in ritua, assimiliation to a goddess)
What function did imagery of Ptol queens have?
built on wider ptolemaic royal image in religious, cultural, and political spheres
What goddess was often assim with Ptol queen images? G goddess that was assoc with this representation?
Isis
Tyche
How were women often depicted in Ptolemaic imagery? In what media?
alongside their husband
royal cult, doc headings, and statues
What was unusual about the female depictions of the queens in the kingdom? Examples?
more personalised (but still highly idealised!!)
Arsinoe II: sharp profile and lean face
Berenike II: fuller face
Key statue find of Arsinoe III?
Boston heads of her and Ptol IV - stern expression that was v individual
What was theme of later Ptol queen statues? Historical signif?
stern, more mature, even masculinizing typology
phase of queens w more power - Kleopatras I-III ruled effectively with sole power in place of weak/boy kings
