Classics

This dissertation is a social and military history of the army in Egypt under the Ptolemies (323-30 BC), the Greek rulers who succeeded Alexander the Great in Egypt. Building on approaches developed in state-formation theory, notably Mann's concept of social power (1986) that ...

Abstract: This paper presents the data and the methods available to estimate the number of Greeks immigrating and settling in Ptolemaic Egypt. I shall argue that the evaluations generally proposed (10% of Greeks) are too high and the flow of immigration implicitly expected too regular. ...

"My particular interest in the Egyptian warriors stems from the confusion about the machimoi and whether this term has the same meaning in Hellenistic documents as in Herodotus’ narrative of the earliest years of Late Period Egypt. In fact, the papyrological and epigraphic material does not allow us directly to connect the
Ptolemaic machimoi to the so-called machimoi of the Late Period as is usually done. In this study, I propose a new interpretation of Herodotus’ passage concerning the machimoi and the organization of Egyptian society in seven classes (2.164–7). Then I
present the evidence that suggests that there is no straightforward continuity but rather a loose connection between the Late Period Egypt military system described inaccurately by Herodotus and the Egyptians in the Ptolemaic army. Moreover, throughout the Ptolemaic period, the machimoi seem to have played an increasing role in the Ptolemaic army and represented an ever-larger share of it. Finally, I argue that the Ptolemaic machimoi were not at the bottom of the social ladder as is commonly thought."

Polybius (V 63–65) describes the reorganization of the Ptolemaic army by genos, by
age, and the breaking up of the old regiments before the battle of Raphia (217 BC). By comparing
his words with the papyrological sources, it appears that the translation of genos as “nationality”
is problematic here and that the eponymous officers, who were military commanders, were
replaced by new ones at that time.

Studies on the change in prices in late third century Egypt are based on a small sample of texts difficult to date. If CPR XVIII and P.Heid. VI 383, where the silver standard is used, belong to the reign of Ptolemy III, as is argued here, the date of 211/210 proposed by Reekmans
may be maintained against recent criticism.

NOW IN PAPERBACK (June 2019) This is the only substantial and up-to-date reference work on the Ptolemaic army. Employing Greek and Egyptian papyri and inscriptions, and building on approaches developed in state-formation theory, it offers a coherent account of how the changing structures of the army in Egypt after Alexander’s conquest led to the development of an ethnically more integrated society. A new tripartite division of Ptole- maic history challenges the idea of gradual decline and emphasizes the reshaping of military structures that took place between c. 220 and c. 160 BC in response to changes in the nature of warfare, to mobiliza- tion and demobilization, and to financial constraints. An investigation of the socio-economic role played by soldiers permits a reassessment of the cleruchic system and shows how soldiers’ associations generated inter-ethnic group solidarity. By integrating Egyptian evidence, Chris- telle Fischer-Bovet also demonstrates that the connection between the army and local temples offered new ways for Greeks and Egyptians to interact.

Les demandes d’asylie nous permettent de nous interroger sur la relation entre Grecs et prêtres égyptiens à travers l’évolution de l’octroi de l’asylie en Égypte, sur la présence étonnamment prépondérante de soldats dans le milieu des temples égyptiens et sur le rôle des officiers au niveau local. Une synthèse de nos connaissances sur la garde royale et sur le réseau social de ses membres nous aident à comprendre son rôle concernant l’inviolabilité des temples et plus généralement son implantation dans la chôra égyptienne. Ces décrets d’asylie semblent révéler avant tout une collaboration entre Grecs et Égyptiens et cette proximité a parfois donné lieu au développement d’une culture que l’on peut qualifier de gréco-égyptienne.

Immigration to Egypt after Alexander’s conquest raises questions as to the nature of the relationship between Egyptians, Greeks, and other ethnic groups from the entire Mediterranean. Usually framed in terms of ethnicity, it has been approached in different ways in studies of Greco-Roman Egypt.

Was it ever easy to conquer Egypt? By looking at the sources from the seventh to the second century BC, this essay argues that it was never easy to do so, but that it even became more difficult from the fourth century BC onwards because of the system of defense established by Nectanebo I and Nectanebo II (Part. I). Antiochos IV’s double invasions of Egypt in 170 and 168 are set against this background in order to demonstrate that he was well prepared and well informed about previous strategies and thus that he really intended to integrate Egypt to his kingdom (Part II). New Demotic papyri from the Fayyum and a seal-impression with Antiochus’ portrait found in Edfu complement the fragmentary evidence to support that the Seleucid king controlled at least some areas of Egypt when he withdrew after the Roman intervention of Popilius Laenas (Day of Eleusis). In part III, the reforms of the Ptolemaic army and the reorganization of the defense system in the 160s BC are interpreted as responses to the Seleucid invasion.

This study is an excellent up-to-date examination of the cavalry-settlers in Egypt under the Ptolemies. Scheuble-Reiter gathered all the documentation, mainly papyrological but also epigraphic, literary and at times archaeological on the cavalry-settlers in order to understand better their role, composition and organization within the new Ptolemaic state...

Revolts in Hellenistic Egypt consisted of rebellions and riots, which occurred sporadically from the reign of PTOLEMY III EUERGETES (246–221) until the year following the Roman conquest (29). The term may also include the various periods of unrest in Roman Egypt until the end of the third century; normally, how- ever, it excludes riots of the mob in Alexandria, where the population consisted of Egyptians alongside Greeks and Jews, as well as the Jewish revolt in Egypt of 116–117. Several explana- tions have been put forward for these revolts...

The katoikoi are the “inhabitants” of a place (Arist. Oec. 1352a33), the noun being synony- mous with the participial form katoikountes, while a katoikia is a “settlement” or “colony” (village or town) lacking the status or the insti- tutions of a POLIS or “city” (Polyb. 2.32.4; Strabo 7.4.4). In a narrower sense, found in papyri and inscriptions, the term katoikoi refers to military settlers in the Hellenistic armies...

The Colossi of Memnon are two monumental statues standing in front of the now-destroyed mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, on the west bank of the Nile in Thebes. The northern Colossus, a seated figure of Amenhotep III in red quartzite, became a tourist attraction known as the “vocal statue of Memnon.” It started “singing” after an earthquake left cracks in the statue...