Egypt after the Pharaohs: 332 BC-AD 642: from Alexander to the Arab Conquest

272 Pages·2012·14.58 MB·English

by  Alan K. Bowman

EGYPT
after the Pharaohs

Alan K Bowman
E G Y PT
after the Pharaohs
332 BC-AD 642
from Alexander
to the Arab Conquest
UNIVERSITY OE CALllORNIA PRESS
BERKELEY AND LOS ANGELES
r i</86 Alan k. Bownun
Published by the I'nivcrsitv of < !a|ift irnta Press
in ilie I'niied Siato 1986
First [xiperlrjck printing 1989
Second paperback printing 1996
Library ot'Oingrcsii (Jtalo^uing-in-Pulilicniion Data
Bowman. Alan K.
I'gypi after rhepharaohs. tw u.r. \.i>. (142.
Bibliography: p. Includes index.
1. l\u\pt (.'ivili/aiinn it: iu:. fi;H A.D. I. "I'itle
mVii.lttii 1986 y\x'.oi 86 inn
ISBN o 52020s 11-G
Printed in I long Kong
12 m ft i x 9
Contents
Acknowledgements 6
Preface 2
Note on Conventions 8
List of lllusrriitions 8
i The (iift of the Nile u
2 The Ruling Power 21
3 State and Subject s 5
4 Poverty and Prosperity 89
5 Greeks and Egyptians 121
6 Gods, Temples and Churches i6j
7 Alexandria, Queen of the Mediterranean 203
8 Epilogue 2$4
Appendix I The Reigns of the Ptolemies 2 s S
Appendix II Metrology and Currency 236
Appendix III The Archaeological Evidence M9
Appendix IV Additional Notes 242
Footnotes 345
Bibliography ip
Index 26s
Ackno w 1 edgemcnts National Trust (The Calkc Gardner Wilkinson
Papers. Bodleian Library, Oxford): 10, 34, 52,
Acknowledgement is made to the following for J J. 82
permission to reproduce illustrations: Pctrie Museum, University College. London: 6
Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: 63
Antikenmuscum, Staatlichc Musecn, Prcuss- Scala, Florence: t, 45, 71, 112
ischer Kulturbcsitz, Berlin: i \ Dr H. Whiiehouse: 14, tci, 10$, 117. 136
Ashmolcan Museum. Oxford: 4. <>7. 79, * J9
Austrian National Library, Vienna: 3 The maps (Figs 1 and 2) were prepared by Paul
Bodleian Library. Oxford: 48 Simmons of Oxford University Press.
British Museum: 2, 7, 11, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, $-»,
46,38,80,84, 116, 119, 124. 126. U7, 158, 140, Acknowledgement is made to the author and to
Cambridge University Pros for permission 10
M?
British Library: 10,94, 142 quote extracts from M.M. Austin, The Htiltmstit
Dr R.A. Coles: 85,91, MO Wot Id jrtm Altxandtr to the Roman Conquest
Coptic Museum, Cairo: 32, 121, 12) (19B1).
Deutschcs archaologisches Institut, Cairo: 22,
31,66,72,77
Deutschcs archaologischcs Institut, Rome: 4c
Egypt Exploration Society: 8, 2c, 27, 36,41,44,
63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 73, 76, 78.9c, 9J, 96. 104
French Archaeological Delegation, Kahul: 128
Gracco-Roman Museum. Alexandria: 93, 106,
•44
Kclscy Museum of Archaeology, University of
.Michigan: $5,60,61,62, 75.86, 87, 89,92, 102,
103, 107, ic.9, 115
Metropolitan .\lu%cum of An, New York: 114,
"5
6
Preface
Abook on the history of Egypt during a decisive period in its development
stands in need of no elaborate justification. Viewed from the standpoint of
the Egyptologist, the Graeco-roman period may seem to lack the grandeur
and the romance which the relics of the Pharaohs possess, but it was during the
millennium between the conquest by Alexander and the Arab invasion that Egypt
made its most significant contribution to the classical world and itself absorbed its
important influences. It is a period which is, by the standards of the ancient world,
exceptionally well-documented. The historian can take advantage of a wide range
of source material: the writings of historians, geographers and literary figures of
classical antiquity, the archaeological remains and artefacts and, above all, the
thousands of texts on papyrus which the climate and the environment of the Nile
valley have preserved for posterity.
The attempt to write a general account based on a synthesis of an intimidating
range and quantity of material might well appear foolhardy for a variety of reasons.
Evidence may emerge tomorrow which will turn today's truth on its head - aware­
ness of which tends to make documentary historians chary of committing them­
selves to sweeping generalities. I can claim only a layman's familiarity with the
archaeological relics and the expertise necessary for critical analysis of those docu­
ments which are written in languages other than Latin and Greek is absent; hence I
have had to rely on published editions and translations of demotic and Coptic
material. But the attempt at synthesis is nonetheless worth making, it is hoped,
because there is no recent account in English which tries to exploit both the written
and the archaeological evidence in order to see the impact of the presence of the
Greeks and Romans in Egypt against the backdrop of the Egyptian tradition. This
is intended to be the essence of the book and the narrative is deliberately offered
with only the bald citation of some exemplary items of evidence, avoiding the
proliferation of footnotes replete with documentation, bibliography and argument.
My immense debts to friends and colleagues are impossible to enumerate, the
more especially because many of them have been incurred in discussion or corres­
pondence over a long period of time. Some of my creditors will recognise their
contributions and will, 1 hope, take their appearance as a compliment. If I avoid the
invidiousness of naming some and excluding others that is not intended to under­
state or obscure my acute consciousness either of my debt to them, or of my
fundamental reliance on a sustained tradition of accurate and magnanimous scholar­
ship in the field of papyrology and the history of Graeco-roman Egypt. But for
these the book, such as it is, would not exist at all. It is, however, a pleasure to make
one exception in thanking Jane Rowlandson who painstakingly read the whole text
and rescued me from many errors and obscurities. For those which remain I alone
am responsible. For this revised paperback edition, I have taken the opportunity
to add a list of the locations of museum objects illustrated in the plates, to correct
some errors (for assistance with which I am particularly grateful to Professor John
Baincs, Dr Willy Claryssc and Dr Susan Walker), to update the bibliography and to
include an appendix with some additional notes.
Oxford
July 1991
Notes on conventions used in the text
NAMFN
The transliteration oi names is alua\s problematic and complete consistcncx is impossible to achieve. I have
jjcncraJly contented tmsclf *ith using the moM familiar and recognisable forms of" common personal and place-
names; but some inconsistencies ot' practice remain. It should he noted that documents of the Roman period
frequently use the name Caesar alone in referring to the current emperor. I hn\ e not attempted to expand these.
DA11-.S
All dates aic AU unless other* IM. indicated. I have used the lorm 'i\ i,» M ' to indicate that an event or document is
to be placed at some point within the period and the form *IJ i-o IM * to indicate that evrnis or items referred to
cover the period hriween the dates. I have nor attempted to provide Julian equivalents for month dates which
occur in the quotations. The calculation of equivalent* tor date* in the Ptolemaic period is a complex matter
bccauhc of the lack of correspondence between calcndaric >ears of different lengths iscc reference* in Appendix i;.
After ihe Roman takeover, a* a consequence of the |ulun reform, the correspondences were stabilised as follows:
Egypt bn month Julian equivalent Egyptian Julian equivalent
Thoth Aug. 19 - Sep. 2? Pharmouthi Mar. 27- Apr. at
Phanphi Sep. 2» - Oct. i-< Pachon Apr. 20- Ma> i\
Haihjr Oct. aB- Nov. 16 Paym May 26- Jun. 24
Choiak Nov. 47 - Dec i(> F.pciph Jun. ai - Jul. 24
T\bi Dec. 17- Jan. 11 Me soie Jul. 21 Aug. IK
Met heir Jan. ib- Feb. 24 F.pagomcnal days Aug. 24 - Aug. 2*
Phamcnoth Feb. 21 - Mar. it*
List of illustrations ( oin nit leopatra X II (British Museum. London)
Sula <»f \upusius (f:kjyptian Museum. Cairo)
//'{fine Mtimim pimr.iir ^Thc Naimnal (idlcrr. x\. The Temple • *' Khnuni, Latopohs
.■a 26. The Tempi*- i»f Isis. Philac
. TIK. Pak-sinna niosasi (Museo \tchrologico, 27. P:ipxrus k-rterfF.uvpi F.sploration S4icictx.
PaJestrina. I.oiultxi)
. Akiaiidrijn coin'British Museum. l>Hidon> 28. The Colossi in the 'llieban Plain
. The Peutingcr map (Austrian Naiional Lihrarx. 29. Ti.nan's Ki«*k. Philac iDaxid Ri»l»cn\
Vmina' 30. Tlie Colossus of Mcintyut
. Statuette of an oxvrhxnchus ( \shmolcan Muicuni, 31. Portrait of a laic Roman emperor iTJjvptian
Oxford.; Museum. Oiroj
. Amin, the gratiiie qiurrics 32. Mela ofihe lixyuiirine period ('Coptic Museum,
. Skull iPeirie Museum, London) C.ro)
. Relief of it negro treading an Archimedean screw 33. Trj|an*» fortress, Babxkm
(British Museum, London) 34. Fresco in the temple of Amon, The he* (Luxor)
. Crocodile mummi^ (Fgvpt F.xplorarion Si»cieix, (Naiimul Tru«t Bodleian Library. Oxford)
London) 3f. The KUrul of Phi lac ; David Robert*)
. Mummv portrait (Itrookhn Museum. New York) 36. Order of Pcukesias (F.j«xpi Lxploration Society,
. V\ jtrrrolcdirsketch, >tr |.(i.Wilkinson {National I <>ndon)
I rust Bodleian Library, f Hrord; 37. 1 oin fmm HermopoJn (British Museum, London)
. 'I he Temple of lhah. k.unak 38. Plan of irnganon works ;l niversitc de l.ilk-.
. Has relief In mi Tanis '.British Museum. I notionj Institul de Pap\roloj;R-:
. The Temple ot Horns, Apollinopolis Magna 39. l.li-phannnc Island
<l'.dfu); relief 40. 1 he TJANI Fames* ■'Museo Ni/ionalc. Napoli)
. Coin H'Ptolemy II Philadelphia <Bm Mi Museum, 41. Poems of liallus<Fg\pt l\*ploration Socieix.
I.on< Ion) l.onslon)
. Bust off leopaira VII (Stiuilirhc Muscvn. Berlin) 42. Anlmoopnlis, colonnaded sireel
. < oin of Piolemx IN Philopator (British Museum, 43. Stela of C. lulnis Vak-mrs{BnH»klxn Museum,
I ondon) New York";
. Coin of Ptolnm III Fuergcic* [British Museum, 44. Siiliscriptmits 10 a decree (l:-gi|it lAploraiiou
London) Strictx. London 1
. The Temple of Nonas. Xppolhnopolis Majjna 4c. Pitlesirina mosaic, detail • Musco Archeolngico,
(Fdfu.; relief Paksirina;
. The RiKieffj Stone 1'British Museum. London; 46. Statue of I lorus. British Museum. Dmilniii
. Demotic i»ir.ik«>ri (L.uxpi Ltploraiion Soeu. 47. T'lephantmc Island, ilw \il<Hiieicr
London) 48. The NoiitM Dijmitatum (Bodleian l.ihraiy.
. The Temple of N«l>ck and Iloru*. <>mbos i.kom Oxford.'
Omho); relief 49. Tlie apptojeh 10Oasr Ihrim. Nubia (D.ixid
. Status: of ^>) Matcus Antonius {Lppuun Museum, Rohuts)
Cairo) %o. Miluarx doeunx-nt 'Tlie Bmi>h Uhr.irx. London":
8
ft. \vu»n. Monastery <it St Simeon; milling y.ird 101. Statuette ofthcgodtlox Isis isiraeco-Ronun
tja. Plan of n military building (National Trust Museum, Mcxandriaj
Bodkian Library. <Kford) 101. karanis. the north temple
c.3. Pen and ink sketch. Sir J.CLVC llkinson : National 103. karanis, I'cm pic of PncpU-ros and Pctcsouchos
Trust Bodk-tan lahrary, Oxford) 104. North S.Hjq.ua, the tlm galrcf ics
{4. Alexandria, the \\ ardian tomb (Graccn-Roman 10$. \WJH\ of IIK- god Sarapis <(irae<o-Roman
Museum, Alexandria; Museum, \lexandna)
$5. (i|j«*«-m-fawn kamnMKt'No Musmm. to6. Mitoeof \ion f(ir:Kx*o.Ronun .Mirseum,
I iimtMix of Michigan) Me\andna)
j6. \s».in. Monaster} of St Simeon: baking <nm 107. Wall painting fr<nn Karanis
$7. \su .in. Monastery «»f Sr Simeon; ma^a/incs to8. Tanple of I lotus, .\pollini>|iolrs Ma una (FaJfu);
58. \nulws Mi'l.i (British Museum, London; live li\poM\lc lull
59. Tlic tomb of Peiosiris 109. Sunnpaiou Ncsos. the temple precinct
60. karanis. granary roum an! 110. Narmouthis Medinet Madi); IIK appnuch to the
61. karanis. dovecote rower temple
6a. Bread from karanis lit. Ibis sarcophagus (Brookhn Museum, New York)
63. Brickmaking.«". 1900 11a. PaleNtrinamos.iic,tkiail(Musei> \rchciJogico,
64. Clothing (F.gtpt F.xploratioci Socicu. London) PaU-sirina)
6$. Painted wooden l.iUct (Roy.il Scottish Museum, 113. Will-puintini; from karanis
lultnhurgh) 114. Plaque in tckf 'MciTopoliian Museum of Art,
66. Sicla of a Cretan drc-.tm-inicrprctcr <I ^vpiun Ncu York)
Museum, Cairo.) It). Mununt of Inverna fMetropolitan Museum of
67. Mummy portrait (Ashmolcan Museum, Oxfoui) \rt. Nt« York)
68. Shoes (F.gipt FAploraiion Svieis. l-oodnm 116. Stela of Tlui-i-em-lictep (TjinxKiilies) (British
69. Mti.il ohjecrs (|:^\pi F.\plnraititn N»cicii. London; Muuum, I^Kidonj
70. IUu»lK-s(r.i;\pt exploration SotK.it, London) 117. \le\aitdria. IIK- Vt'ardian Tomb (Graevo Rom.in
71. Pak-stnna mosaic, detail IMUH-O \relici»l«n» 101. Museum. Mcxandria)
Palest rina) 118. The nurt\rdom of Si Tbtkla (Btonkltn MuKum.
72. Stela of Isidorus 1Lg\ piian Museum, Cairo) New York)
73. Tlie .Vntinoitcchajiineer* illnvpt Lxplorarion 119. (iranite shrine fUnmh Museum. I^mdon)
Society, London) 120. Asvk an, Monxsten of St Simeon
74. Antinoopolis, the triumphal arcb tat. Wooden frk/e i<"«ptic Muwim, (Jiro)
7f. Statue from karanis (kclscy Museum, I'mxcrsitv 111. Medallion f BpMikkn Museum, Ncu- York)
of Michigan) 123. Leaf of.1 codex from Nag llammadi (Coptic
76. Papvrus Idler (Kgtpt F.xploratiott Socici\, Museum. Cairo)
I.ondoii) 124. Bietclofh (British Mu<eum, London!
77. Stela of'a family group (Lgvptian Museum, Cairo; lit. Akxandria, ilie Tcgran Tomb
78. Mumrnie»ot the Roman period (Lg\pt 116. Ak-xandriin cfiin 1 British Museum. Londonj
lixploration Si«icty, London) 127. Ak-xandria. MN>mpc\'» Pillar' (l>avid Roljcrts)
79. Incantation (Ashmolcan Museum, Oxford) 128. TIK Pharos heakcr (kahul Muuum, kabul)
80. Corlinot'Sitcr (British Museum, London; 129. Alexandria (komcll)ik), the loun houses
It, Mummy portrait (National Cialkrs, Londonj 130. Ak-xandru 1 kom el Shuuafa). the catacombs
Ba. Plan ofSocnopaiou Ncsos. Sir I.G. Wilkinson 131. Mexandria (kom cl Miuiiafa), male statue
(National Trusr'Bodleian lahrary, Oxford) 132. Mexandna (kom cl Dik). the b-arlw
83. Bucchias 133. Mexandna (kom-cl-Smiciafa). burial niches
84. Mead from a «tatue (British Museum, lamdonj 134. Alexandria fkom-vl-Dik), the theatn-
85. \ house ai Narmouthis (Medinet Madi} 135. Alexandtu (komel-Dik). inscription from the
86. A private house at karanis theatre
87. .\ courtyard at karanis 136. The Sophtlos mo^nc i(»racco-Rorrtin Museum.
88. The Temple of Sobcl and Horus, (»mlw* (kom Ak-vandfin
()mho); relief 137. Mexandn.in nun «'Briti<h Museum, latculon)
89. Miscellaneous nhiccts from karanis (kcl<c\ 138. Head »»f Augustus .'British Museum, London)
Muicum, I'nncrsiiy of Michigan) 139. Fragment of a u*inc-iar ( \shmiilean Museum.
90. Selection of chiWren's toy* ami games (I gypr < )xf..rd|
Iwplnration Society, London) 140. \k\andnan coin British Museum. London)
91. (X-tail ot a house at Narmouihis f Mulinct Maui) 141. \ksJiulrl* (Koin-el-Pikj, a school
9a. A pasvajjeway at Karanis 14a. Poems of U.icilw lides (British Lihrarv, London)
93. Papyrus codex (Lgspi F.xploraiion Societ\. 143. Limestone relief f Brook Is 11 Museum, Ncu- York)
Ijintlon) 144. Relief ot St Menas I'CIraeco- Roman Museum,
94. School exercise (British. Library, Ijmdou) Alexandria;
9). Terracotta figurine ftiracot-Roman Mu'seum, 14c. I let mop. ills, buildings ofthc Roman period
Ale land 1 u) (S.Bird)
96. l:\ca\ations at Oxvrh\nchux.r. 1900
97. Tlie Temple of I lorus. Apollinopolts Magna Fifj. 1. Map of Lgvpt, KM B«. AD (\+i
illdfu) Fit*. 2. Pu jenuie 1 »\ t r*ca> possessmnx
98. Tlic Temple of Anion. Thebes iLuxoi) (l)a\ id Fi|{. J* l^i Ixitx-aueraey of Roman l-g\pr
Roiicrts) Fig. 4> The administratnc diviMons of Byxantinc
99. Hie Temple of \tnim, Thebes (Luxor) Mgvpt.
too. Temple ol'Sarapis. Thenc* 1 Luxor)
9