Ptolemaic Egypt

1. Ptolemaic Egypt March 28th, 2012

2. Kingdom of the Ptolemies http://www.unc.edu/awmc/downloads/aegyptusPtolSml.jpg

3. Ptolemaic Egypt: General Remarks • Longest lasting Hellenistic kingdom. • Relatively well documented. • Long established indigenous political, cultural, religious traditions. • Significance of geography.

4. The Geography of Ptolemaic Egypt • Ca. 1000 sq.km; stretched out along the Nile flood plain. • Ca. 800 km long x ca. 10-20 km wide. • Four main ports: Alexandria, Myos Hormos, Leukos Limen, Berenike). • Agriculture determined by the Nile flood cycle; canals needed to drain marshy areas and irrigate dry areas. • Well supplied with gems, semi-precious stones, and building stone. • Few major cities (Thebes, Memphis, Alexandria); majority of pop. in smaller villages and towns. • Levant always coveted by Egyptians; source of conflict with outside powers.

5. Egypt before the Ptolemies • One of the earliest complex civilizations in the Mediterranean basin (ca. 3200 BCE). • Wealth of Egypt a powerful attraction to outsiders (i.e. Hyksos; Persians – 525-404, 341-331; Alexander, after 331). • Majority of the pop. Egyptian small cultivators; paid taxes in kind; Cultivators legally free (i.e. Slave ownership limited to Greek communities; anachoresis “going up”). • Highly centralized political authority (pharaohs); foreign rulers tolerated – must conform to native traditions (esp. religious customs). • Temples and Priests an important factor in Egyptian politics; Major landholder and tax collectors; Priests a privileged class; Considerable autonomy from royal power. • Imposing new/foreign forms of government not likely to succeed.

6. Establishing the Ptolemaic Dynasty • 331 BCE – Egypt conquered by Alexander the Great; foundations of Alexandria laid. • 331-323 BCE – Governed by Cleomenes III of Naucratis as satrap. • 323 BCE – Cleomenes hands over Egypt and 8000 talents to Ptolemy I Son of Lagus; Cleomenes killed (ca. 320 BCE) under suspicion collusion with Perdiccas. • 323-304 BCE – Satrap of Egypt; King Ptolemy I Soter from 304 BCE. • Benevolent toward native Egyptians (esp. priestly class); Secured Greco-Macedonian loyalties by seizing Alexander’s body. • Existing political and economic structures left intact.

7. Ptolemy I Soter (323-283). Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246). Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221). Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-204). Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180). Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145). Ptolemy VIII Euergetes (170-163); son of Ptolemy V. Cleopatra II (170-164); daughter of Ptolemy V. Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator; son of Ptolemy VI. Ptolemy VIII (145-116). Cleopatra III (139-101); daughter of Ptolemy VI and wife of Ptolemy VIII. Ptolemy IX Soter II Lathyros (116-107) Ptolemy X Alexander I (107-88); son of Ptolemy VIII. Cleopatra Berenice (101-88); daughter of Ptolemy IX. Ptolemy IX (88-81). Cleopatra Berenice (80). Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80); son of Ptolemy X. Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes (80-58); son of Ptolemy XI. Berenice IV (58-55); daughter of Ptolemy XI. Archelaeos (56-55); husband of Berenice IV. Ptolemy XII (55-51). Ptolemy XIII (51-47); son of Ptolemy XI. Cleopatra VII Philopator (51-30); daughter of Ptolemy XI. Ptolemy XIV (47-44); son of Ptolemy XI. The Ptolemaic Dynasty

8. Ptolemaic Foreign Affairs to 217 BCE • Foreign affairs preoccupied with: 1. Territorial acquisitions in Syria. 2. Causing problems for the Antigonids in Greece. • Beyond strategic considerations, a Hellenistic king must: 1. Prove his strength on the battlefield. 2. Acquire tribute (both for economic, timber, metals etc. - and symbolic value). • 319 BCE - Ptolemy I takes Coile Syria; Lost to Antigonus I. • 301 BCE – Ptolemy I retakes part of Coile Syria and South-Eastern Asia Minor. • Ca. 286 BCE – Ptolemy I seizes control of the Nesiotic League and appoints a nesiarchos. • Six Syrian Wars: First (274-271), Second (260-253), Third (246-241), Fourth (219-211), Fifth (202-200), Sixth (169-168). • Syrian wars often emerge in close proximity to accession of new Seleucid and/or Ptolemy monarchs (i.e. Antiochus I Soter, 261 BCE – 2nd Syrian War, 260 BCE; Seleucus II Callinicus, 246 BCE – Ptolemy III, 246 BCE – 3rd Syrian War, 246 BCE; Antiochus III Megas, 223 BCE, Ptolemy IV, 222 BCE – 4th Syrian War, 219 BCE). • Interference of Ptolemy II in Chremonidean War (267-262 BCE). • Ptolemies maintain supremacy at sea until b. of Raphia (217 BCE, Antiochus III vs. Ptolemy IV – Fourth Syrian War). • Reign of Ptolemy IV seen as the start of Ptolemaic decline in both domestic and foreign affairs.

9. Polybius on the Objectives of Ptolemaic Foreign Policy • “For they threatened the kings of Syria (i.e. the Seleucids) by land and by sea, as they were masters of Coile Syria and Cyprus; their sphere of control included the dynasts in Asia and also the islands, as they were masters of the most important cities, strongholds and harbours along the whole coast of Pamphylia to the Hellespont and the region of Lysimachea. They kept a watch on affairs in Thrace and Macedonia through their control of Aenus and Maronea and of even more distant cities. In this way, having extended their reach so far and having shielded themselves at a great distance with these possessions, they never worried about their rule in Egypt. That is why they rightly devoted much attention to foreign affairs.” (Polybius V. 34. M.M. Austin, Doc. 223)

10. Ptolemaic Interference in Greece:The Chremonides Decree • “Chremonides son of Eteocles of Aethalidae moved: since previously the Athenians, the Lacedaemonians, and their respective allies after establishing a common friendship and alliance with each other have fought together many glorious battles against those who sought to enslave the cities, which won them fame and brought freedom to the other Greeks; and now, when similar circumstances have afflicted the whole of Greece because of those who seek to subvert the laws and ancestral constitutions of each city, and King Ptolemy following the policy of his ancestor and of his sister conspicuously shows his zeal for the common freedom of the Greeks; and the people of Athens having made an alliance with him and the other Greeks has passed a decree to invite all to follow the same policy; and likewise the Lacedaemonians, who are friends and allies of King Ptolemy, have voted to make an alliance with the people of Athens…” (Syll. 434-5, IG II2. 687, Staatsv. III. 476. – lines 7-24M.M. Austin, Doc. 49)

11. Expansion of the Ptolemies http://www.livius.org/a/1/maps/ptolemies_map.gif

12. The Domestic Affairs of the Ptolemies to 217 BCE • 323-217 BCE – Period of general internal stability and prosperity. • The Great Library of Alexandria completed under Ptolemy II. • 245 BCE – First major native Egyptian uprising (quickly quelled by Ptolemy III). • Reign of Ptolemy IV seen as turning point; recruitment of native levies touches off Egyptian revolts. • 7 native revolts in total: 245 BCE, 217 BCE, 197-185 BCE (Lower Egypt), 206-186 (Thebes), 165 (Thebes), 131-130 (Harsiesis), 88-86 (Thebes). • Connections between b. of Raphia and subsequent native revolts tentative; Control over territories below the first cataract always tenuous.

13. Theocritus on Egypt and the Reign of Ptolemy II • “Zeus son of Cronus cares for august kings, but preeminent is the one whom Zeus has loved from the moment of his birth. Prosperity attends him in abundance, and vast is the territory he rules, and vast the sea. Countless countries, and countless nations, helped by the rain of Zeus, cause their crops to grow, but none is as productive as the lowlands of Egypt when the Nile in flood waters and breaks up the soil, nor does any have as many towns skilled in work. Three hundred cities are built there, then three thousand in addition to thirty thousand, and twice three and three times nine besides; over all these mighty Ptolemy rules as king. In additions he cuts off for himself a part of Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria, Libya, and of the dark-skinned Ethiopians. He gives orders to all the Pamphylians, to the Cilician spearmen, to the Lycians, and to the warlike Carians, and to the islands of the Cyclades, since his are the finest ships that sail the seas. All the sea and the land and the roaring rivers are ruled by Ptolemy, and about him gather a host of horsemen and a host of shielded warriors, equipped with glittering bronze.” (Theocritus XVII. 73-130. M.M. Austin, Doc. 217)

14. The Reign of Ptolemy IV • “After his father’s death, Ptolemy (IV) who was called Philopator put to death his brother Magas and his followers and took over power in Egypt. He felt free from internal threats thanks to his efforts and to the action just mentioned, and felt that fortune had released him from foreign perils, as Antigonus (Doson) and Seleucus (III) had died, and Antiochus (III) and Philip (V), who had succeeded them on the throne, were very young and had barely reached manhood. Consequently he felt secure in his present position and conducted his reign with too much ostentation; he made himself invisible and difficult of access to his courtiers and other officials who governed Egypt, and showed himself indifferent and frivolous towards those in charge of foreign affairs, though his predecessors had devoted not less but more care to them than to their rule of Egypt itself. (Polybius V. 34. M.M. Austin, Doc. 223)

15. Polybius on the Consequences of the Battle of Raphia (217 BCE) • “Immediately after this Ptolemy (IV) became involved in the war against the Egyptians. For this king, by arming the Egyptians for the war against Antiochus (III), took a decision which though acceptable for the present involved a miscalculation for the future. For they were elated by the success at Raphia and could no longer endure to take orders, but looked out for a figure to lead them as they believed they were now able to fend for themselves. And that is what they achieved not long after.” (Polybius V.107.1-3. M.M. Austin, Doc. 225 A).

16. Ptolemaic Egypt http://www.unc.edu/awmc/downloads/aegyptusPtolSml.jpg

17. Political and Economic Structures in Ptolemaic Egypt • Ptolemies ruled as literal god-kings. • Est. Greco-Macedonian ruling class over an indigenous Egyptian population. • Est. a highly centralized government and state controlled economy. • Egypt divided into administrative districts (nomes, topoi, and komai). • Bureaucracy comprised of nomarchs, toparchs, komarchs, strategoi + financial officials in dioiketes and oikonomoi. • Avoid generalizations; local variations.

18. Inscription Honoring Ptolemy III and BereniceMarch 4, 238 BCE • “In the reign of Ptolemy son of Ptolemy and Arsinoe, the Brother-Sister Gods, in the ninth year, when Apollonides son of Moschion was priest of Alexander and of the Brother-Sister Gods and of the Benefactor Gods, when Menecratea was basket bearer of Arsinoe Philadelphos….decree….be it resolved by priests in the country to increase the honors which already exist in the temples for King Ptolemy and Queen Berenice, the Benefactor Gods, and to their parents, the Brother-Sister Gods, and to their grandparents, the Savior Gods, and (be it resolved) that priests in all the temples throughout the land should be called priests of the Benefactor Gods and should be inscribed in all public documents, and that the priesthood of the Benefactor Gods should be engraved on the rings they wear.” (OGIS 56. M.M. Austin, 1981)

19. A Centrally Directed Economy:The King to his Oikonomos (Late 3rd Century BCE) • (Sc. You must inspect)….and the water-ducts which run through [the] fields,/whether the intakes into them have the prescribed depth and whether there is sufficient space in them; the peasants are used to leading water from these to the land each of them sows. Similarly/ with the canals mentioned from which the intakes go into the above-mentioned water-ducts, (you must inspect) whether they are solidly made and whether the entries from the river are kept as clean possible and whether in general/ they are in good condition. During your tour of inspection try as you [go] about to encourage everybody and make them feel happier; you should do this not only by words, but also should any of them / have a complaint against the village scribes or the village chiefs (komarchai) about anything to do with agriculture, you should investigate the matter and as far as possible put an end to such incidents. When sowing has been completed, / it would not be a bad thing if you made a careful tour of inspection; for in this way you will get a precise idea of the sprouting (of the crops), and you will easily see what has not been properly sown or left altogether unsown, and you will [know from] this those who are guilty of negligence, / and it will be known to you [whether anyone] has used the seeds for other purposes. You must consider it one of your most imperative duties to make sure that the nome is sown with the crops specified in the sowing schedule.” (P. Tebt. 703. M.M. Austin, Doc. 255)

20. Land Tenure Arrangements • Royal lands – Leased out to (mostly Greek and Macedonian) renters in exchange for military or administrative services; rent paid in kind. • Temple lands – Leased out subdivided land to tenant farmers (usually native Egyptians). • Cleruchies – Land leased (for life) from King to Greeks and Macedonians in exchange for military or administrative services; subleased to tenant farmers (usually native Egyptians). • Peasant tenant farmers mostly native Egyptians; free not servile labor. • Must not generalize; evidence spotty.

21. A Lease Agreement (256 BCE) • “In the reign of Ptolemy (II) son of Ptolemy (I) Soter….Hegisarchus, son of Theopompus and Theopompus son of Hegisarchus and Nicodemus son of Hegisarchus, all three Macedonians ‘of the epigone’, have contracted to work / for one year, from Zenon son of Agreophon, of Caunus, [in the service of] Apollonius the dioiketes, from the 10,000 aruras given by the king to Apollonius the dioiketes at Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome, 100 aruras of seed land in the 3rd basin which stretches from north to south…” (P. Col. 54. M.M. Austin, Doc. 244)

22. Native Egyptians and Greco-Macedonians • Greco-Macedonian elite and native Egyptian subjects. • Most senior administrative and military posts occupied by Greeks and Macedonians. • Separate systems of law; evidence of ethnic tensions and prejudice. • Ethnic prejudice mutual.

23. Parallel Legal Systems • “They have given orders also concerning suits of Egyptians against Greeks and concerning suits of Greeks against Egyptians or of Egyptians against Greeks of all categories except those of persons farming royal land and of those bound to government tasks and of others connected with the revenues, that those Egyptians that have made contracts in the Greek manner with Greeks shall be sued and sue before the chrematistai. All Greeks who make contracts in the Egyptian manner shall be sued before the laokritai in accordance with the laws of the country. The cases of Egyptians against Egyptians are not to be usurped by the chrematistai, but they are to allow them to be settled before the laokritai in accordance with the laws of the country.” (P. Tebtunis 5. Col. IX. D.B. Nagle & S.M. Burstein, 2006)

24. Letter of Complaint to Zenon from and Egyptian (ca. 256-255 BCE) • “…to Zenon greetings. You do well if you are keeping in good health. You know that you left me in Syria with Crotus and that I carried out all of the instructions with the camels and that I was blameless towards you. And when you ordered to pay me my salary (Crotus) gave me nothing of what you had ordered. And when I requested many times that Crotus should give me my salary you had ordered but he gave me nothing at all and told me to go away, I held out for a long time waiting for you, but when I ran out of necessities and was unable to obtain these from any source, I was compelled to run away to Syrian to avoid dying of hunger. I have therefore written to you to inform you that Crotus is responsible. And when you sent me again to Philadelphia to Jason, and I did everything I was told to, for nine months now he gives me nothing of what you ordered, neither oil nor grain, except every two months when he also pays (the allowance for) clothing. And I am in distress summer and winter. And he tells me to accept ordinary wine for salary. But they have treated me with contempt because I am a Barbarian. I therefore request you, if you please, to order them to let me have what is owed to me and in future to pay me regularly, so that I do not die of hunger because I do not know how to speak Greek (hellenizein). You would therefore do well to treat me with respect….”(P. Col. 66. M.M. Austin, Doc. 245)

25. The Complaint of Ptolemaeus to the Strategos Dionysius (ca. 161 BCE) • “To Dionysius, strategos, and one of the ‘friends’ (sc. Of the king), from Ptolemy son of Glaucias, a Macedonian, one of those ‘held in detention’ for twelve years in the great Serapeum in Memphis. As I have suffered grave injustice / and my life has been frequently endangered by the temple cleaners whose names are listed below, I am taking refuge with you in the belief that in this way I would best secure justice. For on Phaophi 8th in the 21st year (=9 November 161) they came to the Astarteum, which is in the sanctuary, and in which / I have been living ‘in detention’ for the number of years mentioned above; some of them had stones in their hand and others sticks, and they tried to force their way in, in order to seize the opportunity to plunder the temple and to put me to death because I am a Greek, like men laying a plot / against my life.” (UPZ 1.8. M.M. Austin, Doc. 257)

26. Growing Instability • General destabilization after the reign of Ptolemy IV. • Frequent dynastic conflict between successors. • Anachoresis increasingly common; 207-186 BCE – Upper Egypt breaks away from Ptolemaic control; native Egyptian kingdom under Nubian princes. • Possessions in the Aegean and Asia Minor lost to Seleucids in the reign of Ptolemy V (204-180 BCE); Upper Egypt recovered. • Peace of Apamea (188 BCE) gave control of parts of Asia Minor and much lucrative trade to Rhodes. • 170-169 BCE – Ptolemy VI attempts to recover Coile Syria; fails and prompts invasion of Antiochus IV Epiphanes; saved by Roman intervention (168 BCE – Popillius Laenas). • 160s BCE – Co-rule divided between Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VIII, and Cleopatra II; fraught with tension and stasis; native uprisings increasingly common. • 124 BCE – Joint rule restored; continues down to 116 BCE (Conflict between Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX). • 107 BCE – Ptolemy IX ousted by Ptolemy X (son of Cleopatra III); Ptolemy IX seizes Cyprus for himself; Cyrene taken by Ptolemy Apion (illegitimate son of Ptolemy VIII); Deprived Egypt of important trade revenues. • 96 BCE Ptolemy Apion dies and leaves Cyrene to Rome. • 88 BCE – Ptolemy X Alexander I dies and leaves Egypt and Cyprus to Rome. • Protection strategy against dynastic insurrection and murder.

27. Egypt and Rome • Down to ca. 75 BCE - Rome seeks to play Ptolemies off against Seleucids. • Cyrene, Cyprus and Egypt left to Rome; Rome does not take up the bequests right away (i.e. Cyrene, ca. 75-4 BCE; Cyprus, ca. 58-56 BCE). • Direct Roman involvement begins ca. 87-86 BCE with the visit of Lucius Lucullus. • Ca. 81-80 BCE – Romans intervene in dynastic struggle (Ptolemy IX vs. Cleopatra Berenice); place Ptolemy XI Alexander II on throne (killed a few months later). • Ptolemy XII Auletes drew Egypt closer to Rome; 64/3 BCE – sent money and supplies to Pompey the Great. • 59 BCE – Ptolemy XII recognized as a friend and ally of Rome. • 58 BCE – Rome exercises claim to Cyprus resulting in anti-Roman (anti-Ptolemy XII) backlash; Ptolemy XII driven from power; regained in 55 BCE with Roman support; Roman troops now stationed in Egypt. • 51 BCE – Ptolemy XII succeeded by Ptolemy XIII (10 years old) and his sister/wife Cleopatra VII (17 years old); further nationalists uprisings suppressed with help of Julius Caesar (ca. 48 BCE). • 47 BCE – Ptolemy XIII killed; Cleopatra VII marries second brother Ptolemy XIV; has him killed shortly thereafter (44 BCE). • 39-31 BCE – Cleopatra VII supports Roman operations in Armenia; Antony and Cleopatra; Roman civil war. • 30 BCE – Antony and Cleopatra defeated by Augustus; Egypt annexed as a Roman province.