Practice Task for next week’s assessment task – to be handed in by Monday, 13th September, morning at the latest if you would like it marked for feedback before your task. Practice Task 2010 – Questions Practice Task 2010 – Source Booklet
All readings for this unit are loaded on this web page. Please click on the link to access the document you need.
Bradford – The Early Ptolemies
Tyldesley – Alexandria-next-to-Egypt
Burstein – Alexandria – City of Culture and Conflict
Library of Alexandria – Bagnall questions
Library of Alexandria – Bagnall – Library of Dreams
Hurley – Social and Politcal Life in Alexandria
Riad – Egyptian Influence on Daily Life in Ancient Alexandria
Delia – All Army Boots and Uniforms – Ethnicity in Ptolemaic Egypt
Burstein – Ptolemaic Egypt- How Did It Work
Hurley – Public Entertainment and Spectacles
Rice – The Grand Procession of Ptolemy Philadelphus
Athenaeus of Naucratus – Deipnosophistai
Theocritus Idyll XV – Women at the Adonia – excerpt
Achilles Tatius Leucippe and Clitophon 5.1-2
Empereur – Alexandria Rediscovered
Kahil – Cults in Hellenistic Alexandria
Use the section below to post your comments.
“All Army Boots and Uniform?” Ethnicity in Ptolemaic Egypt – Delia article
Foreigners flocked to the city due to the many educational opportunities, filling many necessary roles as a result. These included pupils, the eponymous priesthood, teachers of medicine such as Praxagoras of Kros who opened one of the most famous medical schools in the ancient world, mathematicians, astronomers, scholars, these educated foreigners caused talent to bloom in Alexandria and development of the city to surge. Additional roles foreigners filled were, historians, ethnographers, biographers, architects and engineers. The position of the city on the Nile and the nature harbour made it ideal for trading attracting foreigners to the positions of shipbuilders, sailors, merchants and moneylenders. However the most common role for foreigners to fill was that of a merchanrie.
The poet Theokritus’s impression of Ancient Alexandria was of a city with a large population of soldiers and where emphasis was placed on ethnic difference. This impression appears to be reasonably accurate. This is due to the Ptolemy’s being constantly at war with military action in Syria and Aegean, suppressing native revolts in Upper Egypt, and wars in Asia Minor, Macedonia and the Aegean Islands. This would have meant that Alexandria possessed large armed forces that would have been housed in the city when not on campaigns. Ethnicity appeared to be important due to country of origin being displayed on funeral piers and those of non Greek Alexandrian ethnicity being excluded from upper class privileges.
Foreign mercenaries played the role of providing large numbers creating a strong military force. Alexandria was involved in multiple foreign warfare campaigns and so the larger the army the more effective these campaigns were thus foreign mercenaries were very useful. They also trained recruits and commanded the overseas campaigns as well as making up the numbers.
Ethnicity appears to be important in ancient Alexandria due to the fact that those who were of a foreign background were not granted citizenship and so were exempt from privileges. This shows foreigners were seen as second-class citizens to Greek Alexandrians even though they played a major part in promoting the infrastructure and development of the city. It was important for Alexandria to attract foreigners to aid the prosperity of intellectual, economic, military and social spheres in Alexandrian society.
“All Army Boots and Uniforms?” Ethnicity in Ptolemaic Egypt
Foreigners played a significant part in Alexandria. It was known to recruit foreigners for chief ministers and advisors, commanders, ambassadors, governors, court philosophers, physicians, royal tutors and for wives or concubines. This created important networking and relations with other countries. Foreign priests were also invited and encouraged to come to Alexandria to become involved and establish cults. Plus high numbers of foreign students arrived to enroll in professional schools (medical, literature, scientific). Alexandria provided opportunities for engineers, architects and foreign trade, which resulted in philosophical, scientific and literary studies in Alexandria. There was also large amount of foreign soldiers that were stationed in Alexandria.
Theoritus impressions of Alexandria focus on two aspects. These aspects illustrate Alexandria to have a powerful army and be ethnically diverse. He expresses his belief about the “emphasis put on ethnic identification” and this is an accurate impression or description of Alexandria. This is because these issues of ethnicity in Alexandria are important and prominent.
Foreigners had a significant impact on Alexandria in regard to the army, social and academic aspects of the city. Mercenaries comprised most of the city however did not receive the privileges and benefits enjoyed by the citizens.
Ethnicity was very important in Alexandria. It allowed foreigners to become a part of a group and have a sense of belonging. It also established division between the five districts, which founded national cult practices, preserved their own national identity and fostered their own common social and cultural bonds.
Egyptian Influence on Daily Life in Ancient Alexandria – Henri Riad
1. How did the Egyptians and Greeks co-exist?
The city was divided into five sections, each named with one of the first five letters of the Greek Alphabet. On section housed the important Jewish community, one the Native Egyptians and the others were designated for the majority of the Greek or Hellenized population of the city.
The native Egyptians formed the majority of the population, and the country depended on their labour and economic prosperity. The Greek settlers were in daily contact with the native Egyptians; however they were entirely excluded from citizenship. Jews were also not allowed citizenship; however they did possess certain privileges. This set them apart from the rest of the population.
2. Was it a happy co-existence?
The Ptolemy’s (the first three) had a policy that was strongly Macedonian and Hellenic and they treated the Natives as though they were a conquered race. The distinctions that were created between the Egyptians and Greeks created tension and resentment. As the “Oracle of the Potter” said: ‘the end of our evils when Egypt shall see the foreigners fall like leaves from the branch’. It was pretty much saying that the Macedonian rulers are the foreigners and that one day Memphis will ‘rise again’. It is clear that there was quite a lot of strain and bitter feelings between the Greeks and Egyptians, so no, it was not a happy co-existence.
3. What was the contribution of the Egyptians?
The Egyptians contributed many customs, objects, habits and religious beliefs to the city of Alexandria. The first example of this was the creation of the new deity, Serapis, who combined Egyptian and Greek elements. The second example is the practice of naming a son and heir during the reign of the father (The best example of this happening is with the Ptolemy’s, although it was commonplace among the regular people as well). The third example is the various trades and crafts that the Egyptians excelled in, i.e. metalwork, linen work, papyrus, urns, pottery and grain.
Response to Riad’s article – ” Egyptian Influence on Daily Life in Ancient Alexandria”
1. How did the Egyptians and Greeks co-exist?
The Egyptians and Greeks attempted to co-exist, through langauge ” Greeks and Egyptians tried by all means to understand each other – especially through language”, arts, cultures but still their relationship consisted of tension leading the to the introduction of the Alexandrians mob. The city of Alexandria was divided into sections – the native Egyptians were concerntrated in the west, around the site of the old village ‘Rhakotis’ however a large majority of the Hellenised, or Greek, population lived in the new city centre. Although separated Greeks and Egyptians found it extremely hard to co-exist. The native Egyptians formed a majority of the population, the main industries of the city relied on this population of Egyptian craftsman.
2. Was it a happy co-existence?
Although Greeks began to adopt and absorb forms of Egyptain customs and attemptes made by the Ptolemies to unite Egyptaisn and Greeks their co-existence was not successful. Although they did relie on each others cultural aspects to survive, it was not a happy co-existence.
3. What was the contribution of the Egyptians?
Egyptians brought industries such as glass making, manufacturing of paprus and pottery, especially Hadra Vases. These Vases were used for Ptolemaic tombs, and consisted of fine clay decorated panels, flowers and scrolls. Egyptians also contributed to the formation of a combined Greek- Egyptian religion.
RIAD – Egyptian Influence on Daily Life in Ancient Alexandria
1. How did the Greeks & Egyptians co-exist ?
Their co-existence was not entirely peaceful, but did not cause conflict. Egyptians relied on a liable monarchal system, while Greeks needed access to knowledge of trade, argiculture and geography of the area to enhance their trading system with neighbouring countries.
‘The native Egyptians formed the majority of the population on whose labors the economic prosperity of the country depended and with whom the Greek settlers were in daily contact. They were, however, entirely excluded from citizenship’
2.Was it a happy co-existence?
Not entirely happy, the Greeks and Egyptians had a relatively tense co-existence in that their cultural differences and position in heirarchy put pressure on their co-existence.
‘The distinctions between Egyptians and Freeks created tension and resentment between them’
3. What was the contribution of the Egyptians?
-Alexandria depended on their economic prosperity through their knowledge
- they contributed to the formation of a combined Greek-Egyptian religion
- (in Ptolemaic dynasty) they contributed to the template of the structure of the royal family (marrying related, to keep the royal blood line)
- The trade of food, clothing, domestic ware, metalwork, glasswork & the manufacturing of raw materials
-production and use of papyrus and linen
- styles of art and pottery (especially urns)
- the morph from cremation of the dead to embalment and mummification
-in metalwork: particularly in forming an integral part of the culture through jewelry and other decorative trinkets.
Main notes from the Delia article, ““All Army Boots and Uniforms?” Ethnicity in Ptolemaic Egypt”:
Foreigners were inherent in Alexandrian society and played various roles. The Ptolemies also thought it necessary to recruit foreign talent to serve as chief ministers and advisors, commanders of their bodyguard, ambassadors, governors of overseas possession, court philosophers, physicians and royal tutors. Also, the Ptolemies brought prominent political figures to Alexandria as hostages. As a result of increased immigration, numerous professional schools were established in Alexandria. These included schools of medicine and mathematical astrology and astronomy. After the establishment of the Mouseion, talent scouts were dispatched throughout the Mediterranean to recruit leading scholars and entice them to reallocate to Alexandria by prospects of royal patronage, extensive research facilities and the opportunity to associate with the greatest minds of the time. Alexandria also provided extensive opportunities for foreign architects and engineers as it had only been newly establishment. Foreign talent also sparked the development of a native tradition of philosophical, scientific and literary studies in Alexandria whilst foreign-manufactured wares furnished the impetus for the production of local imitations. Additionally, a large number of soldiers stationed at Alexandria were foreign.
Theokrito’s impressions of Alexandria were that the soldiers were preponderant in the third century BC and secondly, there was a large ethnic community. Both of these issues found a common denominator in the nature of ethnicity in Alexandria.
Foreigners gave a new impetus to many academic and social aspects of society. Foreign mercenaries constituted a major portion of the city during the Ptolemaic period. Delia states, “They posed as a significant menace whenever Egyptians dynasts were weak.”
Ethnic communities in Alexandria fostered common social and cultural bonds that were replenished and revitalised by the constant influx of new immigrants. According to Delia, “Ethnics by foreign residents signified more than mere statutory compliance with the Ptolemaic regulations.” Many ethnic associations were founded in order to perpetuate national cult practices. They were religious in nature and modelled their internal structure and procedures on democratic institution.
Here’s a little something I wrote in response to Riad’s article “Egyptian Influence on Daily Life in Ancient Alexandria”. The main points of the article are summarised, in particular the relationship between the Greeks and Egyptians in Alexandria, along with quotes which support the ideas.
Although the Egyptians and Greeks attempted to coexist, especially through language, their relationship was fraught with tension and violence.
As Riad comments “The distinctions between Egyptians and Greeks created tension and resentment between them”. These “distinctions” concerned citizenship rights, status, and physical positioning in Rome. The native Egyptians were concentrated in the west, around the site of the old village of Rhakotis, whereas the majority of the Hellenised population tended to live in the new city centre.
The native Egyptians formed the majority of the population, “on whose labours the economic prosperity of the country depended and with whom the Greek settlers were in daily contact”. The main industries of the city, including metalworking, glass-working and linen production relied on Egyptian craftsmen. Entirely excluded from citizenship, unless they were able to acquire it, Riad explains that the natives were primarily treated as a conquered race.
Riad also explains that there were attempts made by the Ptolemies, however, to unite the Egyptians and Greeks. One step included the creation of a new deity, Serapis, who was a combination of Egyptian and Greek deities. Eventually Greeks also began to adopt forms of Egyptian customs, including embalming people following death rather than cremating them as had previously occurred. In religion, Ptolemy 1 was also careful enough to realise the importance of being conciliatory to the Egyptian priesthood. Whilst taking the management of sacred land into his own hands, he allowed the priests to continue their work. In this way, “the policy of the Ptolemies towards Egyptians was a mix of benevolent patronage and strict control”.
However, as time passed and the dynasty weakened, revolts began to occur in an attempt of the Egyptians to gain more control over their lives. Riad also states that “It is certain that at the end of the Ptolemaic period, the position of Egyptian priests was stronger than it had been in the third century BC”.
In summary, the Egyptians and Greeks did not coexist happily within the city of Alexandria. This appears due to clear differences in status and citizenship rights. Although the Egyptians contributed greatly to the economic prosperity of Alexandria, there remained a clear gap between the original inhabitants and their foreign conquerors throughout the Ptolemaic period.