Product Description

This compelling narrative provides the only comprehensive guide in English to the rise and decline of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt over three centuries - from the death of Alexander in 323 BC to the tragic deaths of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC. It is a comprehensive survey of the political history of the period and will be a basic resource for students of this period.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #357246 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
'A fascinating introduction.' - Patricia Spencer, Egyptian Archaeology

From the Back Cover
Ptolemaic rule in Egypt began with the death of Alexander in 323 BC, and continued until the tragic deaths of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC. The first three Ptolemies created the most powerful empire in the eastern Mediterranean, extending from Libya to Asia Minor and Palestine, as well as south along the coast of the Red Sea. Much of this empire was lost in the second century as a result of dynastic crises, but Roman support enabled the Ptolemies to last longer than the other Hellenistic dynasties. The success of the Ptolemies was also due to their adoption of many features of the Egyptian Pharaohs who preceded them, including their deification and their funding of cults and temples throughout Egypt. The Ptolemaic King was also worshipped as a living god by the Greek population.

Dr Hölbl provides an integrated and compelling narrative of the political and religious history of these three centuries. He writes as an authority on Egyptian religion and archaeology, as well as on papyrological and ep

Customer Reviews

A brilliant and well written all-round commentary
This is an excellent, engaging and learned account of the history of the great empire of the Ptolemies. Hölbl's book deals intelligently and clearly with the historical narrative, while several chapters are dedicated to analysis of themes and issues raised by the history of the period, such as the ideology of Ptolemaic kingship.

The book is divided into three sections, on the rise of the empire, the period of dynastic disputes after Ptolemy III Euergetes, and the period of Roman domination after 168. Hölbl argues well and coherently and the text is crammed with references to ancient sources, clearly illustrating every point the author makes. This title is an excellent and interesting new history of the Ptolemaic Empire, and, if any other had been produced since Bevan's in the 1920s, it would no doubt stand out from the crowd!

Despite its relatively detailed content, the translation (from Hölbl's original German) is engaging and accessible and keeps the pace going without dwelling too much on any issue or turning into a dry academic text. It conveys well the wide variety of Hellenistic history and contains a large number of useful illustrations (not to mention clear family trees!) as well as an excellent bibliography of secondary sources from the 1990s on Ptolemaic history.

This text is indispensable for students of Ptolemaic history, covering all aspects of Egyptian history from 323 down to its absorption by Rome. Books of this scope and subject are usually far larger and more expensive, and this is a valuable addition to the bookshelf even of those with a general interest in the period - Hölbl's intelligent book is guaranteed to provoke and satisfy an interest in Ptolemaic Egypt.

A fine book
I agree with A Customer. I had a Hungarian professor of papyrology who said that in translation this book is very disappointing compared with the original German, but I had no gripes with it at all.