Egypt from Alexander to the early Christians : an archaeological and historical guide / edited by Roger S. Bagnall and Dominic W. Rathbone.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bagnall, Roger S.

Rathbone, Dominic.

J. Paul Getty Museum.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Antiquities.

Egypt--History--Greco-Roman period, 332 B.C.-640 A.D.

Egypt.

History.

Egypt--Antiquities--Guidebooks.

Genre:

Guidebooks.

Physical Description:

319 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps, plans ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Los Angeles, Calif. : The J. Paul Getty Museum, 2004.

Summary:

After its conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, Egypt was ruled for the next 300 years by the Ptolemaic dynasty founded by Ptolemy I, one of Alexander's generals. With the defeat of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, and later ofthe Byzantine Empire. For a millennium it was one of the wealthiest, most populous and important lands of the multi-cultural Mediterranean civilization under Greek and Roman rule.

The thousand years from Alexander to the Arab conquest in AD 641 are rich in archaeological interest and well documented by 50,000 papyri in Greek, Egyptian, Latin and other languages. But travelers and others interested in the remains of this period are ill-served by most guides to Egypt, which concentrate on the pharaonic buildings. This book redresses the balance, with clear and concise descriptions related to documents and historical background that enable us to appreciate the fascinating cities, temples, tombs, villages, churches and monasteries of the Hellenistic, Roman and Late Antique periods. Written by a dozen leading specialists and reflecting the latest discoveries and research, it provides an expert visitor's guide to the principal sites, many off the well-worn tourist paths. It also offers a vivid picture of Egyptian society at differing economic and social levels.

With a historical introduction, room-by-room tours of museums, specially commissioned plans of sites and buildings and over 100 other color and black-and-white illustrations, this book is a practical on-the-spot companion and armchair guide, bringing to life the splendors and curiosities of a little-known civilization.

Contents:

1.1 Historical background 11

1.2 Economy and society 21

1.3 Languages and scripts 26

1.4 Religion 31

1.5 Literature 36

1.6 Architecture and art 41

1.7 Tourism in antiquity 47

2 Alexandria, the Delta and northern Sinai

2.1 History of the site 51

2.2 The visible sights 58

2.3 Alexandria's museums 67

2.4 The necropoleis 69

2.5 Environs of Alexandria 73

2.6 The Delta 78

2.7 Pelousion and northern Sinai 84

3 The Memphite region

3.1 Old Cairo 87

3.2 Cairo, the Egyptian Museum 89

3.3 Giza 93

3.4 Memphis and Saqqara 94

4 Christian monasticism and pilgrimage in northern Egypt

4.2 Nitria, Kellia and the monasteries of the Wadi Natrun 108

4.3 Abu Mina and Menouthis 115

4.4 The Red Sea monasteries 120

4.5 The Sinai Peninsula 123

5 The Fayyum

5.2 Karanis and the north-east 131

5.3 Dionysias and the north-west 138

5.4 Narmouthis, Tebtunis and the south-west 142

5.5 From Lahun to the centre of the Fayyum 152

6 Middle Egypt

6.2 Herakleopolis, Oxyrhynchos and environs 155

6.3 Hermopolis, Antinoopolis and cemeteries 162

6.4 Panopolis, Ptolemais and environs 172

6.5 Monasteries of Middle Egypt 174

7 The Theban region

7.2 The East Bank 186

7.3 The West Bank 192

7.4 Pathyris (Gebelein) 204

7.5 Hermonthis (Armant) 207

8 Upper Egypt

8.2 Dendera (Tentyra) 209

8.3 Koptos (Qift) 214

8.4 Shenhur 219

8.5 Esna (Latopolis) 219

8.6 Elkab (Eileithyiaspolis) 224

8.7 Edfu (Apollonopolis Magna) 227

8.8 Kom Ombo (Omboi) 232

8.9 Elephantine (Aswan) 237

8.10 Philae 242

8.11 Kalabsha (Talmis) 246

8.12 Dendur (Tuzis) 247

9 The western oases

9.2 Kharga 251

9.3 Dakhla 262

9.4 Bahariya 267

9.5 Siwa 271

10 The Eastern Desert

10.2 Desert roads and stations 280

10.3 Quarries 285

10.4 Ports 288

Chronological outline 293.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [295]-311) and index.

ISBN:

0892367962

OCLC:

59717886