The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome : A History of the Ptolemies / Guy de la Bedoyere.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

De la Bédoyère, Guy, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Egypt--History--30 B.C.-640 A.D.

Egypt.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (320 p.) : 24 color illus., 2 maps, 6 figs.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

London, England : Yale University Press, [2024]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A compelling history of the Ptolemies, the decline of Egypt, and the rising power of the Roman Empire The Ptolemaic era, Egypt’s last and one of its longest dynasties, was in many ways a gilded age. Its early rulers restored and even expanded Egyptian power. Over a span of 300 years the period was witness to intellectual enlightenment, imaginative state-building, and some of the most memorable characters in ancient history, including Alexander the Great and Cleopatra VII. But these Macedonian Greek pharaohs embarked on ruinous warfare, faced rebellion, and descended into murderous family feuds. Increasingly reliant on the dizzying rise of Roman power, Ptolemaic Egypt was finally annexed by Augustus in 30 BCE. How did such an ancient civilization come to this? Exploring the lives of the Ptolemaic pharaohs, de la Bédoyère reveals the jealousy, greed, and murderous ambition in their Egypt and the legendary city of Alexandria, their capital. This is a lively, accessible account of Ancient Egypt’s last days—and of the new power rising in its place.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

List of Plates and Maps

Foreword

Introduction

Part I Rise

1 The Road to Siwa: Alexanders Egyptian Adventure

2 Left to the Worthiest: The Satraps Tale

3 Foundation: Ptolemy I Soter

4 Marriage Comes by Destiny: Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Arsinoe II

5 Great Benefactors: Ptolemy III Euergetes I and Berenice II

6 The Shape of Things to Come: Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III

Part II Aspects of Life in Ptolemaic Egypt

7 A Town Like Alex

8 The Yoke of Government

9 Temples of the Ptolemies

10 Mummies, Graves, and Grieving

Part III Ruin

11 War of the Worlds: Rome and Carthage The First and Second Punic Wars

12 Quenching the Flame of Bold Rebellion: Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Cleopatra I

13 Havoc and Confusion: Ptolemy VI Philometor, Cleopatra II, and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

14 Menage a Trois: Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, and Cleopatra III

15 Venal Mayhem: Cleopatra III, Ptolemy IX Soter II, and Ptolemy X Alexander I

16 The Tune of Flutes: Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes, Cleopatra VI, and Berenice IV

17 Passion and Witchery: Cleopatra VII Philopator Thea Neotera, Ptolemy XIII, Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIV, and Ptolemy XV

18 The End of Egypts Gilded Age

Appendix 1: Key Dates

Appendix 2: Family Trees

Appendix 3: Ptolemaic Queens and Their Titles

Appendix 4: The Coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt

Glossary

Notes

Further Reading

Acknowledgements

Index

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 18. Sep 2024)

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780300280296

OCLC:

1451661946