The Greek period in Egypt, also known as the Hellenistic period, extends from the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC until the annexation of Egypt by the Roman Empire in 30 BC This period is characterized by the growing influence of Greek culture in Egypt and by an unprecedented intellectual and cultural influence.
The conquest of Alexander the Great
The Greek period in Egypt begins with the arrival of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. After conquering Egypt, Alexander was proclaimed pharaoh, continuing the Egyptian tradition of divine authority. He also founded the city of Alexandria, which would become an important cultural and intellectual center.
The Ptolemaic dynasty
After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded by Ptolemy I, one of Alexander's generals. Ptolemaic rulers adopted Egyptian culture and customs, including proclaiming themselves pharaohs and marrying members of the Egyptian royal family to bolster their legitimacy.
A mix of cultures
Under Ptolemaic rule, Greek culture mixed with Egyptian culture, giving rise to a unique hybrid culture. Greek temples were built alongside Egyptian temples, and Greek gods were equated with their Egyptian counterparts. The Greek language also became the official language of the administration and the elite, while the Egyptian population continued to speak Demotic Egyptian.
Intellectual and cultural influence
The Greek period in Egypt was also marked by an unprecedented intellectual and cultural influence. Alexandria became the center of knowledge and culture in the Mediterranean world, attracting scholars, philosophers and artists from across the Empire. The Library of Alexandria, in particular, was one of the greatest centers of knowledge of the time, housing thousands of manuscripts and texts.
The end of the Greek period
The Greek period in Egypt ended in 30 BC, when Egypt was annexed by the Roman Empire following the defeat of Cleopatra VII and of Mark Antony by Octavian (later known as Augustus). Despite this end, the cultural and intellectual legacy of the Greek period in Egypt would endure through the centuries, influencing the Roman and Byzantine eras.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||