Army and Society in Ptolemaic Egypt

This book examines how the army developed as an engine of socio-economic and cultural integration in Egypt under Greco-Macedonian rule.

Christelle Fischer-Bovet (Author)

9781107007758, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 April 2014

474 pages, 34 b/w illus. 4 maps 28 tables
24.9 x 17.5 x 3 cm, 1.09 kg

'… [the book] is filled with a great deal of useful and highly interesting information and, as such, it amply repays the time taken to make a considered read.' Victor Blunden, Ancient Egypt

This is the only substantial and up-to-date reference work on the Ptolemaic army. Employing Greek and Egyptian papyri and inscriptions, and building on approaches developed in state-formation theory, it offers a coherent account of how the changing structures of the army in Egypt after Alexander's conquest led to the development of an ethnically more integrated society. A new tripartite division of Ptolemaic history challenges the idea of gradual decline, and emphasizes the reshaping of military structures that took place between c.220 and c.160 BC in response to changes in the nature of warfare, mobilization and demobilization, and financial constraints. An investigation of the socio-economic role played by soldiers permits a reassessment of the cleruchic system and shows how soldiers' associations generated interethnic group solidarity. By integrating Egyptian evidence, Christelle Fischer-Bovet also demonstrates that the connection between the army and local temples offered new ways for Greeks and Egyptians to interact.

1. Introduction
2. The army in Late Period Egypt (664–332 BC)
Part I. Structure and Role of the Army: 3. Military challenges faced by the Ptolemies: power, money, crisis and reform
4. Military organization and hierarchy
5. Military recruitment and ethnic composition
Part II. Economic Status and Social Networks of Soldiers and Officers: 6. Settling soldiers
7. Soldiers and officers in the Egyptian countryside
Part III: The Army and Egyptian Temples: 8. Priests in the army: a politico-ideological explanation
9. The army and Egyptian temple-building
10. Conclusion
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Classical Greek & Roman archaeology [HDDK], Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG], Military history [HBW], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]