History of Egypt Volume 10 Rappoport

8/13/2019 History of Egypt Volume 10 Rappoport

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HISTORYOFEGYPT

From330B.C.tothePresentTime

ByS.RAPPOPORT,DoctorofPhilosophy,Basel

MemberoftheEcoleLanguesOrientales,Paris;Russian,German,FrenchOrientalistandPhilologist

VOL.X.

ContainingoverTwelveHundredColoredPlatesandIllustrationsTHEGROLIERSOCIETY

PUBLISHERS,LONDON


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ONTENTS

REFACE

UBLISHER'SNOTE

GYPTUNDERTHEPTOLEMIES

NTRODUCTORYESSAY

HAPTERIEGYPTCONQUEREDBYTHEGREEKS

HAPTERIIEGYPTUNDERPTOLEMYSOTER

HAPTERIII.PTOLEMYPHILADELPHUS.B.C.284246

HAPTERIVPTOLEMYEUERGETES,PTOLEMYPHILOPATOR,ANDPTOLEMY

HAPTERVPTOLEMY

PHILOMETOR

AND

PTOLEMY

EUERGETES

II.

HAPTERVITHEGROWTHOFROMANINFLUENCEINEGYPT

HAPTERVIICLEOPATRAANDHERBROTHERS


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PREFACE

rofessorMasperocloseshisHistoryofEgyptwiththeconquestofAlexandertheGreat.There

enseofdramaticfitnessinthisselection,for,withthecomingoftheMacedonians,thescept

uthoritypassedforeveroutofthehandoftheEgyptian.Forseveralcenturiesthepowerof

acehadbeendeclining,andforeignnationshadcontendedforthevasttreasurehouseofEg

lexanderfound

the

Persians

virtually

rulers

of

the

land.

The

ancient

people

whose

fame

omedown tous through centuriesuntarnishedhadbeen forced tobowbeneath theyok

oreignmasters,andnationsofalienbloodwerehenceforthtodominateitshistory.

he firstPtolemy foundedaMacedonianorGreekdynastythatmaintainedsupremacy inE

ntiltheyear30B.C.Hissuccessorswerehislinealdescendants,andtotheverylasttheypr

hemselves on their Greek origin; but the government which they established was essent

Oriental in character. The names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra convey an Egyptian rather th

reek

significance;

and

the

later

rulers

of

the

dynasty

were

true

Egyptians,

since

their

ancesadlivedinAlexandriaforthreefullcenturies.

n theyear30B.C.AugustusCsarconqueredthe lastofthePtolemies, the famousCleop

ugustusmadeEgyptvirtuallyhisprivateprovince,anddrewfromitresourcesthatweream

he chief elements of his power. After Augustus, the Romans continued in control until

omingoftheSaracensunderAmr,intheseventhcentury.VariousdynastiesofMohammed

overingaperiodofseveralcenturies,maintainedcontroluntiltheMamluks,in1250,overth

helegitimaterulers,tobethemselvesoverthrownthreecenturieslaterbytheTurksunderS

Turkishrule

was

maintained

until

near

the

close

of

the

eighteenth

century,

when

the

Fre

nder Napoleon Bonaparte, invaded Egypt. In 1806, after the expulsion of the French by

nglish, the famous Mehemet Ali destroyed the last vestiges of Mamluk power, and set

uasiindependentsovereigntywhichwasnotdisturbeduntiltowardthecloseoftheninete

entury.Theeventsof the last twentyfive years, comprisinga shortperiodofjoint contro

gyptbytheFrenchandEnglish,followedbytheBritishoccupation,arefreshinthemindof

eader.

What may be termed the modern history of Egypt covers a period of more than twenty

enturies.During

this

time

the

native

Egyptian

can

scarcely

be

said

to

have

anational

history

helandofEgypt,andtheraceswhohavebecomeacclimatedthere,havepassedthroughm

nterestingphases.ProfessorMasperocompletesthehistoryofantiquityinthatdramaticscen

whichtheancientEgyptianmakeshislastfutilestruggleforindependence.ButtheNileValley

emained the scene of the most important events where the strongest nations of the e

ontended for supremacy. It is most interesting to note that the invaders of Egypt, w

mpressingtheirmilitarystampuponthenatives,havebeenmasteredinaveryrealsenseby

pell of Egypt's greatness; but the language, the key to ancient learning and civilisation,


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emainedawellguardedsecret.HereandthereoneofthePtolemiesorGreeksthoughtitw

iswhiletomasterthehieroglyphicwriting.OccasionallyaRomanofthe laterperiodmay

one the same, but such an accomplishment was no doubt very unusual from the first.

ubordinatedEgyptiansthereforehadnoresourcebuttolearnthelanguageoftheirconque

ndpresentlyitcametopassthatnoteventhenativeEgyptianrememberedtheelusivesec

f his own written language. Egyptian, as a spoken tongue, remained, in a modified form

optic,but

at

about

the

beginning

of

our

era

the

classical

Egyptian

had

become

adead

langu

o one any longer wrote in the hieroglyphic, hieratic, or demotic scripts; in a word,

ieroglyphicwritingwasforgotten.ThereaderofProfessorMaspero'spageshashadopportu

o learn how this secret was discovered in thenineteenth century.This information is fur

mplified in the present volumes, and we see how in our own time the native Egyptian

egained something of his former grandeur through the careful and scientific study

monuments,inscriptions,andworksofart.Thusitwillappearinthecuriousroundingoutof

nigmaticstory that themostancienthistoryofcivilisationbecomesalso thenewestandm

modernhumanhistory.

PUBLISHER'SNOTE

shouldbeexplainedthatDoctorRappoport,inpreparingthesevolumes,hasdrawnverylar

ponthe

authorities

who

have

previously

laboured

in

the

same

field,

and

in

particular

upon

worksofCreasy,Duruy,Ebers,Lavisse,Marcel,Michaud,Neibuhr,Paton,Rambaud,Sharp,

Weil. The results of investigations by Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie and other promi

gyptologistshavebeenfullysetforthandprofuselyillustrated.


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EGYPTUNDERTHEPTOLEMIESLEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE CONQUEST OF EGYPTTHE REIGNS OP THE PTOLEMI

GRADUALGROWTHOFROMANINFLUENCEINTRIGUESOFCLEOPATRAWITHPOMPEY,CAE

NDANTONY

lexanderthe

Great

in

EgyptAlexandria

foundedThe

Greeks

favour

the

JewsPtolemy

S

stablisheshimselfinEgyptandovercomesPerdiccasStrugglesforSyriaBeginningofEgyp

oinageArt and ScholarshipPtolemy resigns infavour of his son PhiladelphusFirst tr

with RomeBuilding of the PharosGrowth of CommerceEncouragement of Learning

brary of AlexandriaEuclid the geometerPoets, astronomers, historians, and critics

eptuagintMarriageofPhiladelphus tohis sisterArsinoPtolemyEuergetesplundersAs

gyptian temples enlargedReligious toleranceAnnual tribute of theJewsEratosthenes

stronomerPhilosophyandScienceCulminationofPtolemaicruleThedynastydeclinesu

hilopatorSyrians

invade

Egypt;

Philopator

retaliates;

visits

JerusalemThe

Jews

persecuthe king's folliesRiots at AlexandriaInglorious end of PhilopatorThe young Pto

piphanes protected by RomeMilitary revolt suppressedCoronation of Epiphanes

osettaStoneMarriageofEpiphanesandCleopatra,daughterofAntiochustheCheatAsec

ebellion repressedAccession of Ptolemy Philometer under the guardianship of Cleopat

ntiochus Epiphanes defeats PhilometerEuergetes seizes the throne and appeals to Rom

ntiochus supports Philometor against his brother EuergetesThe brothers combine aga

ntiochusFraternal rivalryPhilometer appeals to the Romans who adjust the quarr

hilometerarbitrates inadisputebetween theJewsand the SamaritansNew templesbu

gyptianasceticismPhilometer's

death;

Euergetes

reigns

alone,

and

divorces

his

qu

leopatraPopular tumult in AlexandriaEuergetes fleesCleopatra in powerEuerg

egainsthethrone;conquersSyriaandmakespeacewithCleopatraThereignofCleopatraC

withLathyrus(PtolemySoterII.)CleopatraintheascendentShehelpstheJews,whileLath

elpstheSamaritansLathyrusfleestoCyprusPtolemyAlexanderIruleswithCleopatraD

fAlexanderandrestorationofLathyrusAccessionofCleopatraBerenicPtolemyAlexand

equeathsEgypt toRome,murdersBerenic,and isslainbyhisguardsAuletessucceeds

omans claim EgyptPompey assists Auletes who is expelled by the EgyptiansCleop

ryphamaandBerenicplacedonthethroneGrabiniusandMarkAntonymarchintoEgypt

estore AuletesThe reign of CleopatraPompey made governorThe Egyptian fleet

ompeyPompey is slainCsar besieged by theAlexandriansHe overcomes oppositio

aptivated by Cleopatra and establishes her authorityThe Queen's extravaganceDefea

ntonyDeathofCleopatraOctavianusannexesEgypt.


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NTRODUCTORYESSAY

ELLENISMANDHEBRISMINEGYPTUNDERTHEPTOLEMIESI.

WhenAlexandertheGreatbridgedthegulfdividingOccidentandOrient,theGreekshadatta

oastateofmaturity inthedevelopmentoftheirnationalartand literature.Greekculture

ivilisation,passing

beyond

the

boundaries

of

their

national

domain,

crossed

this

bridge

preadovertheAsiaticworld.Toperpetuatehisname,thegreatMacedoniankingfoundeda

nd selected for this purpose, with extraordinary prescience, a spot on the banks of the

which, on account of its geographical position, was destined to become a centre, not on

nternational commerce and an entrept between Asia and Europe, but also a centr

ntellectualculture.ThepolicyofAlexandertoremovethebarriersbetweentheGreeksand

siatics,andtopavethewayfortheunionoftheracesofhisvastempire,wascontinuedby

agiddynasty inEgypt.Withher independenceandnativedynasties,Egypthadalso lost

olitical

strength

and

unity;

she

retained,

however,

her

ancient

institutions,

her

customs,

eligious system.TheswayofPersiandominionhadpassedoverherwithoutoverthrowing

uge rockof sacerdotalpowerwhich,deeply rootedwithmany ramifications, seemed tom

he wave of time. Out of the ruins of political independence still towered the monument

ivilisationofamightypastwhichgavetothiscountrymoral independence,andprevented

bliterationofnationality. Itwouldhavematteredvery little in thevastempireofAlexand

neprovincehadaspecialphysiognomy.Itwasdifferent,however,withtheLagid:theirpo

was concentrated in Egypt, and they were therefore compelled to obliterate the separa

xistingbetweentheconqueringandtheconqueredraces,andfusethem,ifpossible,intoon

reatobstacle

which

confronted

the

Macedonian

rulers

in

Egypt

was

the

religion

of

the

cou

heinterestandthepolicyoftheLagiddemandedtheremovalofthisobstacle,notbyforce

y diplomacy. Greek gods were therefore identified with Egyptian; Phtah became Heph

hot,Hermes;Ra,Helios;Amon,Zeus;and,inconsequenceofadreamwhichcommandedhi

fferadoration toa foreigngod,PtolemySotercreatedanewGreekgodwhowasofEgyp

rigin.OsirisatthatperiodwasthegreatgodofEgypt;Memphiswasthereligiouscentreof

ultofApis,therepresentativeofOsiris,andwho,when living,wascalledApisOsiris,andw

eadOsirisApis.Cambyseshadkilledthegodorhisrepresentative:itwasabadmove.Alexa

madesacrificestohim:PtolemySoterdidmore.HeendeavouredtopersuadetheEgyptians

OsirapiorOsirisApiswasalsosacredtotheGreeks,andtoidentifyhimwithsomeGreekdivi

herewasaGreekdeityknownasSerapis,identifiedwithPluton,thegodofHades.Serapis,

levermanouvre,acoupdereligion,wasidentifiedwithOsirisApis.Thelingualsimilarityand

actthatOsirapiwasthegodoftheEgyptianHadesmadetheidentificationacceptable.

iketrueGreekprinces,thePtolemieshadbroadviewsandwereverytolerant.KeepingtheG

eligion themselves, they were favourably disposed towards the creeds of other nationa

nder their dominion. Thanks to this broadmindedness and tolerance which had bec


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raditional in the Lagidas family,andwhichhasonly rarelybeen imitatedto thedetrimen

ivilisationinthehistoryofEuropeandynasties,OrientalandHellenicculturecouldflourish

y side. This benign government attracted many scholars, scientists, poets, and philosoph

lexandriabecame the intellectualmetropolisof theworld;and itmight trulybe said to

eentheParisofantiquity.AtthecourtsofthePtolemies,theMedicisofEgypt,thegreatest

ftheagelivedandtaught.DemetriusPhalerius,oneofthemostlearnedandculturedmeno

geof

learning

and

knowledge,

when

driven

from

his

luxurious

palace

at

Athens,

found

hospit

tthecourtofPtolemySoter.The foundationof the famousMuseionand libraryofAlexan

wasmostprobablyduetohis influence.HeadvisedthefirstPtolemytofoundabuildingw

oets,scholars,andphilosopherswouldhavefacilitiesforstudy,research,andspeculation.

Museionwassimilar insomerespectstotheAcademyofPlato.Itwasanedificewherescho

ved and worked together. Mental qualification was the only requirement for admis

ationality and creed were no obstacles to those whose learning rendered them worth

ecoming members of this ideal academy and of being received among the immortal

ntiquity.TheMuseionwas inno senseauniversity,butanacademy for the cultivationof

igherbranches

of

learning.

It

might

be

compared

in

some

respects

to

the

College

de

Franc

egarded as adevelopmentof the systemunderwhich scholarshad already lived andwo

ogether in theRamesseumunderRamses II.Thegenerosityof theLagidasprovidedamply

hisnewcentreoflearningandstudy.Freefromworldlycares,thescholarscouldleisurelyga

nformationandhanddowntoposteritythefruitsoftheirresearches.Fromallpartsofthew

menflockedtothiscentreoffashionablelearning,thebirthplaceofmodernscience.Allthat

rilliantandcultured,allthecoryphesinthedomainofintellect,wereattractedbythatsple

ourt.

n the shadeof theMuseionabrilliantassemblyPtolemy,Euclid,Hipparchus,Apollonius,

ratosthenesmade great discoveries and added materially to the sum of human knowle

ereEuclidwrotehisimmortal"Elements;"andHerophilos,thefatherofsurgery,addedvalu

nformation to the knowledge of anatomy. The art and process of embalming, in such vo

mongtheEgyptians,naturallyfosteredtheadvanceofthisscience.WhilstAlexandriainabst

peculationcouldnot rivalGreece,yet itbecame thehomeof thepioneersofpositivescie

who leftagreatandpriceless legacy tomodern civilisation.The importanceof thisevent

oundation of the Museion), says Draper, in his Intellectual Development of Europe, tho

ithertolittle

understood,

admits

of

no

exaggeration

so

far

as

the

intellectual

progress

of

Eu

s concerned. The Museum made an impression upon the intellectual career of Europ

owerfulandenduringthatwestillenjoyitsresults.Ifthepurelyliteraryproductionsofthat

ave sometimesbeen lookeduponwith contempt,European intellectual culture is still gre

ndebtedtoAlexandria,andespeciallyforthepatronagesheaccordedtotheworksofArist

Whilstthespeculativemindwasinlatercenturiesalluredbythesupernatural,andthediscus

f the criterion of truth and the principles of morality ended in the mystic doctrines of

latonism,thepracticaltendenciesofthegreatAlexandrinescholarswereinstrumentalinla


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hefoundationsofscience.TotheMuseionwereattachedthelibraries:oneintheMuseionit

nd another in the quarter Rhacotis in the temple of Serapis, which contained about 700

olumes.Newbookswerecontinuallyacquired.Thelibrarianshadorderstopayanysumfor

riginaloftheworksofgreatmasters.ThePtolemieswerenotonlypatronsoflearningbutw

hemselves highly educated. Ptolemy Soter was an historian of no mean talent, and his

hiladelphus, as a pupil of the poet Philetas and the philosopher Strabo, was a man of g

earning.Ptolemy

III.

was

amathematician,

and

Ptolemy

Philopator,

who

had

erected

edicatedatempletoHomer,wasthewriterofatragedy.TheeffortsofthePtolemiestob

hetwonationalities,HellenicandEgyptian,nearertoeachother,tomouldandweldthem

neifpossible,tomixandminglethetwocivilisationsandthusstrengthentheirownpower,

reatlyaidedbythenationalcharacteroftheGreeksandthepoliticalpositionoftheEgyptian

heGreeksfoundinEgyptanationalcultureandespeciallyareligioussystem.ThepliantHel

enius couldnot remain insensible to thatancientandmarvellous civilisationwith its sphi

ndhieroglyphics,itspyramidsandtemples,itslearningandthought,sostrangelyperplexing

nterestingto

the

Greek

mind.

Not

only

the

magnificence

of

Egyptian

art,

the

majesty

of

emples and palaces, but the wisdom of her social and political institutions impressed

onquerors.Theymadethemselvesacquaintedwiththeinstitutionsofthecountry;theystu

shistoryandtookan interest in itsreligionandmythology.Similarly,theconqueredEgypt

whohadpreferredtheMacedonianrulertotheirPersianoppressors,exhibitedanaturaldesi

earn the languages and habits of their rulers, to make themselves acquainted with t

nowledge and phases of thought, and art and science. The interest of the Greeks

trengthenedbythis,andtheEgyptiansweremadetoseetheirhistoryinitsproperlight.To

ndeavour

we

owe

the

history

of

Manetho.

But,

in

spite

of

the

policy

of

the

Ptolemies,mpressionablenatureoftheHelleniccharacterandtheinterestoftheEgyptians,inspiteo

hattendedtoa fusionofHellenismandOrientalism, itnevercametoaproperamalgama

hecontradictionbetweenthefreethoughtphilosophyofGreece,whichwasfastoutgrowin

olytheismandOlympianworship,and thedeeply rooted sacerdotal systemof thePharao

nstitutions,was toogreatand too flagrant.Thus thereneverwasanEgyptoHellenicphas

hought.But therewasanother civilisationofgreatantiquity,possessingpeculiar features,

essinterestingfortheGreekmindthanthatofEgyptitself,withwhichHellenismfounditself

oface intheancient landofthePharaohs. ItwasthecivilisationofJuda,betweenwhich

reekthought

agreater

fusion

was

effected.

.

romtimeimmemorialtheHebrewrace,withallitsconservativetendenciesinreligiousmat

asbeenamenabletotheinfluenceofforeigncultureandcivilian.EgyptandPhoenicia,Babyl

ndAssyria,HellasandRomehaveexercisedan immense influenceover it. Itstill isandalw

asbeenendeavouring tobring intoharmony theexclusivenessof itsnational religion,w


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esiretoadoptthehabitsculture,language,andmannersofitsneighbours;anattemptinw

maybeapparentlysuccessful,foracertainperiodatleast,butwhichmustalwayshaveat

nd.Itisimpossibletobeconservativeandprogressiveatthesametime,tobebothnational

osmopolitan. The attempts to reconcile religious formalism and free reasoning have n

ucceededinthehistoryofhumanthought.Itsoonledtotheconvictionthatonefactormus

acrificed,and,assoonasthiswasperceived,thepartyofzealotswasquicklyathandtopr

eaction.In

the

times

of

the

successors

of

Alexander,

the

Diadoch

and

Epigones,

the

Seleuc

ndtheLagid,whohaddividedthevastdominionamongthem,Greekinfluencehadsprea

ver Palestine. Greek towns were founded, theatres and gymnasia established; Greek art

dmiredandherphilosophystudied.TheHellenicmovementwasparamount,andthearistoc

amiliesdid theirbest to further it.Even thehighpriests, like Jason andMenelaos,whow

upposed tobe theguardiansof thenationalexclusivemovement, favouredGreekculture

nstitutions.

n the mother country, however, the germ of reaction was always very strong. A cons

ppositionwas

directed

against

the

influx

of

foreign

modes

of

life

and

thought,

which

effaced

bliterated the intellectual movement. It was different, however, in the other countrie

Macedoniandominion, andespecially inEgypt.Alexander theGreat,who seems tohaveb

avourablyinclinedtowardstheJews,settledanumberoftheminAlexandria.Hispolicywas

pbythedescendantsofLagos,thatgreatgeneralofAlexander,whomadehimselfkingof

rovincewhichwasentrustedtothecareofhisadministration.Egyptbecametheresortofm

efugeesfromJuda,whograduallycameundertheinfluenceofthedazzlingGreekthought

ulture, so new and therefore so attractive to the Semitic mind. Hellenism and Hebraism

nown

each

other

for

some

time,

for

Phoenician

merchants

and

seafarers

had

carried

the

seeOrientalwisdomtothedistantwest.Theacquaintance,however,wasaslightone.Atthecou

he Ptolemies, on the threshold of Europe and Asia, they met at last. On the shores of

Mediterranean,onthesoilwhere laythetracesoftheancientEgyptiancivilisation, inthes

venues of mysterious sphinxes, amongst hieroglyphiccovered obelisks, Greek and Heb

houghtstoodfacetoface.ThetwocivilisationsembodiedtheprinciplesoftheBeautifuland

ublime,ofMoralityandstheticism,ofreligiousandphilosophicspeculation.Theresultof

meetingmarksagloriouspageintheannalsofhumanthought.Amongthemonumentsofag

istoricpast,thespeculativespiritoftheEastmadelovetotheplasticbeautyoftheWest,u

tlast,

they

were

united

in

happy

union.

Hellenic

taste

and

sense

of

beauty

and

Sem

peculation not only evolved side by side in Egypt but mixed and commingled; their thou

wereintertwinedand interwoven,givingrisetoanew intellectualmovement,anewphiloso

f thought: the JudoHellenic. Alexandrian culture, during the reign of the Ptolemies, is

ffspringofamixedmarriagebetweentwoparentsbelongingtotwowidelydifferentraces,

sacrossbreed,isendowedwithmanyqualities.Ithadtheseriousnessoftheoneparentand

elicacyoftheother.


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hePtolemiesencouragedthemovementtowardsfusion.TheresultwasthattheJews inEg

otbeinghamperedbyreactionaryendeavoursfromthesideofconservativeparties,andwit

daptabilitypeculiartotheirrace,soonacquiredthelanguageofthepeopleinwhosemidst

welt.They conversedandwrote inGreek; theymouldedand shaped theirown thoughts

reekform;theyclothedtheSemiticmodeofthinkinginHellenicgarb.Theimmediateresult

he translationofthePentateuch intoGreek.Vanity,ofwhichno individualor race is free,

mbellishedthis

literary

production,

which

has

acquired

ahigh

degree

of

importance

alike

am

ewsandChristians,withmany legends.This translation, knownas theSeptuaginta (LXX),

ollowedbyindependenthistoriesrelatingtoBiblicalevents.Oneofthebestknownauthorsis

hronographer Demetrius, who lived in the second half of the third century, and whose w

lavius Josephus is supposed tohaveutilised.Not to speakof theGreekauthors in Juda

yria,wemaymentionArtapanos,who, following the fashionof theday,wrotehistory in

ormofaromance,andshowedtracesofanapologeticcharacter.Heendeavouredtoattribut

hat was great in Egyptian civilisation to Moses. This was due to the fact that Manetho,

gyptianhistorian,andothersfollowinghisexample,hadspreadfablesandvenomoustalesa

heancient

sojourn

and

exodus

of

the

Hebrews

and

their

leader.

To

counterbalance

t

ccusations,fableshadtobe interwoven intohistory,andhistorybecameromance.Moses

husidentifiedwithHermes,andmadeouttobethefatherofEgyptianwisdom.But,ifthec

cquaintanceship of Hebraism and Hellenism began with a mere flirtation, encouraged by

ulersofthelandandkeptupbytheJews,whowishedtogainthefavouroftheconquering

ndtoshowthemselvesandtheirhistory inasfavourablea lightaspossible, itsoonended

erious attachment.TheHebrewsmade themselves acquainted with Hellenic life and thou

heystudiedHomerandHesiod,EmpedoclesandParmenides,PlatoandAristotle,andtheyw

tartled

by

the

discovery

that

in

Greek

thought

there

were

many

elements,

moral

and

religamiliartothem:thisenhancedtheattraction.Thenarrownessandexclusivenesstowhichs

ationality always gives rise, engendering contempt and hatred for everything foreignw

madeeven the Greeks, with all their intellectual culture,draw a line of demarcationbetw

reekandbarbariangavewaytoaspiritofcosmopolitanbreadthofviewwhichhasonly

arelybeenequalledinhistory.HellenicandHebrewformsofthoughtwerebroughtintofrie

nion,andgavebirth to ideasandaspirationsofwhichhumanitymayalwaysbeproud.G

sthetic judgment and Semitic mysticism, different phases of thought in themselves, w

welded into one. The religious conceptions of Moses and the Prophetswere expressed in

anguageof

the

philosophical

schools;

an

attempt

was

made

to

bring

into

harmony

the

dogma

upernaturalrevelationandthefruitsofhumanspeculativethought.Suchanattempt isag

ndertaking,for, ifsincerelyandrelentlesslypursued, itmustend inbreakingdownthebar

fseparation,intheestablishmentofacommontruth,andinthesacrificeofcherishedideals

onvictions which prove to be wrong. If carried to its logical conclusion, such a cosmopo

roadmindedness, such a crossfertilisation of intellectual products, must give rise to

nnobling ideathatthere isonlyonetruth,andthattheexternalformsareonly fleetingw

ponthevastoceanofhumanideals.TheattemptwasmadeinAlexandriabytheJudoHel


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hilosophers. Unfortunately, however, the Hebrews, with all their adaptability, have not

arriedthisattempttoitslogicalconclusion.Thespiritofreactionhaseverandanonbeenre

ocrush in its infancytheendeavouroftruthandsincerity,ofbroadmindednessandtolera

Whenplacedbeforethequestiontobeornottobe,tobe logicalor illogical, ithaschosen

atter,andstrivenafterthe impossible:thereconciliationofwhatcannotbereconciledwit

lterations, rejections,and selections.ThehappymarriageofHellenismandHebraism inE

adatragic

end.

The

union

was

dissolved,

not,

however,

without

having

produced

its

issue

lexandrian culture, which was carried to Rome by Philo Judus, and thus influenced

uropeanthoughtandhumanityatlarge.


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CHAPTERIEGYPTCONQUEREDBYTHEGREEKS

lexanderthe

Great.Cleomenes.B.C.

332

323

heway for theGrecian conquestofEgypthadbeenpreparing formanyyears.Ever since

memorablemarchofXenophon,wholed,inthefaceofunknowndifficulties,tenthousandGr

crossAsiaMinor, theGreekstatesmanhadsuspected that theHellenicsoldierwascapab

ndreamedpossibilities.

WhentheyoungAlexander,succeedinghisfatherPhiliponthethroneofMacedonia,gothim

ppointedgeneralbythechiefoftheGreekstates,andmarchedagainstDariusCodomanus,

fPersia,

at

the

head

of

the

allied

armies,

it

was

not

difficult

to

foresee

the

result.

The

Greeks

earned the weakness of the Persians by having been so often hired to fight for them. F

enturypast,everyPersianarmyhadhadabodyof tenor twentythousandGreeks in the

ndwithoutthisguardthePersianswerelikeaflockofsheepwithouttheshepherd'sdog.T

ountrieswhichhadtrustedtoGreekmercenariestodefendthemcouldhardlyhelpfallingw

heGreekstatesunitedfortheirconquest.

lexanderdefeatedthePersiansunderDariusinagreatandmemorablebattlenearthetow

ssus

at

the

foot

of

the

Taurus,

at

the

pass

which

divides

Syria

from

Asia

Minor,

and

then,

insfmarchinguponPersia,he turnedasidetotheeasierconquestofEgypt.Onhiswayther

pentsevenmonths in thesiegeofthewealthycityofTyre,andhetherepunishedwithd

verymancapableofcarryingarms,andmadeslavesoftherest.Hewasthenstoppedfors

mebeforethelittletownofGaza,whereBatis,thebravegovernor,hadthecouragetoclose

atesagainsttheGreekarmy.Hisangryfretfulnessatbeingcheckedbysosmallaforcewas

qualledbyhiscrueltywhenhehadovercome it;he tiedBatisby theheels tohischariot,

raggedhimroundthewallsofthecity,asAchilleshaddraggedthebodyofHector.

Onthe

seventh

day

after

leaving

Gaza

he

reached

Pelusium,

the

most

easterly

town

in

Egypt,

a

march of one hundred and seventy miles along the coast of the Mediterranean, throu

arched, glaring desertwhich forms thenatural boundary of the country;while the fleet

losetotheshoretocarrythestoresforthearmy,asnofreshwateristobemetwithonthe

fmarch.TheEgyptiansdidnoteventrytohidetheirjoyathisapproach;theywerebending

nwillinglyundertheheavyandhatedyokeofPersia.ThePersianshadlongbeenlookedupo

heirnaturalenemies,and in theprideof their successhadadded insults to theotherevi

eing governed by the satrap of a conqueror. They had not even gained the respect of


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onqueredby theirwarlikecourage, forEgypthad inagreatpartbeenconqueredandhel

reekmercenaries.

hePersianforceshadbeenmostlywithdrawnfromthecountrybySabaces,thesatrapofEg

obeledagainstAlexanderinAsiaMinor,andhadformedpartofthearmyofDariuswhenhe

eatennear the townof Issuson thecoastofCilicia.Thegarrisonswerenot strongenoug

uardthe

towns

left

in

their

charge;

the

Greek

fleet

easily

overpowered

the

Egyptian

fleet

in

arbourofPelusium,and thetownopened itsgatestoAlexander.Herehe leftagarrison,

rderinghis fleettomeethimatMemphis,hemarchedalongtheriver'sbanktoHeliopolis

hetowns,onhisapproach,openedtheirgatestohim.Mazakes,whohadbeen leftwithou

rmy,assatrapofEgypt,whenSabacesledthetroopsintoAsiaMinor,andwhohadheardo

eathofSabaces,andthatAlexanderwasmasterofPhoenicia,Syria,andthenorthofArabia,

ochoicebuttoyield.TheMacedonianarmycrossedtheNilenearHeliopolis,andthenent

Memphis.

Memphishad longbeen the chief cityof allEgypt,evenwhennot the seatofgovernmen

arlierages,whenthewarlikevirtuesoftheThebanshadmadeEgyptthegreatestkingdomin

world,Memphisand the lowland cornfieldsof theDeltapaid tribute toThebes;but,with

mprovementsinnavigation,thecitiesonthecoastroseinimportance;thenavigationofthe

ea, though always dangerous, became less dreaded, and Thebes lost the toll on the carr

radeoftheNile.Wealthalone,however,wouldnothavegiventhesovereigntytoLowerEg


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adnottheGreekmercenariesbeenathandtofightforthosewhowouldpaythem.Theking

as had guarded their thrones with Greek shields; and it was on the rash but praisewo

ttempt of Amasis to lessen the power of these mercenaries that theyjoined Cambyses,

gyptbecameaPersianprovince.InthestrugglesoftheEgyptianstothrowoffthePersiany

wesee littlemorethantheAtheniansandSpartanscarryingontheiroldquarrelsontheco

ndplainsoftheDelta;andtheAthenians,whocountedtheir lossesbyships,notbymen,

hatin

their

victories

and

defeats

together

Egypt

had

cost

them

two

hundred

triremes.

He

whenAlexander,byhissuccessesinGreece,hadputastoptothefeudsathome,themercena

fbothpartiesflockedtohisconqueringstandard,andhefoundhimselfonthethroneofU

ndLowerEgyptwithoutanystrugglebeingmadeagainsthimbytheEgyptians.TheGreekpa

hepopulation,whohadbeenlivinginEgyptasforeigners,nowfoundthemselvesmasters.E

ecameatonceaGreekkingdom,asthoughthebloodandlanguageofthepeoplewerechan

ttheconqueror'sbidding.

lexander'scharacterasatriumphantgeneralgainslittlefromthiseasyconquestofanunwa

ountry,and

the

overthrow

of

acrumbling

monarchy.

But

as

the

founder

of

anew

Macedo

tate, and for reuniting the scattered elements of society in Lower Egypt after the Per

onquest, in theonly form inwhichagovernment couldbemade to stand,hedeserves t

lacedamongthe leastmischievousofconquerors.Wetracehismarch,notbytheruin,mi

ndanarchywhichusually follow in the rearofanarmy,butby thebuildingofnewcities,

more certain administration ofjustice, the revival of trade, and the growth of learning

eachingMemphis,hisfirstcarewastoprovetotheEgyptiansthathewascometoreesta

heirancientmonarchy.HewentinstatetothetempleofApis,andsacrificedtothesacred

s

the

native

kings

had

done

at

their

coronations;

and

gamed

the

good

will

of

the

crowd

by

gandmusic,PerformedbyskilfulGreeksfortheiramusement.


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utthoughthetempleofPhtahatMemphis,inwhichthestateceremonieswereperformed,

sen inbeautyand importanceby the repeatedadditionsof the laterkings,whohad fixed

eatofgovernmentinLowerEgypt,yettheSun,orAmonRa,orKnephRa,thegodofThebe

upiterAmnion,ashewascalledbytheGreeks,wasthegodunderwhosespreadingwingsE

adseenitsproudestdays.EveryEgyptiankinghadcalledhimself"thesonoftheSun;"those

adreignedatThebeshadboastedthattheywere"belovedbyAmonRa;"andwhenAlexa

rderedthe

ancient

titles

to

be

used

towards

himself,

he

wished

to

lay

his

offerings

in

the

tem

fthisgod,andtobeacknowledgedbythepriestsashisson.AsareaderofHomer,andthep

fAristotle,hemusthavewishedtoseethewondersof"EgyptianThebes,"theproperplace

hisceremony;anditcouldonlyhavebeenbecause,asageneral,hehadnottimeforamarc

vehundredmiles,thathechosethenearerandlessknowntempleofKnephRa,intheoas

mmon,onehundredandeightymilesfromthecoast.

ccordingly,hefloateddowntheriverfromMemphistothesea,takingwithhimthelightar

roopsandtheroyalbandofknightscompanions.WhenhereachedCanopus,hesailedwestw

longthe

coast,

and

landed

at

Rhacotis,

asmall

village

on

the

spot

where

Alexandria

now

sta

erehemadenostay;but,ashepassedthrough it,hemusthaveseenataglance, forhe

everthereasecondtime,thattheplacewasformedbynaturetobeagreatharbour,and

with a littlehelp from art itwouldbe theportof allEgypt. The mouthsof the Nilewere

hallowfortheeverincreasingsizeofthemerchantvesselswhichwerethenbeingbuilt;and

ngineers found thedeeperwaterwhichwaswanted,between thevillageofRhacotisand

ttleislandofpharos.ItwasallthathehadseenandadmiredatTyre,butitwasonalargers

ndwithdeeperwater.Itwastheveryspotthathewasinsearchof;ineverywaysuitablefo

reek

colony

which

he

proposed

to

found

as

the

best

means

of

keeping

Egypt

in

obedience.

efore the timeofHomer, the islandofPharoshadgiven shelter to theGreek traderson

oast.HegavehisorderstoHinocratesthearchitecttoimprovetheharbour,andtolaydown

lanofhisnewcity;andthesuccessoftheundertakingprovedthewisdombothofthestates

ndof thebuilder, for the cityofAlexandria subsequentlybecame themost famousofal

ommercial and intellectual centres of antiquity. From Rhacotis Alexander marched along

oasttoParastonium,adistanceofabouttwohundredmilesthroughthedesert;andthere,o

iswaythere,hewasmetbytheambassadorsfromCyrene,whoweresentwithgiftstobeg

eace,andtoaskhimtohonourtheircitywithavisit.Alexandergraciouslyreceivedthegif

heCyrenans,

and

promised

them

his

friendship,

but

could

not

spare

time

to

visit

their

city;

withoutstopping,heturnedsouthwardtotheoasis.

tMemphisAlexanderreceivedtheambassadorsthatcamefromGreecetowishhimjoyo

uccess;hereviewedhistroops,andgaveouthisplansforthegovernmentofthekingdom

hrew bridges of boats over the Nile at the ford below Memphis, and also over the sev

ranchesoftheriver.Hedividedthecountryintotwonomarchiesorjudgeships,andtofillt

wo offices of nomarchs or chief judges, the highest civil offices in the kingdom, he c


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oloaspis and Petisis, two Egyptians. Their duty was to watch over the due administratio

ustice,oneinUpperandtheother inLowerEgypt,andperhapstohearappealsfromthe lo

udges.

e left the garrisons in the command of his own Greek generals; Pantaleon commanded

ounts, or knightscompanions, who garrisoned Memphis, and Polemon was governo

elusium.These

were

the

chief

fortresses

in

the

kingdom:

Memphis

overlooked

the

Delta,

avigationoftheriver,andthepasstoUpperEgypt;Pelusiumwastheharbourfortheship

war,andthe frontier townon theonlysideonwhichEgyptcouldbeattacked.Theotherc

weregiventoothergovernors;Licidascommandedthemercenaries,PeucestesandBalacrus

thertroops,Eugnostuswassecretary,whileschylusandEphippuswereleftasoverlooker

erhaps, inthe languageofmoderngovernments,ascivilcommissioners.Apolloniuswasm

refectofLibya,ofwhichdistrictPartoniumwasthecapital,andCleomenesprefectofArab

eroopolis,inguardofthatfrontier.Ordersweregiventoallthesegeneralsthatjusticewast

dministeredbytheEgyptiannomarchsaccordingtothecommonlaworancientcustomsof

and.Petisis,

however,

either

never

entered

upon

his

office

or

soon

quitted

it,

and

Doloaspis

eftnomarchofallEgypt.

lexandersent intotheThebaidabodyofseventhousandSamaritans,whosequarrelswith

ewsmadethemwishtoleavetheirowncountry.Hegavethemlandstocultivateontheban

he Nile which had gone out of cultivation with the gradual decline of Upper Egypt; and

mployed them to guard the province against invasion or rebellion. He did not stay in E

onger than was necessary to give these orders, but hastened towards theEuphrates tom

arius.

In

his

absence

Egypt

remained

quiet

and

happy.

Peucestes

soon

followed

him

to

BabwithsomeofthetroopsthathadbeenleftinEgypt;andCleomenes,thegovernorofHeroop

was then made collector of the taxes and prefect of Egypt. Cleomenes was a bad man

isobeyedtheorderssentfromAlexanderontheIndus,andheseemstohaveforgottenthe

eelingswhichguidedhismaster;yet,uponthewhole,afterthegallingyokeofthePersians

gyptiansmusthavefeltgratefulfortheblessingsofjusticeandgoodgovernment.

tonetime,whenpassingthroughtheThebaidinhisbargeontheNile,Cleomeneswaswrec

ndoneofhischildrenbittenbyacrocodile.Onthisplea,hecalledtogetherthepriests,prob

fCrocodilopolis,

where

this

animal

was

held

sacred,

and

told

them

that

he

intended

to

reve

imselfuponthecrocodilesbyhavingthemallcaughtandkilled;andhewasonlyboughtofff

arryinghis threat intoexecutionby thepriestsgivinghimall the treasure that they could

ogether.Alexanderhad leftordersthatthegreatmarketshouldbemovedfromCanopusto

ewcityofAlexandria,assoonasitshouldbereadytoreceiveit.Asthebuildingwentforw

he priests and rich traders of Canopus, in alarm at losing the advantages of their port,

leomenesa large sumofmoney for leave tokeep theirmarketopen.This sumhe took,

whenthebuildingatAlexandriawasfinished,heagaincametoCanopus,andbecausethetra


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would not or could not raise a second and larger sum, he carried Alexander's orders

xecution,andclosedthemarketoftheircity.

ut instances suchas these,ofapublicofficermakinguseofdishonestmeans to increase

mountof the revenuewhich itwashisduty to collect,mightunfortunatelybe foundeve

ountrieswhichwereforthemostpartenjoyingtheblessingsofwiselawsandgoodgovernm

ndit

is

not

probable

that,

while

Alexander

was

with

the

army

in

Persia,

the

acts

of

fraud

wrongshouldhavebeenfewer inhisownkingdomofMacedonia.ThedishonestyofCleom

wasindeedequallyshowntowardtheMacedonians,byhiswishtocheatthetroopsoutofpa

heirpay.Thepayofthesoldierswasdueonthefirstdayofeachmonth,butonthatdayhe

aretobeoutoftheway,andthesoldierswerepaidafewdayslater;andbydoingthesam

ach following month, he at length changed the payday to the last day of the month,

heatedthearmyoutofawholemonth'spay.

notheractforwhichCleomeneswasblamedwasnotsocertainlywrong.Onesummer,when

arvesthad

been

less

plentiful

than

usual,

he

forbade

the

export

of

grain,

which

was

alarge

f the trade of Egypt, thereby lowering the price to the poor so far as they could affor

urchasesuchcostlyfood,but injuringthe landowners.Onthis,theheadsoftheprovinces

ohim inalarm, to say that they shouldnotbeable toget in theusualamountof tribute

hereforeallowedtheexportasusual,butraisedtheduty;andhewasreproachedforreceivi

argerrevenuewhilethelandownersweresufferingfromasmallercrop.

tEcbatana,thecapitalofMedia,AlexanderlosthisfriendHephstion,andingriefforhisd

esent toEgypt toenquireof theoracleat the templeofKneph in theoasisofAmmon,w

onourshemightpay to thedeceased.Themessengersbroughthimananswer, thathem


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eclareHephstionademigod,andorderthatheshouldbeworshipped.Accordingly,Alexa

hensentanexpresscommandtoCleomenesthatheshouldbuildatempletohislostfavouri

isnewcityofAlexandria,andthatthelighthousewhichwastobebuiltontheislandofPh

houldbenamedafterhim;andasmoderninsurancesagainstrisksbyseausuallybeginwith

words"InthenameofGod;Amen;"soallcontractsbetweenmerchantsintheportofAlexan

were to be written solemnly "In the name of Hephstion." Feeling diffident of enfor

bedienceat

the

mouth

of

the

Nile,

while

he

was

himself

writing

from

the

sources

of

the

In

eaddedthat if,whenhecametoEgypthefoundhiswishcarriedintoeffect,hewouldpa

leomenes for thoseactsofmisgovernmentofwhichhehadbeenaccused,and foranyot

whichmightthencometohisears.

somatophylax in theMacedonianarmywasnodoubtat first,as thewordmeans,oneof

fficerswhohad toanswer for the king's safety;perhaps inmodern languagea colonel in

odyguardsorhousehold troops;butas, inunmixedmonarchies, the faithfulofficerwho

earesttheking'sperson,towhosewatchfulnesshetrusted inthehourofdanger,oftenfo

imselfthe

adviser

in

matters

of

state,

so,

in

the

time

of

Alexander,

the

title

of

somatophylax

iventothosegeneralsonwhosewisdomthekingchiefly leaned,andbywhoseadvicehe

suallyguided.Amongthese,andforemostinAlexander'sloveandesteem,wasPtolemy,the

fLagus.Philip, the fatherofAlexander,hadgivenArsino,oneofhisrelations, inmarriag

agus;andhereldestsonPtolemy,bornsoonafterthemarriage,wasalwaysthoughttobe

ing'sson,thoughneversoacknowledged.Ashegrewup,hewasputintothehighestoffice

hilip,without raising in theyoungAlexander'smindthedistrustwhichmighthavebeen f

tolemy could have boasted that he was the elder brother. He earned the good opinio

lexander

by

his

military

successes

in

Asia,

and

gained

his

gratitude

by

saving

his

life

when

hendangeramongtheOxydrac,neartheriverIndus;andmoreover,Alexanderlookedupto

sthehistorianwhose literarypowersandknowledgeofmilitarytacticsweretohanddow

hewonderoffutureagesthoseconquestswhichhewitnessed.

lexander'svictoriesoverDarius,andmarch to the river Indus,arenopartof thishistory:

noughtosaythathediedatBabyloneightyearsafterhehadenteredEgypt;andhishalfbro

hilip Arridus, a weakminded, unambitious young man, was declared by the gene

ssembledatBabylontobehissuccessor.Hisroyalbloodunitedmorevoices inthearmy i

avourthan

the

warlike

and

statesmanlike

character

of

any

one

of

the

rival

generals.

They

w

orcedtobecontentwithsharingtheprovincesbetweenthemashislieutenants;somehopin

overnby theirpowerover theweakmindofArridus,andothers secretlymeaning tom

hemselvesindependent.

nthisweightymatter,Ptolemyshowedthewisdomandjudgmentwhichhadalreadygained

ishighcharacter.ThoughhismilitaryrankandskillwereequaltothoseofanyoneofAlexand

enerals,andhisclaimbybirthperhapsequaltothatofArridous,hewasnotoneofthose


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imedatthethrone;nordidheevenaimatthesecondplace,but lefttoPerdiccastherege

withthecareoftheking'sperson,inwhosenamethatambitiousgeneralvainlyhopedtogo

hewholeofAlexander'sconquests.ButPtolemy,morewiselymeasuringhisstrengthwith

everaltasks,chosetheprovinceofEgypt,theprovincewhich,cutoffasitwasfromtheres

eaanddesert,wasofallotherstheeasiesttobeheldasan independentkingdomagainst

owerofPerdiccas.WhenEgyptwasgiventoPtolemybythecouncilofgenerals,Cleomenes

tthe

same

time

and

by

the

same

power

made

second

in

command,

and

he

governed

Egyp

neyearbeforePtolemy'sarrival,thatbeinginnamethefirstyearofthereignofPhilipArrid

r,accordingtothechronologer'smodeofdating,thefirstyearafterAlexander'sdeath.


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CHAPTERIIEGYPTUNDERPTOLEMYSOTER

tolemygovernsEgypt,overcomesPerdiccas,andfoundsadynasty.

tolemyLagus

was

one

of

those

who,

at

the

death

of

Alexander,

had

raised

their

voices

aga

ivingthewholeoftheconqueredcountriestooneking;hewishedthattheyshouldhaveb

haredequallyamong thegeneralsas independentkingdoms. In thishewasoverruled,an

cceptedhisgovernmentasthelieutenantoftheyouthfulPhilipArridus,thoughnodoubt

hefixedpurposeofmakingEgyptanindependentkingdom.OnreachingMemphis,theseato

overnment,hiswhole thoughtswere turned towards strengtheninghimself againstPerdic

who hoped to be obeyed, in the name of his young and weakminded king, by all his fe

enerals.

heGreekandforeignmercenariesofwhichthearmyofAlexanderwasmadeup,andwhow

aithful tohismemoryand tohis family,had little toguide them in thechoiceofwhich le

hey should follow to his distant province, beside the thought of where they should be

reated;andPtolemy'shighcharacterforwisdom,generosity,andwarlikeskillhadgainedm

riendsforhimamongtheofficers;theysawthatthewealthofEgyptwouldputitinhispowe

ewardthosewhoseserviceswerevaluabletohim;andhencecrowdsflockedtohisstandard

eachingtheirprovinces,theGreeksoldiers,whetherSpartansorAthenians,forgettingtheglo

fThermopylandMarathon,andproudof theirwiderconquestsunder the lateking,alw

alledthemselves

Macedonians.

They

pleased

themselves

with

the

thought

that

the

whole

of

onqueredcountrieswerestillgovernedbythebrotherofAlexander;andnooneofhisgene

nhiswildestthoughtsofambition,whetheraiming,likePtolemy,atfoundingakingdom,or,

erdiccas,atthegovernmentoftheworld,wasunwiseenoughtothrowoffthetitleoflieute

oPhilipArridus,andtoforfeittheloveoftheMacedoniansoldiersandhissurestholdont

oyalty.

he firstactofPtolemywas toput todeathCleomenes,whohadbeenmade subgoverno

gyptbythesamecouncilofgeneralswhichhadmadePtolemygovernor.Thisactmayhaveb

alledfor

by

the

dishonesty

and

crooked

dealing

which

Cleomenes

had

been

guilty

of

in

collec

axes; but, though the whole tenor of Ptolemy's life would seem to disprove the charge

annotbutfearthathewas inpart ledtothisdeedbecausehe lookeduponCleomenesas

riend of Perdiccas, or because he could not trust him in his plans for making himself kin

gypt.

romtheverycommencementofhisgovernment,Ptolemypreparedforthewarwhichhek

mustfollowadeclarationofhisdesigns.PerhapsbetterthananyothergeneralofAlexande


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newhow towin the favourof thepeopleunderhis rule.Theconditionof thecountryqu

mprovedunderhismildadministration.ThegrowingseaportofAlexandriawasagoodmarke

countryrichinnaturalproduce,and,aboveall,Egypt'smarvellouslygoodgeographicalpos

toodher ingood stead in timeofwar.Surroundednearlyonall sidesbydesert land, the

nhabitants,rovingBedouins,offerednodanger.ThelandoftheNilewasaccessibletoanen

nonedirectiononly,alongthecoastofSyria.Thiseventeemedwithdifficulties.Transportst

ouldonly

be

managed

with

the

greatest

ingenuity,

and,

in

case

of

defeat,

retreat

was

alm

mpossible.Ontheotherhand,theEgyptianarmy,helpedbyalltheadvantagesofalandirrig

nthecanalsystem,andwhichcouldbefloodedatwill,hadonlytoactonthedefensivet

ertain of victory. The country is perhaps more open to an attack from the sea, but,

moderatelywellconducteddefensivemovement,theenemycouldbekepttothecoast.Even

andingthere isscarcelypossible,onaccountofthenaturaldifficultiesatthemouthofthe

he one easy spotAlexandriawas so well fortified that an invader had but little chanc

uccess.

boutthe

time

of

Alexander's

death

(and

to

some

extent

brought

about

by

this

event),

civil

rokeoutinCyrenaica,inconsequenceofwhichthefollowersofonepartywereforcedouto

own of Cyrene. Thesejoined themselves with the exiles of the town of Barca, and toge

oughthelpof foreigners.Theyplacedthemselvesunderthe leadershipoftheSpartanThib

ormerlyAlexander'schancelloroftheexchequer.BeggedbytheexiledCyrenianstohelpth

e now directed his forces against Libya, fought a fierce battle, and took possession of

arbourofApollonia,twomilesdistantfromthetown.HethenbesiegedthetownofCyrene,

orced the Cyrenians at last to sue for peace. They were obliged to make a payment of

undred

talents

and

to

take

back

the

exiles.

Messengers

were

sent

by

Thibron

to

incite

the

oownsinCyrenaicatojoinhimandtohelphimconquertheirneighbour,Libya.Thibron'sfollow

wereallowedtoplunder,andthisledtoquarrels,desertions,treacherousacts,andtherecru

fhisarmyfromthePeloponnesus.Aftervaryingfortunesofwar,inthespringof322B.C.,s

ftheCyreniansfledtoEgypt,andrelatedtoPtolemywhathadoccurred inCyrenaica,beg

imtohelpthembacktotheirhomes.Thesuggestionwaswelcometohim,forvictorywoul

asyoverthesestrugglingfactions.Hesentastrongmilitaryandnavalforce,underOphelas

Macedonian,toCyrenaicainthesummer.Whenthesewereseenapproaching,thoseexiles

ad found refugewithThibrondecided tojoin them.Theirplan,however,wasdiscovered,

heywere

put

to

death.

The

leader

of

the

rabble

in

Cyrene

(fearful

for

his

own

safety,

now

heexileswhohadfledtoEgyptwerereturning)madeoverturesofpeacetoThibron,andjo

with him to repulse Ophelas. The latter worked with the utmost caution, sent an army u

picidesofOlynthagainstTancheira,whilsthehimselfmarchedagainstCyrene.


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emetThibroninafiercefight.ThelatterwascompletelydefeatedandfledtowardsTanch

wherehehopedtofindhelp,butinsteadfellintoEpicides'hands.Thibronwasgivenoverto

eople of Tancheira for punishment.He was cruelly scourged, and then dragged to Apollo

wherehewascrucified.Ophelas,however,wasnotabletoconquertheCyreniansuntilPtol

imself arrived with fresh troops, overpowered the town andjoined the province to his

atrapy.

heconquestofthisGreekprovincewasagainequallyforhimselfandfortheGreeks.Hepu

ndtothehorribleanarchythatprevailedthere,andprovedhimselftheirsaviouraswellast

onqueror.Hisnamewasnowanhonouredoneamongall theGreeks.When itwas rumo

hatwarwas likelytobreakoutbetweenPtolemyandtheroyalparty,theMacedoniansflo

oAlexandria,"everymanreadytogiveallandtosacrificehimselfinordertohelphisfriend

opularbeliefofthedaywasthat,althoughPtolemywasknownasthesonofLagos,hew

eality

the

son

of

Philip,

and

indeed

much

in

his

manner

resembled

the

great

founder

ofMacedonianpower.AmongstthesuccessorsofAlexander,notoneunderstoodaswellashe

o retain and increase the power which he had won. He recognised, also, from the first,

endencyoftheage:thetendencytosplitupthekingdomintodifferentstates;andhehadm

histhebasisofhispolicy.Itwasunderhimthatthefirststate(inthenewsenseoftheword)

ounded.Hewastheleaderofthenewmovementthatsoongenerateddisunity,andtothis

e made a secret contract with Antipatros against the regent Perdiccas. About this time

misunderstandingsbetweentheregentandtherulersintheWestbegantotakeaseriousasp


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tagreatmeeting inBabylon in the summerof theyear323, itwasdecided that thebod

lexanderwastobetakenwithgreatsolemnitytotheTempleofAmon,andthattheequip

ndguidanceofthefuneralprocessionshouldbeentrustedtoArridus.Attheendofthe

23, the necessary preparations were finished. The gigantic funeral car that was to carry

inglybierhadbeendecoratedwithunparalleledmagnificence.Withoutwaitingforordersf

heregent,ArridusstartedwiththefuneralprocessionfromBabylon.Crowdsfromfarand

lledthe

streets,

some

curious

to

see

the

magnificent

sight,

others

eager

to

show

this

last

to

frespecttothedeadking.ItwasfirmlybelievedamongsttheMacedoniansthatthecount

whichAlexander'sbodyhad its last restingplacewouldbecomehappyandpowerfulabov

ountries.Thisprophecywasutteredby theoldseerTelmissussoonafter theking'sdeath

tolemyhave thisbelief,ordidhewish tomakeuseof it?Therewereprobablyother rea

whichhadcausedhimtoenterintoanunderstandingwithArridus,andtoarrangewithhim

ewastostartwithoutordersfromtheregent.HewasafraidthatPerdiccas, inordertoad

he solemnityof theprocession,wouldhimselfaccompany thebodywith the imperialarm

gypt.Ptolemyfeltthathispositioninthelandsentrustedtohiscarewouldbegreatlyweake

ahigher

authority

than

himself

could

appear

there

with

amilitary

force.

Arridus

led

uneraltrain toDamascus,ashadbeenarrangedbeforewithPtolemy. Itwas invain thatP

mon(oneofPerdiccas'generals),whowasintheneighbourhood,wenttomeethim.Hewas

oobtainnoaspectfortheexpressorderoftheregent.ThefuneralprocessionpassedDama

n itsway toEgypt.Ptolemyaccompanied thebodywithhisarmyas farasSyria. Itwas

akenontoMemphistorestthereuntil itcouldbeshelteredbythatbeautifulsepulchreof

ingsatAlexandria.

rridus'

action,

in

starting

without

permission,

and

the

defiance

of

Polemon's

order,

were

fopenrevoltagainstthehigherauthorityofthekingdom.Perdiccascalledallloyalfollowe

hecouncilofwar.Ptolemy,hesaid,haddefiedtheorderofthekingsinhisbehaviourconcer

he funeralprocession; andhehadalso given shelter to theexiled satrapsofPhrygia.He

reparedforwar,whichhehopedtobringabout.Itwasforthem(theloyalones)touphold

ignityofthekingdom.Theymusttrytotakehimunawares,andtoovercomethemindividu

hequestionwas, if theEgyptians or theMacedoniansought tobe first attacked. In the

lanswerecarefullyconcertedforanattackonEgyptandtheprotectionofEurope.Inthee

pringofB.C.321,PerdiccasandhiscolleaguessetoutforEgyptwiththeimperialarmy,orde

hefleet

to

follow,

and

leaving

Eumenes

with

skilled

officers

and

troops

in

general

comman

siaMinorforthepurposeofguardingtheHellespont.

ttheEgyptianfrontier,Perdiccassummonedthearmytogether,thatthementhemselvessh

ivejudgmentinthecaseofthesatrapofEgypt,inthesamewayasintheprecedingautumn

adgivenjudgmentinthecaseofAntigones.Heexpectedadecisionwhichwouldenablehi

nishwhathehadalreadybegun.Theaccusationswere thathehad refusedobedience to

ings, that he had fought against and overcome the Greeks of Cyrenaica (who had rece


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reedomfromAlexander),andthathehadtakenpossessionoftheking'sbody,andcarried

Memphis.

ccordingtothesingleaccount,whichtellsusoftheseproceedings,Ptolemyhimselfappeare

onducthisowndefencebefore theassembledwarriors.Hehadgood reason for reckonin

heimpressionhisconfidenceinthemwouldmakeuponthem,andonthelovethatheknew

Macedoniansbore

towards

him.

He

knew,

too,

of

the

increasing

dislike

of

the

imperial

regent

efencewasheardwithgrowingapproval,andthearmy'sjudgmentwas"freedom."

nspiteofthistheregentkepttothewar.Thedecisionofthetroopsalienatedhimstillmoref

hem.ThewarwithEgyptwas contrary to theirwishes,and theymurmuredopenly.Perd

oughttoputdowntherefractoryspiritwithasternmilitaryhand,buttheremonstranceso

fficerswere invain.He treated the first in the land inan inconsiderateanddespoticman

emoved the mostdeserving from their command, and trustedhimself alone.This same m

who had climbed the path to greatness with so much foresight, selfcommand, energy,

tatesmanship,seemed

now,

the

nearer

he

grew

to

the

summit

of

his

ambition,

to

los

learness of sight and moderation, which traits alone could help him to take this last

angerousstep.Hehadtheadvantageoftriedtroops,theelephantsofAlexander,andthe

nder the command of his brotherinlaw was near the mouth of the Nile; but he

versteppedthemark.

ust at this time, the news reached him from Asia Minor that Eumenes had conqu

eoptolemas,thegovernorofArmenia,whohadtakenthesideofPtolemy.

Withallthemorehope,Perdiccaswenttomeettheenemy.HereachedPelusiumundisturbe

washighlynecessarythatthearmyshouldcrosstothePelusaicsideoftheNile,fortherew

everal secure places there, which, if allowed to remain in the hands of the enemy, w

ndangertheforwardmovement.


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herewerealsoplentifulsuppliesofprovisionswithintheDelta,whilstthewaythroughthe

alledArabiawassparselyinhabited.


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hedidnotfindtheEgyptiansthere,Perdiccaswouldinstallhimselfwithinoneofthefortre

n that side, and thence conduct operations against them, and, at the same time, rema

onnectionwithhisfleet,onwhichhecouldfallbackincaseofneed.Toenablethecrossingt

ccomplishedaseasilyaspossible,Perdiccasorderedthecleaningoutofanoldandfilledinca

hatledupfromtheNile.Theworkwasevidentlybegunwithoutmuchthought,forthefact

otbeenconsideredthat,attherisingoftheNile,thecanalwouldwantamuchdeeperbed

hepresent

stream

required.

The

canal

had

only

just

been

opened

up,

when

the

water

rose

nusualforceandrapidity;thedamwascompletelydestroyed,andmanyworkerslosttheirl

uringthedisturbance,manyofficersandmenleftthecampandhurriedtoPtolemy.Thiswas

eginningof theEgyptianwar.Thedesertionof somany importantmenmadePerdiccas t

eriously.Hesummonedtheofficersofthearmy,spoketothemwithmuchcondescension,

resents to some, honoured others with promotion, and begged them, for the sake of t

onour and for the causeof their kings, to fight theirhardest against this rebel,andwith

rdertoholdtheirmeninreadiness,heleftthem.Thearmywasonlytoldintheevening,at

gnalforstarting,wheretheyweretomarch.Perdiccasfeared,onaccountofthedesertion

wastaking

place

in

his

army,

that

his

march

might

be

discovered

by

the

enemy.

They

marc

withgreatspeedthroughthenight,andcampedatlastonthesideoftheriver.Atdaybreak,a

hetroopshadrested,Perdiccasgavetheordertocross.Firstcametheelephants,thenthe

nfantry, next the storming party with ladders, and lastly, the pick of the cavalry, who, if

nemyshouldburstoutduringthestorming,couldeasilydrivethemback.Perdiccashoped,

ouldonlygetafirmfootingonthatsideoftheriver,toannihilatetheEgyptianarmyeasily

issuperiorforce.HewasrightinfeelingthathisMacedoniantroops,whenfacetofacewith

nemy,wouldforgettheirantipathytohim,andthinkonlyoftheirmilitaryhonour.Whena

alf

the

army

had

crossed,

and

just

as

the

elephants

were

moving

towards

the

fortress,nemywereseenhurryingthitherwithgreatspeed;theirtrumpetcallsandwarcriesevenw

eard.TheyreachedthefortbeforetheMacedonians,andwithdrewintotheshelterofitsw

otdiscouragedbythis,theinfantrystormedthefort.Ladderswereplacedagainstthewalls

lephantsdrivenforward,andpalisadestakenfromtheirbackstoattacktheramparts.

tolemy, inthedressofaMacedoniansoldier,stoodonthewallsurroundedbya fewsele

men.Hewas first in the fight.Fromwherehe stoodhepiercedwithhis lance theeyesof

eadingelephant,andstabbedtheIndianonitsback,andhewoundedmanyandkillednum

fthe

storming

party.

His

officers

and

men

fought

with

the

greatest

spirit;

the

driver

of

econdelephantwaskilledandtheinfantryweredrivenback.

erdiccaslednewtroopstotheattack,wishingtotakethefortressatallcosts.Bywordandd

tolemyurgedonhismen,whofoughtwithmarvellousendurance.Thedreadfulbattlewaged

wholeday;manywerekilledandwounded;eveningcameonandnothingwasdecided.Perd

rderedaretreatandreturnedtohiscamp.


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nthemiddleofthenightheagainstartedwithhisarmy,hopingthatPtolemywouldstayin

ortwithhistroops,andthat,afteratryingmarchofsomemilesupstream,he(Perdiccas)w

eable tocross the rivermoreeasily.Atdaybreakhe foundhimselfoppositeoneof them

slandsoftheNile;itwaslargeenoughforthecampofagreatarmy.Inspiteofthedifficultie

rossing,hedecidedtoencamphisarmythere.Thewaterreacheduptothesoldiers'knees,

waswiththegreatestdifficultythattheykepttheirfootingagainsttheforceofthecurren

rderto

break

this

current,

Perdiccas

ordered

the

elephants

into

the

river

to

stand

up

strea

he leftof the fordingparty;heorderedthehorsementostandat theotherendtohelp t

cross thatweredrivendownby the current.Somehad,with greatdifficulty,managed to

cross;otherswerestillinthestreamwhenitwasnoticedthatthewaterwasbecomingdee

heheavilyarmedmensank,andtheelephantsandhorsesstooddeeperanddeeperinthew

fearful panic seized the army. They called out that the enemy had closed in the canals

tream,andthatthegodshaddestinedbadweatherintheupperprovinces,onaccountofw

heriverwasswollen.Thosewhounderstoodsawthatthebedoftheriverhadbecomedeepe

ythecrossingofsogreatacavalcade.Itwasimpossiblefortheremaindertocrossorfort

nthe

island

to

return.

They

were

completely

cut

off

and

were

at

the

mercy

of

the

enemy,

werealreadyseenapproaching.Therewasnothing leftbuttoorderthemtogetbackaswe

heycould; lucky indeedwerethosewhocouldswim,andhadsufficientstrengthtobringt

crossthebroadexpanseofwater.

Manysavedthemselvesinthisway.Theycamewithoutweapons,wornoutanddesperate,to

hore; others were drowned or eaten by crocodiles. Some were carried downstream,

eached the shore where the enemy stood. Two thousand men were missing, many off

mongthem.ThecampoftheEgyptianswassituatedontheotherside,andtheycouldbe

elpingthemeninthewaterandburninglogsofwoodtoshowhonourtothedead.Onthis

ftherivertherewassadsilence;eachmansoughthiscomrade,orofficer,andsought inv


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oodwasscarce,andtherewasnomeansofovercomingthisdreadfulstateofaffairs;nightc

n,andcursesandcomplaintswereheardonallsides.Thelivesofsomanybravemenhadb

acrificedfornothing;itwasbadenoughtolosethe"honouroftheirarms,"butnow,through

tupidityoftheirleader,theirliveshadbeenlost,andtobeswallowedbycrocodileswasnow

istinguisheddeathofMacedonianwarriors.Manyoftheofficerswenttothetentofthereg

nd toldhimopenly thathewas thecauseof thiscalamity.Outside the tent theMacedon

elled,beside

themselves

with

rage.

About

ahundred

of

the

officers,

headed

by

the

sa

ython,refusedtosharefurtherresponsibility,resignedtheircommissions,andleftthetent.

xcitementgrew intense.Thetroops,inungovernablerage,enteredtheregent'stentandth

hemselvesuponhim.Antigonusstruckthefirstblow,othersfollowed,and,afteradesperate

hortstruggle,Perdiccasfelltothegroundcoveredwithwounds.

husdiedPerdiccas, in the third year ofhis regency.His great idea, the unityof the king

ntrustedtohiscare,shouldhavemadehimworthyofmoresuccesshadhegivenhimselfu

his ideawithmoreconscientiousness.Unfortunately,withgrowingpower,hebecamedesp

ndunjust.

He

was

not

great

enough

to

become

the

successor

of

Alexander,

to

be

another

"

f theworld."This last step, theonewhichwas to leadhim tohis longcovetedgoal, led

nsteadtohisdeath.

tolemysoonheardthenews,andthenextmorninghecrossedtheriverandcametotheca

easkedtobetakentothekings,presentedthemandsomeofthenobleswithgifts;was

ndconsiderate toall,andwasgreetedwithgreatjoy.Thenhecalled the troops together

poketothem.HetoldtheMacedoniansthatitwasonlysternnecessitythatcausedhimto

p

arms

against

his

old

comrades.

No

man

regretted

more

than

he

the

untimely

death

of

so

meroes.Perdiccaswasthecauseofthiscalamity;hehadbutreceivedhisjustpunishment.No

nmitywas tobeended.Hehad savedasmanyashecould fromdeath in thewater,and

orpseswhichtheriverhadbroughttotheshorehehadburiedwithallhonour;andfinallyhe

hemthathehadgivenordersfortheimmediatealleviationofthewantwhichheknewwasb

elt inthecamp.Hisspeechwasreceivedwith loudcheers.Hestoodthereunhurtandadm

efore the Macedonians, who but a few hours earlier had been his bitterest foes. Now

ooked upon him as their saviour; they all acknowledged him as the conqueror, and for

momenthe stood inunequivocalpossessionof thatpower forwhichPerdiccashadworke

ard,and

which

he

had

so

much

abused.

Who

was

now

to

be

Perdiccas'

successor,

and

to

ma

hekingdominthenameofthekings?WithonevoicethepeoplebeggedPtolemytounder

his task. The foresight and presence of mind of the son of Lagus were not clouded by

llurementofsuchanoffergainedbyhissuddenchangeoffortune.Atthissuprememomen

ctedwithconsummatesagacity.Hedivinedthatarefusaloftheprofferedhonourwouldm

im in reality more powerful, although, at the moment, he would seem to be acting in

nselfishmanner.Herecommendedtothearmy,asafavourwhichhehadtobestow,thos

houghtworthyofhisthanks;theywerePython,theMedianstrategist,whohadtakenthe


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ecisive stepagainstPerdiccas;andArridus,who, inspiteofPerdiccas'orders,had taken

odyofthekingtoEgypt.Thesetwowerenominatedregentswithloudcheers.

heMacedonianarmy,accordingly,chosePythonandArridusasguardians,andasrulers

nlimited power over the whole of Alexander's conquests; but, though none of the G

eneralswhonowheldAsiaMinor,Syria,Babylonia,Thrace,orEgyptdaredtoacknowledge

hesoldiers,

yet

in

reality

the

power

of

the

guardians

was

limited

to

the

little

kingdom

Macedonia.WiththedeathofPerdiccas,andthewithdrawalofhisarmy,PhoeniciaandCo

yria were left unguarded, and almost without a master. In order that Egypt might take

mportantpart intheuniversalpolicy,PtolemyfelthemustpossessSyria,whichwouldope

hewayforhimtothecountriesalongtheEuphratesandtheTigris,andalsotheislandofCyp

wherehewouldbenear thecoastofAsiaMinor.Hecouldnotyet thinkofconqueringCyp

whichhadan importantfleet.Hefeltthat, ifheannexedSyria,eitherbydiplomacyorbyfo

he organisation of the kingdom and the territorial division of power would be changed

angible manner. The Egyptian satraps already possessed some measure of authority, and

ouldalso

depend

upon

the

satrap

of

Syria

joining

him.

erdiccashadbestowedthissatrapyuponLaomedon,theAmphysolite,whohadtakennopa

he great fightbetweenPerdiccasandPtolemy.Ptolemynow informedhim thathewishe

ossesshissatrapy,butwasreadytocompensatehimwithasumofmoney.Laomedonref

his offer with scorn. Thereupon, an army under Nicanor, one of the "friends" of Ptole

marchedintoPalestine.JerusalemwastheonlyplacethatheldoutagainsttheEgyptianarmy

icanor,saysthehistorianAgathareides,seeingthatoneveryseventhdaythegarrisonwithd

rom

the

walls,

chose

that

day

for

the

assault,

and

thus

gained

the

city.

Without

furpposition theEgyptians marchedonwards. At lasthe met Laomedon, took himprisoner,

rought him back to Egypt. Egyptian sentries now guarded the strongholds of the cou

gyptianshipstookthetownsalongthecoast.AgreatnumberoftheJewsweretransporte

lexandria;theyreceivedtherightsofcitizenshipthere.


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Withoutaltering localconditions,Syriagraduallycameunder the swayof theEgyptian satr

aomedon found means of escaping from Egypt; he fled to Alcetas in Caria, who had


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38

withdrawnhimselftothemountainousregionsofPisida,thencetobeginthedecisivewaraga

ntigonus.

ntheearliertimesofEgyptianhistory,whennavigationwaslesseasy,andwhenseassepar

ingdomsinsteadofjoiningthem,theThebaidenjoyed,undertheKoptickings,thetradingwe

whichfollowedthestreamof itsgreatriver,the longestpieceof inlandnavigationthenkno

ut,withtheimprovementinnavigationandshipbuilding,countriesbegantofeeltheirstre

nthetimberoftheirforestsandthenumberoftheirharbours;and,astimberandseacoastw


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quallyunknown intheThebaid,thatcountryfellasLowerEgyptrose;thewealthwhichbe

entredinThebeswasthenfoundintheportsoftheDelta,wherethebargesoftheNilemet

hipsof theMediterranean.Whatused tobeEgyptwasan inlandkingdom,surroundedby

esert;butEgyptunderPtolemywascountryontheseacoast;and,ontheconquestofPhoe

ndCoeleSyria,hewasmasteroftheforestsofLebanonandAntilibanus,andstretchedhisc

romCyrenetoAntioch,adistanceoftwelvehundredmiles.Thewiseandmildplanswhichw

aiddown

by

Alexander

for

the

government

of

Egypt

when

aprovince

were

easily

followe

tolemy when it became his own kingdom. The Greek soldiers lived in their garrisons o

lexandriaundertheMacedonianlaws,whiletheEgyptianlawswereadministeredbytheir

riests,whowereupheld inalltherightsoftheirorderand intheirfreedomfrom landtax.

emplesofPhtah,ofAmonRa,andtheothergodsofthecountrywerenotonlykeptopen,

wererepairedandevenbuiltatthecostoftheking;thereligionofthepeople,andnottha

heir rulers,wasmade theestablished religionof the state.On thedeathof thegodApis,

acred bull of Memphis, the chief of the animals which were kept and fed at the cost of

everalcities,andwhohaddiedofoldagesoonafterPtolemycametoEgypt,hespentthesu

ftytalents,

or

$42,500,

on

its

funeral;

and

the

priests,

who

had

not

forgotten

that

Camby

heir formerconqueror,hadwounded theApisofhisdaywithhisownsword,musthaveb

ighly pleased with this mark of his care for them. The burialplace for the bulls is an arc

allerytunnelled intothehillbehindMemphis formorethan twothousand feet,witharo

ellsoneachsideofit.Ineverycellisahugegranitesarcophagus,withinwhichwereplaced

emainsofabullthathadoncebeentheApisof itsday,which,afterhavingforperhapstw

earsreceivedthehonoursofagod,wasthereburiedwithmorethankinglystate.Thecell

henwalledup,andornamentedontheoutsidewithvarioustablets inhonourofthedece

nimal,

which

were

placed

in

these

dark

passages

by

the

piety

of

his

worshippers.

The

prieshebeswerenowatlibertytocutoutfromtheirmonumentsthenamesofusurpinggods,an

estorethosethathadbeenbeforecutout.Theyalsorebuilttheinnerroom,ortheholyofho

nthegreattempleofKarnak.

hadbeenoverthrownbythePersiansinwantonness,orinhatredoftheEgyptianreligion;

he priests now put upon it the name of Philip Arridus, for whom Ptolemy was nomi

overningEgypt.


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40

heEgyptians,whoduring the last twocenturieshadsometimesseen their templesplund

nd their tradecrushedby thegrasping tyrannyof thePersiansatraps,andhadatother t

een

almost

as

much

hurt

by

their

own

vain

struggles

for

freedom,

now

found

themselves

inuietenjoymentofgoodlaws,withaprosperitywhichpromisedsoontoequalthatofthere

fNechoorAmasis.Itistruethattheyhadnotregainedtheirindependenceandpoliticallib

hat, as compared with the Greeks, they felt themselves an inferior race, and that they

njoyedtheircivilrightsduringthepleasureofaGreekautocrat;butthenitistoberememb

hatthenativerulerswithwhomPtolemywascomparedwerethekingsofLowerEgypt,who

imself,weresurroundedbyGreekmercenaries,andwhoneverrestedtheirpowerontheb

aseofnationalprideand loveofcountry;andthatnobodycouldhavehopedtoseeaThe

ing arise to bring back the days of Thtmosis and Ramses. Thebes was every day sinkin


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41

wealthandstrength;anditsraceofhereditarysoldiers,proudintherecollectionofformerg

whohad,aftercenturiesofstruggles,beenforcedtoreceivelawsfromMemphis,perhapsyie

bedience to aGreek conquerorwith lesspain than theydid formerly to theirown vassa

owerEgypt.

tolemy'sgovernmentwas informnearlythesame inAlexandriaas intherestofEgypt,b

ealityit

was

wholly

different.

His

sway

over

the

Egyptians

was

supported

by

Greek

force,

but

heGreeksitrestedonthebroadbaseofpublicopinion.EveryGreekhadtheprivilegeofbea

rms,andofmeeting inthegymnasium inpublicassembly,toexplainagrievance,andpet

or itsredress.Thecitizensandthesoldierswerethesamebodyofmen;theyatthesame

eldtheforce,andhadthespirittouseit.Buttheyhadnosenate,nobodyofnobles,nopol

onstitutionwhichmightsavetheirfreedominaftergenerationsfromtheambitiousgraspof

overeign, or from their own degeneracy. While claiming to be equal among themselves

were making themselves slaves; and though at present the government so entirely bore

tampoftheirownwillthattheymightfancytheyenjoyedademocracy,yethistoryteache

hatthe

simple

paternal

form

of

government

never

fails

to

become

sooner

or

later

ac

yranny.ThebuildingofAlexandriamustbeheldthemasterstrokeofpolicybywhichEgypt

ept inobedience.Here,andafterwards ina fewothercities,suchasPtolemais intheThe

nd Parembole inNubia, theGreeks lived without insulting or troubling theEgyptians, an

heirnumbersheldthecountry likesomanytroops ingarrison. Itwasawisepolicytomak

reaterchangethannecessary inthekingdom,andto leavetheEgyptiansundertheirown

ndmagistrates,andintheenjoymentoftheirownreligion;andyetitwasnecessarytohave

ountry garrisoned with Greeks, whose presence in the old cities could not but be extrem

alling

to

the

Egyptians.

This

was

done

by

means

of

these

new

Greek

cities,

where

the

powewhichEgyptwasgovernedwasstrongerbybeingunited,and lesshatefulbybeingoutofs

eldomorneverwassogreatamonarchyfoundedwithsolittleforceandsolittlecrime.


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tolemy,however,didnotattemptthedifficulttaskofunitingthetworaces,andoftreating

onqueredand theconquerorsasentitled to the sameprivileges.From the timeofNecho


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43

sammetichus,manyoftheGreekswhosettled inEgyptintermarriedwiththenatives,and

much laid aside their own habits; and sometimes their offspring, after a generation or

ecamewhollyEgyptian.BytheGreeklawsthechildrenofthesemixedmarriagesweredecl

o be barbarians; not Greeks but Egyptians, and were brought up accordingly. They left

worship of Jupiter and Juno for that of Isis and Osiris, and perhaps the more readily for

reater earnestness with which the Egyptian gods were worshipped. We now trace t

escendantsby

the

form

of

their

skulls,

even

into

the

priestly

families;

and

of

one

hun

mummiescoveredwithhieroglyphics,takenup fromthecatacombsnearThebes,abouttw

how a European origin, while of those from the tombs near Memphis, seventy out of e

undredhavelosttheirKopticpeculiarities.Itiseasytoforeseethatanimportantchangew

avebeenwrought inthecharacterofthepeopleand intheirpolitical institutions, iftheG

aws had been humane and wise enough to grant to the children of mixed marriages

rivileges,theeducation,andtherebythemoral feelingsofthemore favouredparent;and

ottoomuchtosuppose,iftheGreeklawofmarriagehadbeenalteredbyPtolemy,thatw

hreecenturiesabovehalfthenationwouldhavespokentheGreeklanguage,andboastedo

reekorigin.

hestimulusgivenbyPtolemySotertothecultureoftheagehasbeenalreadymentioned.

ounding of the famous museum and library of Alexandria may be, perhaps, regarded as

oundingoffofhispoliticalplansfortheconsolidationofhiskingdom.Alexandriabecame,in

otonlyacentreofcommerceandgovernment,butalsothe intellectualcapitaloftheGre

ut forthissupreme importanceof thecity, it isdoubtfulwhetherthedescendantsofPtol

aguscouldhavecontinuedtoruletheValleyoftheNile.

n return for the literature which Greece then gave to Egypt, she gained the knowledg

apyrus,atallrushwhichgrowswildnearthesourcesoftheNile,andwasthencultivatedin

gyptianmarshes.Beforethattimebookshadbeenwrittenonlinen,wax,bark,ortheleave

rees;andpublic recordsonstone,brass,or lead:but theknowledgeofpapyruswas feltb

menoflettersliketheinventionofprintinginmodernEurope.Bookswerethenknownbym

or the first time, and very little else was afterwards used in Greece or Rome; for, w

archmentwasmadeabouttwocenturies later, itwastoocostlytobeusedas longaspap

waswithinreach.Copiesweremultipliedonfrailstripsofthisplant,anditwasfoundthatm

houghts,when

worth

preserving,

were

less

liable

to

be

destroyed

by

time

than

temples

alacesofthehardeststone.

NLARGETOFULLSIZE


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While Egypt, under Ptolemy, was thus enjoying the advantages of its insulated position,

ultivatingtheartsofpeace,theotherprovinceswerebeingharassedbytheunceasingwa

lexander'sgenerals,whowereaiming, likePtolemy,atraisingtheirownpower.Manycha

adtakenplaceamongthemintheshortspaceofeightyearswhichhadpassedsincethed

fAlexander.PhilipArridus,inwhosenametheprovinceshadbeengoverned,hadbeenpu

eath;AntigonuswasmasterofAsiaMinor,withakingdommorepowerfulthoughnotsoe

uardedasEgypt;CassanderheldMacedonia,andhad the careof the youngAlexander

whowas

then

called

the

heir

to

the

whole

of

his

father's

wide

conquests,

and

whose

life,

like

f Arridus, was soon to end with his minority; Lysimachus was trying to form a kingdo

hrace;andSeleucushadforabriefperiodheldBabylonia.

tolemyborenopartinthewarswhichbroughtaboutthesechanges,beyondbeingonceort

alledupontosendtroopstoguardhisprovinceofColeSyria.


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utAntigonus,inhisambitiouseffortstostretchhispoweroveralltheprovinces,hadbyforc

y treachery driven Seleucus out of Babylon, and forced him to seek Egypt for safety, w

tolemy received him with the kindness and good policy which had before gained so m

riends. No arguments of Seleucus were wanting to persuade Ptolemy that Antigonus

reamingofuniversalconquest,andthathisnextattackwouldbeuponEgypt.Hetherefore

mbassadorstomaketreatiesofalliancewithCassanderandLysimachus,whoreadilyjoined

gainstthe

common

enemy.

he large fleet and army which Antigonus got together for the invasion of Egypt proved

pinionofthestrengthandskillofPtolemy.AllSyria,exceptoneortwocities,laiddownitsa

eforehimonhisapproach.Buthefoundthatthewholeofthefleethadbeenalreadyremo

otheportsofEgypt,andheorderedPhoeniciatofurnishhimwitheightthousandshipbuil

ndcarpenters,tobuildgalleysfromtheforestsofLebanonandAntilibanus,andorderedSyr

endfourhundredandfiftythousandmedimni,ornearlythreemillionsofbushelsofwheat

heuseofhisarmywithintheyear.Bythesemeansheraisedhisfleettotwohundredandfo

hreelong

galleys

or

ships

of

war.

tolemywasforashorttimecalledofffromthewarinSyriabyarisinginCyrene.TheCyren

whoclungtotheirDoric loveoffreedom,andwere latterlysmartingat its loss,hadtakena

nd were besieging the Egyptian, or, as they would have called themselves, the Macedo

arrison, whohad shut themselvesup in the citadel.He at first sentmessengers toorder

yrenianstoreturntotheirduty;buthisorderswerenotlistenedto;therebelsnodoubttho

hemselvessafe,ashisarmiesseemedmorewantedontheeasternfrontier;hismessengersw

ut

to

death,

and

the

siege

of

the

citadel

pushed

forward

with

all

possible

speed.

On

this

he

searge land force, followed by a fleet, in order to crush the revolt at a single blow; and

ngleaderswerebroughttoAlexandriainchains.Magas,asonofQueenBerenicandstepso

tolemy,wasthenmadegovernorofCyrene.

Whenthistroubleathomewasputanendto,PtolemycrossedovertoCyprustopunishthek

fthelittlestatesonthatislandforhavingjoinedAntigonus.Fornowthatthefateofempires

obesettledbynavalbattlesthefriendshipofCyprusbecameveryimportanttotheneighbou

tates.Thelargeandsafeharboursgavetothisislandagreatvalueinthenavalwarfarebetw

gypt,Phoenicia,

and

Asia

Minor.

Alexander

had

given

it

as

his

opinion

that

the

command

of

eawentwiththe islandofCyprus.WhenheheldAsiaMinorhecalledCyprusthekeytoEg

nd with still greater reason might Ptolemy, looking from Egypt, think that island the ke

hoenicia.Accordinglyhe landedtherewithso largeaforcethathemetwithnoresistance

ddedCyprustotherestofhisdominions:hebanishedthekings,andmadeNicocreongove

fthewholeisland.


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romCyprus,Ptolemy landedwithhisarmy inUpperSyria,asthenorthernpartofthatcou

wascalled,whilethepartnearertoPalestinewascalledCoeleSyria.Herehetookthetown

osideionandPotamiCaron,andthenmarchinghastilyintoAsiaMinorhetookMalms,aci

ilici

History of Egypt Volume 10 Rappoport

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