A History of the Ptolemaic Empire

by Günther Hölbl

This compelling narrative provides the only comprehensive guide in English to the rise and decline of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt over three centuries - from the death of Alexander in 323 BC to the tragic deaths of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC.
The skilful integration of material from a vast array of sources allows the reader to trace the political and religious development of one of the most powerful empires of the ancient eastern Mediterranean. It shows how the success of the Ptolemies was due in part to their adoption of many features of the Egyptian Pharaohs who preceded them - their deification and funding of cults and temples throughout Egypt.

Genres: History, Egypt, Nonfiction, Greece, Egyptology

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Glenda]

A Uni text. I really love Egyptian history but the Ptolemaic Empire was not the most interesting part of Ancient Egypt. Not going to finish this text now that the course is over.

[Radu A.]

Horribly written and not particularly well translated, this is, nevertheless, the best introduction to political and religious history of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. The emphasis on religious matters is particularly interesting, but not very enlightening - what was the actual impact of the Lagid religious policies? Did they bring integration or, as it seems, only a new level of discrimination, by bringing the Memphite elite into the first circle of power and excluding the rest of the elites - thus encouraging new revolts led by power players who could not get access to the king, but were conscious that it was not forbidden to them because they weren't Greeks?

On the other hand, Holbl is quite weak on political matters - and not really worth mentioning when it comes to social and economic matters. Still, it provides the basic facts and manages to disentangle the dynastic conflicts of the last Ptolemies and Seleukids. It also raises some interesting questions on Euergetes II: was he actually a competent ruler, slurred by Greeko-Roman and Jewish historians because he went native?

[Eva Strange]

Still the best concise history of the Ptolemaic empire on the market, especially refreshing in its relatively low number of those underlying and unreflected colonial attitudes that you still get so often in works by authors who come to Ptolemaic history not from the egyptology side, but from ancient history and classics. Minor flaws and unnecessary comments on power-hungry queens aside, it has by and large stood the test of time. And it is a successful balancing act between being of academic value and being accessible to a wider audience. (Just maybe don’t give it to your young kids in their egyptology phase for their birthday.)

[Tom Heughan]

I was never fond of this book. So much of the writing is so dry and Holbl starts with what seems like a simple narrative display (of the kings and the events) and then confuses matters with what comes across as poor ordering. The inclusion of the religious aspects of Ptolemaic rule is not unwelcome, it is simply how the book is structured (especially early on) that is misleading and confusing.

[Ryan]

The best book I have read on the history of Ptolemaic Egypt. The author gives a very detailed account on the cultural and religious practices of the time period.