Ptolemaic cult of Alexander

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The Ptolemaic cult of Alexander was a religious institution in the Hellenistic era of Egypt , which existed from the early 3rd to the 1st century BC. In him the veneration of the raised to god Alexander the Great manifested itself as a state institution, which was an important part of the rulers cult practiced by the Ptolemies .

background

After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC One of his generals, Ptolemy , secured for himself wealthy Egypt from the legacy of the " Alexander Empire" in the protracted battles for succession, the Diadoch Wars , and built this land into the basis of his own kingdom. In order to legitimize his assumption of power in the Nile Land, he appealed, like every other Diadoche, not only to his fortune in the war but also to the legal successor ( diadochē ) of Alexander, whose closest friend he stylized himself in his history. Alexander was once welcomed by the Egyptians as a liberator from the Persian domination and had also achieved a divine status through his enthronement as Pharaoh as "son of Ammun-Re" according to the ancient Egyptian rite . Claiming his successor could only serve to bring about power in Egypt.

In the new Ptolemaic state, however, the ruling class was now made up of the Hellenes, the Macedonian and Greek followers of Alexander and their descendants, not least of whom the Ptolemaic royal house belonged. Encouraged by his previously unseen successes, in the last year of his life, Alexander demanded apotheosis from all of his Greek subjects , recognition as a living god. In the Greek world, this request was received in a contradicting manner and with a tendency to reject it, but the numerous foundations of cities by Alexander alone had ensured his lasting veneration as God, since the citizens of a Hellenic city had always paid divine honors to its founder ( ktistes ). This is also the case in Alexandria , which was founded “near” Egypt , which Ptolemy chose to be the capital of his kingdom. Like no other ruler of the Diadochi, Ptolemy captured Alexander's ideal inheritance and linked it propagandistically with the dynasty he had founded. To this end, Alexander was to be elevated above the status of a mere city god to an imperial god who had to be worshiped by all Hellenes of the Ptolemaic empire, which also extended beyond the borders of Egypt.

Alexander as the main god of the Ptolemies

Probably around the year 290 BC Ptolemy began building the temple tomb for Alexander, the so-called "body" ( sēma ), in Alexandria , and provided him with a priest ( ἱερεύς / hiereus ) for the spiritual guidance and keeping of religious acts. The Alexandrian priesthood quickly advanced to the highest religious dignity of the Ptolemaic Empire. Its importance was underlined by its eponymous character, that is, the year of a king's reign was named after the name of the priest, documents in Greek and Demotic script were dated after him. Menelaus , the king's brother , was immediately appointed the first incumbent . Under Ptolemy I, the priests could evidently hold office for several years, while from Ptolemy II the term of office was limited to one year, with a few exceptional cases.

The successful establishment of the Alexander cult in Alexandria was undoubtedly facilitated by the taking possession of the corpse of Alexander, which dates back to 321 BC. By the cunning diversion of the funeral procession from Babylon to Egypt. Ptolemy I had the conqueror's corpse buried in Memphis , and under Ptolemy II it was then transferred to Alexandria. The presence of the founder's corpse in his Egyptian city increased its prestige as well as that of the Ptolemaic dynasty over that of the other Diadoch dynasties and further strengthened the belief in the new imperial cult. Incidentally, Alexander's mortal shell was not cremated according to the Greco-Macedonian custom, but rather kept in a golden sarcophagus, which was later replaced by a translucent container. It became one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the ancient Mediterranean world, which still encouraged the Roman emperors to make pilgrimages.

In the pantheon of Greek deities, the Ptolemies added Alexander to the Olympic and thus leading deities. This explains, among other things, the omission of the designation of God in the documents and documents, since the individual name of an Olympic god was sufficient to indicate his status, so that the "God" epithet ( theos ) in front of the name was superfluous . Like Zeus or Apollo , "Alexander" was now a divine name.

The Ptolemies as gods dividing temples

While the cult of Alexander was established under Ptolemy I, his son and successor Ptolemy II carried out its connection with the dynasty's own cult of rulers. The Ptolemaic cult was established in 283/282 BC. Established with the elevation of the deceased parents of Ptolemy II as "saving deities" ( theoi soteres ). The outstanding importance of the cult of Alexander for the dynasty was reinforced on this occasion by the fact that the cult statues of the Ptolemies were also set up in his temple and the Alexander priest now also took over those cult acts that were to be offered to the deified Ptolemies. In doing so, the Ptolemies underlined the primacy of Alexander as the main god and at the same time their subordination to him, since they allowed themselves to be placed alongside the main god as "gods who share the temple [of Alexander]" ( theoi synnaoi ). Alexander remained the main recipient of all offerings, while the Ptolemies only participated in them.

Alexander's exaltation above the Ptolemies and their connection to him was later deepened by the institutional expansion of his cult. So was 269 BC The priesthood of the "basket-bearer" (kanēphóros) of the "sibling goddess" / Arsinoë II. , 211 BC That of the "price - or. Crown wearer " (athlophoros) of the" benefactor goddess "/ Berenike II. And 199 BC A priestess office for the "father-loving goddess" / Arsinoë III. set up. All of these offices were subordinate to the Alexander priest. Cleopatra III. joined them three other priesthoods for their own personal cult as "benevolent and mother-loving goddess": those of the "sacred foal" (hieros pōlos) , the "wreath bearer" ( stephanēphoros ) and the "light bearer" (phōsphoros) .

The status of “temple-dividing deities” was further consolidated after the Ptolemies' remains were placed in the sema under Ptolemy IV. In contrast to the corpse of Alexander, they were cremated and kept in urns according to Greek custom.

List of Alexander priests

Ptolemy I Soter I (305–282 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
006 Menelaus, son of Lagos 285/284 BC Chr. 39. P. Hib. I 84a. Brother of Ptolemy I.
4th term
007 Menelaus, son of Lagos 284/283 BC Chr. 40. P. Eleph. 2. 5. Term of office
008 Eureas, son of Proitus 283/282 BC Chr. 41. P. Eleph. 3. served three terms

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285 / 282–246 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
For the priests nos. 9-16 from the 4th to the 11th year of Ptolemy II Philadelphus' rulership there are two papyrus finds including the names of the priests, but these cannot be dated.
? Athenaios or Limnaios, son of Apollonios ? ? P. Hib. I 97.
? Philiskos, son of Spoudaios ? ? P. Hib. I 30.
017 Leontiskos, son of Kallimedes 274/273 BC Chr. 12. P. Cair. Zen. I 59001.
P. Hib. I 110.
018 Nearchus or Neomedes, son of Neocles or Philocles 273/272 BC Chr. 13. P. Hib. I 110; II 199.
019 Kallikrates, son of Boiskos 272/271 BC Chr. 14th P. Hib. II 199.
PP VI 14607. 		From Samos . First priest of Alexander and the deified Ptolemies.
020 Patroclus, son of the patron 271/270 BC Chr. 15th P. Hib. II 199.
PP VI 15063.
There are no papyrus finds or inscriptions for priests nos. 21-25 from the 16th to the 20th year of Ptolemy II Philadelphus' rulership.
026 Timarchides, son of Asclepiodorus 265/264 BC Chr. 21st P. Strasb. V 641.
027 Pelops, son of Alexandros 264/263 BC Chr. 22nd P. Hib. I 92.
PP VI 14618. 		from Macedonia, father of Pelops
028 Kineas son of Alcetas 263/262 BC Chr. 23. P. Hib. I 88; II 209.
PP VI 17215. 		from Thessaly
029 Aristonikos, son of Perilaos 262/261 BC Chr. 24. P. Hib. I 85 and 190.
PP VI 14897.
030 Ptolemy son of Aratocles 261/260 BC Chr. 25th P. Hib. I 143.
P. Osl. II 16.
PP III / IX 5236.
031 Taurinos, son of Alexandros 260/259 BC Chr. 26th BGU VI 1226. from Macedonia, brother of Pelops
032 Medeius, son of Lampon ( or Laagon) 259/258 BC Chr. 27. BGU VI 1227.
P. Petrie III 56b.
033 Antiphilus, son of Lykinos 258/257 BC Chr. 28. BGU VI 1228.
P. Hib. I 94.
034 Antiochus son of Kebbas 257/256 BC Chr. 29 BGU VI 1229; X 1979, 1980.
P. Cair. Zen. I 59133.
P. Hib. I 95. 		from Thessaly
035 ? 256/255 BC Chr. 30th
036 Glaucon, son of Eteocles 255/254 BC Chr. 31. PP IX 5203.
P. Cair. Zen. II 59173, 59182. 		Brother of Chremonides from Athens
037 ? 254/253 BC Chr. 32.
038 Aetos, son of Apollonios 253/252 BC Chr. 33. P. Cair. Zen. II 59248.
PP IX 4988. 		from Aspendos
039 Neoptolemus, son of Kraisis 252/251 BC Chr. 34. P. Hib. I 98. from Pisidia
040 Ptolemy, son of Andromachus 251/250 BC Chr. 35. P. Cair. Zen. II 59289. perhaps with Ptolemy Andromachou identical
041 Epainetus, son of Epainetus 250/249 BC Chr. 36. P. Cornell 2.
042 ? 249/248 BC Chr. 37. P. Cornell 2.
043 Antiochus, son of Kratidas 248/247 BC Chr. 38. PP III / IX 4999.
P. Petrie III 54a.
044 Tlepolemus, son of Artapates 247/246 BC Chr. 39. P. Cair. Zen. III 59340. from Xanthos

Ptolemy III Euergetes I. (246–222 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
044 Tlepolemus, son of Artapates 246/246 BC Chr. 1.
045 Tlepolemus, son of Artapates 246/245 BC Chr. 2. P. Petrie III 43.
PSI IV 385. 		2. Term of office
046 Archelaus, son of Damas 245/244 BC Chr. 3. BGU X 1981.
P. Hib. I 145.
PP III / IX 5040.
047 Archelaus, son of Damas 244/243 BC Chr. 4th BGU X 1981.
P. Hib. I 145.
PP III / IX 5040. 		2. Term of office
048 Aristobulus, son of Diodotus 243/242 BC Chr. 5. P. Hib. I 171.
PSI IV 389.
049 Tantalus, son of Cleonikos 242/241 BC Chr. 6th P. Petrie II 44 = III 54b.
050 Archibios, son of Pheidon 241/240 BC Chr. 7th P. Hausw. 2; 8th; 9.
051 Onomastus, son of Pyrgon or Pyrrhon 240/239 BC Chr. 8th. P. Hib. I 89; II 261, 262.
052 Apollonides, son of Moschion 239/238 BC Chr. 9. OGIS I 56.
053 Apollonides, son of Moschion 238/237 BC Chr. 10. P. Petrie IV 1. 2. Term of office
054 Seleucus 237/236 BC Chr. 11. P. Petrie III 58d.
055 Eucles, son of Eubatas 236/235 BC Chr. 12. BGU X 1982.
P. Petrie IV 16.
056 Sosibios, son of Dioskourides 235/234 BC Chr. 13. P. Petrie III 55a; IV 22.
PP VI 14631.
057 Hellanikos, son of Hellanikos ( or Euphragoras?) 234/233 BC Chr. 14th P. Amsterdam Inv. 250.
058 ?, Son of Leon 233/232 BC Chr. 15th P. dem. Cair. II 30604.
059 Aristomachus, son of Timandros 232/231 BC Chr. 16. P. Hamb. Inv. 676.
060 Menneas, son of Menoitius 231/230 BC Chr. 17th P. dem. Berl. 3089
061 ? 230/229 BC Chr. 18th
062 Philon, son of Antipater 229/228 BC Chr. 19th P. dem. Cair. II 31208; 31210.
063 Ikatidas, son of Ikatidas 228/227 BC Chr. 20th SB V 7631.
064 Galestes, son of Philistion 227/226 BC Chr. 21st P. Petrie III 21a-b.
SB III 6277; 6301.
P. dem. Cair. 30624.
065 Alexicrates, son of Theogenes 226/225 BC Chr. 22nd P. Petrie I 19; III 19c.
066 Ptolemy son of Chrysermos 225/224 BC Chr. 23. PP III / IX 5238; VI 14624.
067 Archeteas, son of Iasios 224/223 BC Chr. 24. P. Hamb. Inv. I 24.
068 Dositheus, son of Drimylos 223/222 BC Chr. 25th CPJud. I 127d-e.
3. Book of the Maccabees 1, 3. 		a native jew
069 ? 222 BC Chr. 26th

Ptolemy IV Philopator (222–205 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
069 Nikanor, son of Bakchios 222/221 BC Chr. 1. BGU VI 1273; X 1983.
070 Pytheas, son of Apollodorus 221/220 BC Chr. 2. P. Hausw. 16.
SB X 10450; XII 10859.
071 Demetrios, son of Apelles 220/219 BC Chr. 3. BGU X 1984.
072 Demetrios, son of Apelles 219/218 BC Chr. 4th SB XII 11061.
073 Mnasiades, son of Polycrates 218/217 BC Chr. 5. BGU VI 1274. from Argos , father of Polycrates
074 Ptolemy son of Aeropus 217/216 BC Chr. 6th PP III / IX 5239; VI 15168 and 15237. from Argos
075 Agathocles, son of Agathocles 216/215 BC Chr. 7th BGU VI 1262; X 1958; 1986.
076 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 215/214 BC Chr. 8th. BGU VI 1264; 1275; 1276; 1277; 1278; X 1943; 1959; 1969.
077 Andronikos, son of Nikanor 214/213 BC Chr. 9. BGU X 1944; 1945; 1960; XIV 2397.
078 Pythangelus, son of Philokleitus 213/212 BC Chr. 10. BGU X 1946; 1947.
SB III 6289.
079 Eteoneus (?, Son of Eteoneus?) 212/211 BC Chr. 11. BGU X 1963; 1965.
SB III 6288.
080 Eteoneus (?, Son of Eteoneus?) 211/210 BC Chr. 12. P. dem. Berl. 3075.
081 Antiphilos, son of Agathanor 210/209 BC Chr. 13. P. BM Andrews 18.
082 Aiakides, son of Jerome 209/208 BC Chr. 14th P. Hausw. 14th
083 Demosthenes or Timosthenes, son of Kratinos 208/207 BC Chr. 15th P. BM Andrews 28.
084 ? 207/206 BC Chr. 16.
085 ? 206/205 BC Chr. 17th
086 Asklepiades, son of Asklepiades 205 BC Chr. 18th P. Cologne Egypt. 7th

Ptolemy V Epiphanes (205–180 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
086 ? 205/204 BC Chr. 1.
087 Aristomenes, son of Menneas 204/203 BC Chr. 2. P. dem. Cair. 30660, 30700. from Alyzeia
088 Satyros, son of Eumenes 203/202 BC Chr. 3. PP III / IX 5263.
089 Adaios, son of Gorgias 202/201 v. Chr. 4th P. Tebt. III 820.
090 Pausanias, son of Demetrios 201/200 BC Chr. 5. P. Tebt. III 1003.
091 Andromachus, son of Lysimachus 200/199 BC Chr. 6th
092 Twnn , son of Ptolemy 199/198 BC Chr. 7th P. dem. Louvre 2435.
093 Demetrios, son of the Sitalkes 198/197 BC Chr. 8th. P. dem. Louvre 3266.
094 Aetos, son of Aetos 197/196 BC Chr. 9. Stone from Rosette = OGIS I 90.
095 Zoilus, son of Andros 196/195 BC Chr. 10. London, BM EA 10624, 10629.
096 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 195/194 BC Chr. 11. PP IX 5240a.
097 ? 194/193 BC Chr. 12.
098 ?, Son of Eumelus 193/192 BC Chr. 13. P. Tebt. III 816.
099 Theon, son of Zenodotus 192/191 BC Chr. 14th BGU XIV 2388.
100 Antipater, son of Dionysius 191/190 BC Chr. 15th London, BM EA 10560.
101 ? 190/189 BC Chr. 16.
102 ? 189/188 BC Chr. 17th
103 Charileos, son of Nymphion 188/187 BC Chr. 18th P. Me. Inv. 928.
104 Aristonikos, son of Aristonikos 187/186 BC Chr. 19th from Alexandria
105 Timothy son of Timothy 186/185 BC Chr. 20th P. Me. Inv. 3156.
P. BM. Empire 10226.
106 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 185/184 BC Chr. 21st PP III / IX 5241, VI 14946.
107 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 184/183 BC Chr. 22nd PP III / IX 5241, VI 14946. 2. Term of office
108 Ptolemy son of Pyrrhides 183/182 BC Chr. 23. Stele 5576.
109 Hegesistratos, son of Hegesistratos 182/181 BC Chr. 24. P. BM Andrews 10.
110 ?, Son of Zenodorus 181/180 BC Chr. 25th

Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-170 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
110 ? 181/180 BC Chr. 1.
111 Poseidonios, son of Poseidonios 180/179 BC Chr. 2. P. Amh. II 42.
112 Philon, son of Castor 179/178 BC Chr. 3. P. dem. Cair. 30783, 30968. from Alexandria
113 ? 178/177 BC Chr. 4th
114 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 177/176 BC Chr. 5. London, BM EA 10518.
115 Ptolemy, son of Philocrates 176/175 BC Chr. 6th
116 Philostratus, son of Asclepiodotus 175/174 BC Chr. 7th P. Tebt. III 818, 979.
117 Herakleodorus, son of Apollophanes 174/173 BC Chr. 8th. P. Amh. II 43.
118 Apollodorus, son of Zenon 173/172 BC Chr. 9. P. BM Siut 10594.
P. Mich. Inv. 190.
119 Demetrios, son of Democles 172/171 BC Chr. 10. P. Tebt. III 819.
120 Alexandros, son of Epicrates 171/170 BC Chr. 11. London, BM EA 10675.

Ptolemy VI Philometor / Ptolemaios VIII. Euergetes II. / Cleopatra II. (170–145 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
121 Pyrrhus, son of Pyrrhus 170/169 BC Chr. 12. / 1. London, BM EA 10513.
122 ? 169/168 BC Chr. 13. / 2.
123 ? 168/167 BC Chr. 14. / 3.
124 ? 167/166 BC Chr. 15th / 4th
125 Melagkomas (son of Philodamos?) 166/165 BC Chr. 16. / 5. PP III / IX 5194. from Aitonia
126 Polycritus, son of Aristodemus 165/164 BC Chr. 17th / 6th
127 Herakleides or Herakleitos, son of Philoxenus 164/163 BC Chr. 18. / 7.
128 Isidotos, son of Theon or Thyion 163/162 BC Chr. 19. / 8.
129 ? 162/161 BC Chr. 20th / 9th
130 ? 161/160 BC Chr. 21. / 10.
131 ? 160/159 BC Chr. 22. / 11.
132 ? 159/158 BC Chr. 23/12
133 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 158/157 BC Chr. 24./13. P. dem. Cair. 30606.
London, BM EA 10561, 10618. 		Eldest son of Ptolemy VI. and Cleopatra II.
134 ? 157/156 BC Chr. 25. / 14.
135 Kaphisodorus, son of Kaphisodorus 156/155 BC Chr. 26. / 15. PP III / IX 5167.
136 ? 155/154 BC Chr. 27./16.
137 ? 154/153 BC Chr. 28/17
138 Demetrios, son of Stratonikos 153/152 BC Chr. 29./18.
139 ? 152/151 BC Chr. 30./19.
140 ? 151/150 BC Chr. 31. / 20.
141 Epitychos or Epidikos 150/149 BC Chr. 32nd / 21st London, BM EA 10620.
142 ? 149/148 BC Chr. 33/22
143 Callicles, son of Diocrates or Theocrates 148/147 BC Chr. 34th / 23rd P. dem. Cair. 31179.
144 ?, Son of Zoilos 147/146 BC Chr. 35/24 London, BM EA 10620 (b).
145 Tyiywns , son of Xanthippus 146/145 BC Chr. 36th / 25th P. dem. Cair. 30605.

Ptolemy VIII. Euergetes II. / Cleopatra II. (145–141 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
145 Tyiywns , son of Xanthippus 145 BC Chr. 25th P. dem. Cair. 30605.
146 ? 145/144 BC Chr. 26th
147 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 144/143 BC Chr. 27. P. Cologne VIII 350. The second son of Ptolemy VI. and Cleopatra II., who, according to an older but refuted view, 145 BC BC briefly ruled as "Ptolemy VII."
148 ? 143/142 BC Chr. 28.
149 ? 142/141 BC Chr. 29

Ptolemy VIII. Euergetes II. / Cleopatra II. / Cleopatra III. (141–116 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
150 ? 141/140 BC Chr. 30th
151 ? 140/139 BC Chr. 31.
152 ? 139/148 BC Chr. 32.
153 Dionysius, son of Demetrios 138/137 BC Chr. 33. P. dem. Cair. 30619.
154 ? 137/136 BC Chr. 34.
155 Antipater, son of Ammonius 136/135 BC Chr. 35. P. Tebt. III 810.
156 Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy 135/134 BC Chr. 36. P. Tebt. III 810. Son of Ptolemy VIII, either Memphites or Ptolemy IX.
There are no papyrus finds or inscriptions for priests nos. 157–171 from the 37th to 50th year of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II's ruling.
172 Apollonios, son of Eirenaios 120/119 BC Chr. 51. London, BM EA 10398.
173 Ptolemy, son of Castor 119/118 BC Chr. 52. PP III / IX 5251.
P. Hamb. Inv. 12.
174 ? 118/117 BC Chr. 53.
175 ? 117/116 BC Chr. 54.

Cleopatra III. / Ptolemy IX Soter II (116-107 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
? 116 BC Chr. 1.
Ptolemy IX Philometor Soter 116/115 BC Chr. 2. P. dem. Cair. 30602; 30603.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 115/114 BC Chr. 3. P. Geneva. I, 25.
P. Strasb. 81, 83, 84.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 114/113 BC Chr. 4th P. Geneva. II, 20.
P. Strasb. 85.
BGU 944. 		Ptolemy X rises in 114 BC In Cyprus to the king.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 113/112 BC Chr. 5. P. Lond. III 1204.
Artemidor, son of the Sation
Ptolemy IX. Theos Philometor Soter 		112/111 BC Chr. 6th P. Strasb. 86. Artemidor had held the priesthood in the first months of the ruler's year. Presumably he was a follower of Cleopatra III.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 111/110 BC Chr. 7th ?
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 110/109 BC Chr. 8th. BGU III 995.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 109/108 BC Chr. 9. P. Lond. III 881.
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 108/107 BC Chr. 10. ?
Ptolemy IX Theos Philometor Soter 107 BC Chr. 11. BGU III 996.

Cleopatra III. / Ptolemy X. Alexander I (107-101 / 88 BC)

priest Year of office Ruling year supporting documents Remarks
Ptolemy X. Theos Neos Alexandros 107/106 BC Chr. 11th / 8th P. Bruxelles Inv. E. 7155, 7156A.
Ptolemy X. Theos Neos Alexandros 106/105 BC Chr. 12. / 9. P. Tebt. I 166.
Cleopatra III. Thea Euergetis Philometor 105/104 BC Chr. 13. / 10. P. Cologne II 81.

Association of offices

Ptolemy, son of Castor, is the last Alexander priest known by name before this dignity was combined with the royal office. Since the priesthood first came in the second year of the rulers of Ptolemy IX. and Cleopatra III. (116/115 BC) can be proven in the royal statute, it remains unclear for the time being whether the union of offices took place in the last two years of Ptolemy VIII or only took place when his successor couple came to power. But it is possible that only Ptolemy IX. considered this step necessary to his priority in the kingdom over his co-ruling mother Cleopatra III. to demonstrate. In any case, the priesthood had thus changed its meaning by losing its eponymous character and adopting a propagandistic one. When the royal office in the Ptolemaic state was established in the early 2nd century BC. BC was seized by several competing members of the ruling dynasty at the same time, the priority of one over the other had to be articulated in public. The assumption of the indivisible priesthood must by Ptolemy IX. must have been regarded as the appropriate measure to break away from his co-ruling but hated mother, especially since she founded her own personal cult with her own priesthood during the same period. Only the ownership of the Alexander cult was able to exceed this and demonstrate who actually ruled in Alexandria and thus in the Ptolemaic Empire.

The new meaning of the office can also be traced in its further history. In the first months of the year 112/111 BC Chr. Briefly officiated with Artemidor a private person as Alexander priest. He was probably a follower of Cleopatra III, who was able to install him in this office after she had successfully expelled her son from Alexandria. Since the appointment of a high priest by a woman was not compatible with the religious imagination of the Hellenes, she must have been forced to fill the office with one of her followers, but in the end she should have publicly demonstrated her rule in Alexandria with this act. The name of Ptolemy IX. However, in the papyrus in question this year it was subsequently installed behind that of Artemidor in the priesthood, so he must have succeeded in returning to Alexandria with the assumption of power in the same year.

In 107 BC BC Cleopatra III. then drive their eldest son permanently from Alexandria and use their second-born, Ptolemy X. († 88 BC), as their co-ruler and Alexander priest. But when the inner-dynastic power struggle continued with him, it took hold in 105 BC. The decision to personally assume the priesthood in order to underline their priority in rule. From then on, Ptolemy X had to be content with the role of the subordinate co-king. This blatant violation of religious traditions was made by Cleopatra III. probably conceived as a permanent solution, but it is likely to have damaged their reputation vis-à-vis the Hellenes. The last years of her life she was involved in an ongoing war against Ptolemy IX. employed until it was 101 BC. BC probably after an assassination attempt by Ptolemy X. who could now take over the sole rule. The office of priest and king remained united under the successors of Ptolemy X until the end of the Ptolemies, although the title of priest was only rarely mentioned on papyri. By losing their eponymous character, they had lost their significance for dating.

Abbreviations

  • BGU = Egyptian documents from the State Museums in Berlin, Greek documents. (13 volumes since 1895; reprint of Vol. I – IX, Milan 1972).
  • CPJud = Victor A. Tcherikover, Alexander Fuks: Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum. Vol. I, Cambridge (Massachusetts) 1957.
  • London, BM EA = inventory numbers of papyri and inscriptions in the British Museum in London.
  • OGIS = Wilhelm Dittenberger : Orientis Graeci inscriptiones selectae. Volume I, Leipzig 1903.
  • P. Amh. = BP Grenfell and AS Hunt: The Amherst Papyri. 2 volumes. London 1900-1901.
  • P. Amsterdam inv. = Papyrus inventory of the University of Amsterdam.
  • P. BM Andews = CAR Andrews: Ptolemaic Legal Texts from the Theban Area. London 1990.
  • P. dem. Berl. = Demotic papyri from the National Museums in Berlin. , 3 volumes, Berlin 1978–1993.
  • P. Bruxelles Inv. = Papyri inventory of the Royal Museum of Art and History of Brussels.
  • P. Cair. Zen. = CC Edgar: Zenon Papyri. Vols. I – V, Cairo 1925–1931.
  • P. Cornell = WL Westermann, CJ Kraemer Jr .: Greek Papyri in the Library of Cornell University. New York 1926.
  • P. dem. Cair. = Wilhelm Spiegelberg: The Demotic Monuments. Vol. I: The demotic inscriptions. Leipzig 1904; Vol. II: The demotic papyri. Strasbourg 1908; Vol. III: Demotic inscriptions and papyri. Berlin 1932.
  • P. Eleph. = Otto Rubensohn: Egyptian documents from the royal museums in Berlin. In: Greek documents. Special issue: Elephantine Papyri. Berlin 1907.
  • P. Geneva. I = J. Nicole: Les Papyrus de Genève. Vol. I, Geneva 1896-1906.
  • P. Hamb. Inv. = P. Meyer: Greek papyrus documents from the Hamburg State and University Library. Leipzig / Berlin 1911–1924.
  • P. Hib. I = Bernard P. Grenfell, Arthur S. Hunt: The Hibeh Papyri. Part I, London 1906.
  • P. Hib. II = EG Turner: The Hibeh Papyri. Part II, London 1955.
  • P. Hausw. = Wilhelm Spiegelberg, Josef Partsch: The demotic Hauswaldt Papyri: Treaties of the first half of the Ptolemaic period (Ptolemy II – IV) from Apollinopolos (Edfu). Leipzig 1913.
  • P. Cologne Egypt. = D. Kurth, H.-J. Thissen and M. Weber (Ed.): Cologne Egyptian Papyri. Opladen 1980.
  • P. Cologne II = B. Kramer and D. Hagedorn: Kölner Papyri. Volume 2, Opladen 1978.
  • P. Köln VIII = M. Gronewald, K. Maresch and C. Römer: Kölner Papyri. Volume 8, Opladen 1997.
  • P. Lond. III = FG Kenyon, HI Bell: Greek Papyri in the British Museum. Vol. III, London 1907.
  • P. Me. Inv. = University of Michigan papyrus inventory.
  • P. Osl. = S. Eitrem, L. Amundsen: Papyri Osloenses. Vols. II – III, Oslo 1931–1936.
  • P. Petrie = JP Mahaffy, JG Smyly: The Flinders Petrie Papyri. Vols. I-III, Dublin, 1891-1905.
  • P. BM. Reich = Nathaniel Reich J .: Papyri with legal content in hieratic and demotic script from the British Museum. Vienna 1914.
  • P. BM Siut = Herbert Thompson: A Family Archive from Siut from Papyri in the British Museum. Oxford 1934.
  • P. Strasb. = Papyrus grecs de la Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire de Strasbourg. Strasbourg 1912-1914.
  • P. Tebt. I = BP Grenfell, AS Hunt, JG Smyly: The Tebtunis Papyri. Vol. I, London 1902.
  • P. Tebt. III = Bernard P. Grenfell, Arthur S. Hunt, J. Gilbart Smyly: The Tebtunis Papyri. Vol. III, London 1933.
  • PP VI = Willy Peremans, Edmond Van't Dack, Leon Mooren, W. Swinnen: Prosopographia Ptolemaica VI: La cour, les relations internationales et les possessions extérieures, la vie culturelle (Nos 14479-17250). In: Studia Hellenistica. Vol. 21, Leuven 1968.
  • PP III / IX = Willy Clarysse: Prosopographia Ptolemaica IX: Addenda et Corrigenda au volume III. In: Studia Hellensitica. Vol. 25, Leuven, 1981.
  • PSI = Papyri Greci e Latini. Vols. I-XIV, Firenze 1912-1957.
  • SB = Hans A. Rupprecht, Joachim Hengstl: Collective book of Greek documents from Egypt. Volume I-XXVI, 1903-2006.
  • Stele 5576 = Urbain Bouriant : La Stèle 5576 du Musée de Boulaq et l'Inscription de Rosette . In: Recueil de travaux , Vol. 6, Paris 1885, pp. 1-20.

literature

  • Walter Otto : Priest and Temple in Hellenistic Egypt. Vol. I, Teubner, Leipzig 1905, OCLC 310121616 .
  • Lily Ross Taylor: The cult of Alexander in Alexandria. In: Classic Philology. Vol. 22, 1927, pp. 162-169.
  • SRK Glanville, TC Skeat: Eponymous Priesthoods of Alexandria from 211 BC In: The Journal of Egyptian Archeology. Vol. 40, 1954, pp. 45-58.
  • J. IJsewijn: De sacerdotibus sacerdotiisque Alexandri Magni et Lagidarum eponymis. Brussels 1961, OCLC 3747093 .
  • L. Koenen: Cleopatra III. as priestess of the Alexander cult (P. Colon. inv. nr. 5063). In: Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy. Vol. 5 (1970), pp. 61-84.
  • W. Clarysse, G. van der Veken: The Eponymous Priests of Ptolemaic Egypt. Brill, Leiden 1983, ISBN 90-04-06879-1 .