Egypt from Alexander to the Early Christians: An Archaeological and Historical GuideRoger S. Bagnall, Dominic Rathbone The thousand years from Alexander to the Arab conquest in A.D. 641 are rich in archaeological interest and well documented by 50,000 papyri in Greek, Egyptian, Latin and other languages. But travelers and others interested in the remains of this period are ill-served by most guides to Egypt, which concentrate on the pharaonic buildings. This book redresses the balance, with clear and concise descriptions related to documents and historical background that enable us to appreciate the cities, temples, tombs, villages, churches and monasteries of the Hellenistic, Roman and Late Antique periods. Written by a dozen leading specialists and reflecting the latest discoveries and research, it provides an expert visitor's guide to the principal sites, many off the well-worn tourist paths. It also offers a picture of Egyptian society at differing economic and social levels. With a historical introduction, room-by-room tours of museums, specially commissioned plans of sites and buildings and over 100 other color and black-and-white illustrations, this book is a practical on-the-spot companion and armchair guide, bringing to life the splendors and curiosities of a little-known civilization. |
Contents
Preface | 7 |
Middle Egypt | 8 |
Alexandria the Delta and northern Sinai | 51 |
The Memphite region | 87 |
Christian monasticism and pilgrimage | 107 |
The Fayyum | 127 |
The Theban region | 183 |
Upper Egypt | 209 |
The western oases | 249 |
The Eastern Desert | 278 |
Chronological outline | 293 |
Illustration acknowledgements | 312 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abu Qir Alexander Alexandria ancient Antinoopolis Antony Apis Arab archaeological architectural Berenike Bibliography buildings built burial Byzantine Cairo catacombs cemetery centre century BC chapel Christian church Cleopatra Cleopatra VII columns complex Coptic cult Dakhla decorated Delta demotic dromos Dynasty early east Eastern Desert Edfu Egyptian emperor enclosure wall excavations Fayyum fifth century fourth century goddess Graeco-Roman Museum Graeco-Roman period Greek Hathor Hermonthis hieroglyphic Horus houses important inscriptions Isis Kellia Kharga king Koptos Lake Late Antiquity later limestone Memphis modern monastery monastic monks mudbrick mummies Museum Naukratis necropolis Nektanebo Nile Nitria nome oasis painted papyri pharaonic pilgrims priests Ptolemaic period Ptolemy Ptolemy II pylon Qasr Raitou Ramesses II remains road Roman period rooms sacred sanctuary Saqqara Sarapis second century Serapeum settlement shrine side statues stela stone survive temple texts Thebes third century tombs town valley village