Ptolemaic Period

The end of the Late Period in Egypt brought in the age of the Ptolemaic Dynasty/Period. It was in 332 BC that Alexander III "the Great" of Macedon conquered Egypt with little resistance from the Persians. Egyptians welcomed him as deliverer and god. Alexander in turn visited Memphisand went on pilgrimage to the oracle of Amun at the Oasis of Siwa. There the oracle declared him to be the son of Amun-Re. Alexander earned favor with the Egyptians by respecting and slightly being involved in Egyptian rituals and religion. Alexander founded a new Greek city in Egypt named Alexandria. It is this city that became a major commercial port, where Alexander was buried, and that quickly became Egypt's administrative capital and an intellectual centre.

Ptolemaic Egypt began however when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and the dynasty ended with the death of the infamous Cleopatra VII of Egypt during the Roman conquest in 30 BC. The Ptolemaic Period was a powerful Hellenistic state, extending from southern Syria, to Cyrene, and to the frontier with Nubia. The Ptolemies to gain recognition by the native Egyptian populace named themselves as their successors did before them - pharaohs. Later on in the dynasty the Ptolemies took on Egyptian traditions and had themselves portrayed on public monuments in Egyptian style and dress, and participated in Egyptian religious life. Yet all of this did not appease all Egyptians, the Ptolemies still faced rebellions often caused by an unwanted regime and were involved in foreign and civil wars that led to the decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty and its eventual annexation by Rome.

The uniqueness of Ptolemaic art came from the fusion of existing Egyptian culture and Hellenistic influences which was designed to support the new administrative system imposed on the Egyptians and was completely intentional. The Ptolemies stressed their desire to support Egyptian culture and many temples were indeed built during this period. The new combo including the Hellenistic influence was seen in both in clothing and the more realistic representation of facial features. Particularly easily seen in some of the coffins which were provided with portraits of the deceased. Literature flourished due in part to the mass Library at Alexandria. During the Ptolemaic Period Manetho composed his history of Egypt and the tri-lingual decree was inscribed on the Rosetta Stone.

The rulers of the Ptolemaic Period had certain characteristics which make them stand out. All of the male rulers took the name Ptolemy while the queens were usually called Cleopatra. The most famous member the queens of the Ptolemies was the last queen, Cleopatra VII, known for her role in the Roman political battles between Julius Caesar and Pompey and with Octavian and Mark Antony. Her suicide during the conquest by Rome was the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt and the end of Egypt as she was known.

Ptolemaic Dynasty Rulers

Ptolemy I Soter | c. 305-282 BC

Ptolemy II Philadelphus | c. 284-246 BC

Ptolemy III Euergetes | c. 246-222 BC

Ptolemy IV Philopator | c. 222-204 BC

Ptolemy V Epiphanes | c. 204-180 BC

Ptolemy VI Philometor | c. 180-164 BC & 163-145 BC

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon) | c. 170-163 BC & 145-116 BC

Cleopatra II Philometora Soteira | c. 131-127 BC

Cleopatra III Philometor Soteira Dikaiosyne Nikephoros (Kokke) | c. 116-101 BC

Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros) | c. 116-107 BC & 88-81 BC

Ptolemy X Alexander I | c. 107-88 BC

Berenice III Philopator | c. 81-80 BC

Ptolemy XI Alexander II | c. 80 BC

Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes) | c. 80-58 BC & 55-51 BC

Cleopatra V Tryphaena | c. 58-57 BC

Cleopatra VII Philopator | c. 51-30 BC

Arsinoe IV | c. 48-47 BC

Late Period

By the time the Late Period began the international prestige of Egypt had declined to almost ruin and the troubles of the Third Intermediate Period was only escalating. The Late Period started with the 25th dynasty to the 31st dynasty which concluded all of the Egyptian kings every to sit on the Egyptian throne.

Egypt's allies had fallen firmly into the sphere of influence from Assyria. While Egypt ousted Assyria in size and wealth, Assyria had a greater supply of timber allowing the production of more charcoal needed for iron-smelting and thus giving Assyria a greater supply of iron weaponry. This single difference became critical during the Assyrian invasion of Egypt in 670 BC. Despite numerous victories against the Assyrians, Thebes was eventually occupied and Memphis was sacked. The 25th dynasty ended with its rulers stuck in the backwater of the city of Napata.

The 26th dynasty were client kings established by the Assyrians. Stability reigned for a time until the Persians came unto the scene. The Persians had already taken Babylon and Egypt was no match. Egypt was defeated and the Persian king Cambyses, now assumed the formal title of Pharaoh. For a time the Egyptians were controlled by the Assyrian satrap but a one man who founded the 28th dynasty, Amyrtaeus, prince of Sais, rebelled against the Persians. The Persians were defeated, for about 6 years.

The 29th Dynasty ruled from the city of Mendes not not quite 20 years. The 30th dynasty then came and attempted to reestablish Egyptian art but failed with the Persians reoccupied in 343 BC. The 31st dynasty signaled the beginning of Egyptians never to sit on the throne again as the Persians dominated throughout Egypt. Egypt was now lost as the great empire she had once been.

25th Dynasty Rulers

Alara | c. 780-760 BC

Kashta | c. 760-747 BC

Piye | c. 747-712 BC

Shebaka | c. 712-698 BC

Shebitku | c. 698-690 BC

Taharqa | c. 690-664 BC

Tantamani | c. 664-657 BC

26th Dynasty Rulers

Ammeris | c. 715-695 BC

Stephinates | c. 695-688 BC

Nekaub | c. 695-688 BC

Nekau | c. 672-664 BC

Psamtek I | c. 664-610 BC

Nekau II | c. 610-594 BC

Psamtek II | c. 595-589 BC

Apries | c. 589-570 BC

Ahmose |c. 570-526 BC

Psamtek III |c. 526-525 BC

27th Dynasty Rulers

Cambyses | c. 525-522 BC

Darius I | c. 521-486 BC

Xerxes I | c. 486-466 BC

Artaxerxes I | c. 465-424 BC

Xerxes II | c. 424 BC

Sogdianus | c. 424 BC

Darius II | c. 424-404 BC

Artaxerxes II| c. 404-402 BC

28th Dynasty Rulers

Amyrtaios | c. 405-399 BC

29th Dynasty Rulers

Nepherites I | c. 399-393 BC

Hernebkha | c. 393-391 BC

Psammuthis | c. 392-390 BC

Hakoris | c. 392-380 BC

Nepherites II | c. 380 BC

30th Dynasty Rulers

Nectanebo I | c. 380-362 BC

Teos | c. 362-360 BC

Nectanebo II| c. 360-342 BC

31st Dynasty Rulers

Artaxerxes III Ochus | c. 342-337 BC

Arses | c. 337-335 BC

Darius III Codomannus | c. 335-332/30 BC