The Ptolemaic Dynasty: How Greek Rulers and Ancient Traditions Fused in Egypt

• May 27, 2026

THE PTOLEMIES

The Fractured Kingdom and the Persian Conquest

 later rulers controlled Egypt mainly from the Delta where the capital was moved from one city to another, while the High Priest, and later Priestess,  of Amun (usually of the royal family)  controlled Upper Egypt. Under the 25 Dyn. (c 747-656 BC) Egypt was invaded by the Assyrians and both Thebes and Memphis were sacked. There was slight revival in the 26 or Saite Dyn. (664-525 BC) but more on the artistic than on the political side. Large foreign colonies developed and Egypt, for the first time, opened its borders to the Greeks who settled at Naukratis in the Delta. Many Greek mercenaries joined the Egyptian army. Necho II (610 BC) again ventured into Western Asia but was  crushingly  defeated  by Nebuchadnezzar of  Babylon  at Carchemish, in 605 BC. Nearly a century later Psamtik III (526 BC), the last king of the dynasty, was defeated by the Persians at Pelusium. Memphis and the whole of Egypt became a Persian satrapy. The 27 Dyn. 
(525-404 BC) was composed of Persian, not native, ru)ers and, although there was a brief attempt at rebellion in the 29-30 Dynasties (398-343 BC), Egypt really remained under effective Persian control until the arrival of Alexander in 332 BC.

Alexander the Great and the Birth of Alexandria

The Ptolemies (332-30 BC). After defeating the Persians, Alexander the Great entered Egypt late in 332 BC and appointed Ptolemy Soter, one of his Macedonian generals, as satrap. One of the most important decisions taken by Alexander was the foundation, on the old site of Rhacotis, of the new capital named, after himself, Alexandria. This became a great Hellenistic city with a good port and the hub of Greek influence  in Egypt. It developed as  a  centre of learning with  a museum  and  library  unequalled  in  the  ancient  world.  Ptolemy governed until the death of Alexander nine years later and, at first, also deputised for Philip Arrhidaeus and Alexander IV. Subsequently he assumed the crown and founded the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt for 300 years until it was conquered by the Romans. Throughout this period the Ptolemaic navy largely dominated the Mediterranean, exploration was encouraged and voyages were made down the Red Sea, to the Hom of Africa and probably beyond.

Golden Age of Temples and Regional Expansion

Often at war with the other Hellenistic states, such as the Seleucids, the Ptolemies also strove to unify the country. One of the ways in which they did this was by restoring and rebuilding earlier Egyptian temples in the Pharaonic style. Some of these, like Dendarah, Philae and Edfii, are still excellently preserved and supply us with information about earlier structures and the rituals carried out within these buildings which would otherwise be unavailable. The Ptolemies also developed the Fayyiim region, reclaiming the land and reorganising the crop rotation.

The Cultural Blend of Religion and Ancient Healing

The greatest point of contact between the Hellenistic settlers in Egypt and the indigenous population was in popular religion and funeral practices. The Greek element adopted the worship of the Egyptian gods, equating them with their Greek pantheon: thus Zeus became Amun and Hathor became Aphrodite.  Many of  the late temples were, like those of Greece, places of healing, as at Korn Ombo and Dendarah where sanatoria were erected in the grounds of the temples; here pilgrims and the sick would stay