Week 7 Overview

Alexandria and the Romans

• Cleopatra VII & Augustus.
• Alexandria under Roman rule

Tuesday 11/7

Cleopatra VII & Augustus.

Before Class:

Readings: 

• The Rise and Fall of Alexandria ch.11 “The Last Pharaoh”, pp.157-174 (E-copy: pp.179-195).
• “Augustus (Octavian) and the Kingship of Egypt” by Gregory S. Dundas in Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte , 4th Qtr., 2002, pp.438-448 Augustus and the Kingship of Egypt on JSTOR Links to an external site.
• Alexandria: City of the Western Mind, pp.153-160.

Suggested Readings (more details):

• “Ptolemy XII Auletes and the Romans” by Mary Siani-Davies. In Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte , 3rd Qtr., 1997. pp. 306-340. Ptolemy XII Auletes and the Romans on JSTOR Links to an external site.
• Alexandria: City of the Western Mind, pp.93-153.
• “AUGUSTUS IN EGYPT: The Temple of Dendur is Rebuilt at the Metropolitan Museum of Art” by Robert S. Bianchi. In Archaeology, September/October 1978, Vol. 31, No. 5 (September/October 1978), pp. 4-11 AUGUSTUS IN EGYPT: The Temple of Dendur is Rebuilt at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on JSTOR Links to an external site.

During Class:

• Lecture and PowerPoint slideshow.
• Seminar & discussions.
• Individual/group activities.

After Class:

• Short paper (2) Due Date
• Prepare readings for the next class.
• Question for the coming class:

1. What was the major framework of August's and his successors’ policy in Alexandria & Egypt?
2. How can you judge Caracalla’s attitude towards Alexandria & Alexandrians?
3. How was the administration and economy under the Romans? Was different from the time of the Ptolemies?

Thursday 11/9

Alexandria under Roman rule

Before Class:

- Prepare your outline and questions for the final research paper abstract/plan review to discuss in class. 

Readings:

• The Rise and Fall of Alexandria. ch.12 “The Clockwork City", pp.175-177 (E-copy: pp.197-199). ch.16 “The Ascendancy of Faith”, pp.239-243 (E-copy: pp.261-264).
• Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Roman Occupation by Roger S. Bagnall (Chronology, Political History, Military Administration, & Economy) Roman Occupation - Oxford Reference (seattleu.edu) Links to an external site.

During Class:

• PowerPoint slideshow.
• Seminar & discussions.
• Group activities.

After Class:

• Prepare readings for the next class.
• Question for the coming class:

1. Identify the Alexandrian Triad.
2. Who and how was the Alexandrian Triad founded?
3. What was the form of the Royal Ptolemaic Cult?
4. How did the Alexandrians and Egyptians in the Alexandrian society react to the different cults?

Click on the Next button below to continue on in this module. ▼