Ptolemy I Soter : Themes and Issues

Ptolemy I Soter : Themes and IssuesPtolemy I, whose epithet was Savior, was in many respects the most successful of all of Alexander the Great_Ts successors. He created the longest lasting of the Hellenistic kingdoms that rose in the aftermath of the great conqueror_Ts death, ending with the death of Cleopatra VII and Egypt_Ts incorporation into the Roman Empire. This book is not a standard biography, but rather an examination of the major issues surrounding Ptolemy_Ts reign, the major

Ptolemy I, whose epithet was Savior, was in many respects the most successful of all of Alexander the Great�_Ts successors. He created the longest lasting of the Hellenistic kingdoms that rose in the aftermath of the great conqueror�_Ts death, ending with the death of Cleopatra VII and Egypt�_Ts incorporation into the Roman Empire. This book is not a standard biography, but rather an examination of the major issues surrounding Ptolemy�_Ts reign, the major controversies and questions surrounding his career and legacy. What were his ultimate ambitions? How did he administer his kingdom? What was his role in the demise of the unified empire created by Alexander? Ptolemy's administration of this foreign land, although privileging colonists from Greece and Macedonia over native Egyptians, maintained a level of political stability in a land with a long history of resisting foreign rule. Each of the key themes discussed in the chapters follows a chronological order so that readers unfamiliar with the life of Ptolemy can follow the narrative. Each chapter includes a discussion of the major academic positions on each issue and an evaluation of the primary historical and archaeological evidence. Ptolemy I Soter: Themes and Issues brings new clarity to the history of one of the chief architects of the Hellenistic Age.