egypt 3: the cities

Egypt 3: Egypt 3: The CitiesThe Cities

AdministrationAdministrationImportant: pp. 54-62Important: pp. 54-62

c. 201: Septimius Severus: all nome capitals c. 201: Septimius Severus: all nome capitals polispolis-status (before only Ptolemais, -status (before only Ptolemais, Naucratis, Alex., Antinoopolis)Naucratis, Alex., Antinoopolis)

Introduction of Introduction of boule boule (city council): esp. for (city council): esp. for tax collection by land-owning elitetax collection by land-owning elite

Administration Cities before Administration Cities before DiocletianDiocletian

Mix of Greek, Egyptian and Roman elementsMix of Greek, Egyptian and Roman elements

Greek:Greek:- City councils (City councils (boulaiboulai))- Magistrates: euergetismMagistrates: euergetism- gymnasial/councillor class (gymnasial/councillor class (bouleutaibouleutai))

Egyptian:Egyptian:- Division in nomes (districts), Division in nomes (districts), strategosstrategos

Roman:Roman:

-toplayer above Egyptian-Greek administration, -toplayer above Egyptian-Greek administration, e.g. prefect and other high officials in Alex.e.g. prefect and other high officials in Alex.

Tasks of councillors:Tasks of councillors:

Tax collectionTax collection Magistratural functions:Magistratural functions:

- Exegetes- Exegetes: accounting for status: accounting for status- Gymnasium (e.g. Gymnasium (e.g. gymnasiarchgymnasiarch))- Food supplies (e.g. Food supplies (e.g. agoranomosagoranomos))

Appointed by council and had to report Appointed by council and had to report back to themback to them

* Also special public events, such as * Also special public events, such as festivals, visits of emperors etc.festivals, visits of emperors etc.

Changes DiocletianChanges Diocletian

‘‘decline’ of decline’ of bouleboule > better perceived as ‘transformation’! > better perceived as ‘transformation’!- Changes in city itself: gymnasium losing central place Changes in city itself: gymnasium losing central place

in city in favour of other forms of amusement, e.g. in city in favour of other forms of amusement, e.g. horses; religious functions (e.g. horses; religious functions (e.g. archiereusarchiereus) taken over ) taken over by functions in Churchby functions in Church

- Early fourth-century administrative changes: Early fourth-century administrative changes: Introduction of Introduction of logisteslogistes ( (curator civitatiscurator civitatis); ); strategos strategos > > exactorexactor; ; ripariusriparius: public order; : public order; defensor civitatisdefensor civitatis: justice: justice

- -

In general:In general:

Shift away from council to curial class Shift away from council to curial class ((curialescuriales//politeuomenoipoliteuomenoi))

Basically the councillors in Late Antiquity are Basically the councillors in Late Antiquity are only involved in tax collection only involved in tax collection

• Countryside:Countryside:

Toparchies replaced with muncipalities Toparchies replaced with muncipalities ((pagipagi); at head: ); at head: praepositus pagi praepositus pagi (councillor (councillor class) > ‘decline of nome system’class) > ‘decline of nome system’

What changed for the elite:What changed for the elite:

‘‘growing power but diminished growing power but diminished autonomy’autonomy’

Because of this three-tired system, Because of this three-tired system, imperial government not very imperial government not very present, except e.g. through armypresent, except e.g. through army

Provinces of EgyptProvinces of Egypt 298, Diocletian: Egypt and Thebaid298, Diocletian: Egypt and Thebaid 314/5: Herculia, Iovia, Thebaid314/5: Herculia, Iovia, Thebaid 322: Herculia, Mercuriana, Iovia, Thebaid322: Herculia, Mercuriana, Iovia, Thebaid 324: Egypt, Thebaid324: Egypt, Thebaid 341: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid341: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid 381: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid381: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid

Head of these provinces: Head of these provinces: praesespraeses

381: creation of Egypt as diocese with Augustal Prefect 381: creation of Egypt as diocese with Augustal Prefect above other above other praesidespraesides

• 397-ca. 500: Augustamnica, Egypt, Arcadia, Thebaid397-ca. 500: Augustamnica, Egypt, Arcadia, Thebaid

* 6* 6thth cent.: 6 or 7 provinces; from 539 cent.: 6 or 7 provinces; from 539 dux et augustalisdux et augustalis

Landowning eliteLandowning eliteConcentration of wealth but not Concentration of wealth but not

undifferentiated unity:undifferentiated unity:- Small landowners: < 10 arouras (ca. 40-50% Small landowners: < 10 arouras (ca. 40-50%

of all holders)of all holders)

Cannot live off these lands: civil/military Cannot live off these lands: civil/military service, other occupationsservice, other occupations

- Middle group: 11-100 arouras (ca. 40 %)Middle group: 11-100 arouras (ca. 40 %)

Not dependent on occupation; civil serviceNot dependent on occupation; civil service

- Large land holders: > 100 arouras (ca. 10%): - Large land holders: > 100 arouras (ca. 10%): rich; councillor classrich; councillor class

Extensive lands in the countryside, Extensive lands in the countryside, sometimes spread over several sometimes spread over several pagipagi

Staples, such as grainStaples, such as grain Other: ships, town houses etc.Other: ships, town houses etc.

In general about 5-10% of city population In general about 5-10% of city population could live off lands ownedcould live off lands owned

For further details read pp. 68-78For further details read pp. 68-78

What did the rest of the What did the rest of the population do?population do?

Production (food, shelter, clothing, Production (food, shelter, clothing, technology)technology)

e.g. processing and milling of grain, meat and e.g. processing and milling of grain, meat and fish etc.fish etc.

Construction business, textile industry etc.Construction business, textile industry etc.

Metal working etc.Metal working etc. Distribution: market centre for food and drink, Distribution: market centre for food and drink,

cf. Mediterranean market places, highly cf. Mediterranean market places, highly specialisedspecialised

Services: transportation (e.g. on Nile); slavesServices: transportation (e.g. on Nile); slaves

WomenWomen

Patriarchal society (though not as bleak Patriarchal society (though not as bleak as classical Greece): position depended as classical Greece): position depended on family, wealth and social positionon family, wealth and social position

- Owning and leasing of landOwning and leasing of land

Ca. 8.5 % of land holders were womenCa. 8.5 % of land holders were women- Lower classes: shops, domestic service Lower classes: shops, domestic service

etc.etc.

Widows and orphans not socially acceptedWidows and orphans not socially accepted

Greek education and cultureGreek education and culture

Mostly councillors, but exception are e.g. wealthy Mostly councillors, but exception are e.g. wealthy athletesathletes

Education system:Education system:- GrammatistesGrammatistes- Secondary eduction: Secondary eduction: grammatikosgrammatikos• Educational institution: gymnasium, only Educational institution: gymnasium, only

accessible to gymnasial classaccessible to gymnasial class

Ca. 14 years: ephebesCa. 14 years: ephebes

Also sports: local, but also trans-regional Also sports: local, but also trans-regional (Panopolis), or even international (Olympic (Panopolis), or even international (Olympic Games)Games)

High cultureHigh culture

Main centres: Panopolis, Hermopolis, Main centres: Panopolis, Hermopolis, OxyrhynchusOxyrhynchus

- Full-time philosophersFull-time philosophers- Little evidence for libraries, but large Little evidence for libraries, but large

amount of literary works seem to have amount of literary works seem to have come from Panopolis (Bodmer collection, come from Panopolis (Bodmer collection, perhaps Chester Beatty)perhaps Chester Beatty)

- Main development: incorporation of Main development: incorporation of Christian literature and use as part of Christian literature and use as part of Christian educationChristian education

Other changes: gymnasium > circus (cf. Other changes: gymnasium > circus (cf. before on ‘decline of the council’before on ‘decline of the council’

‘‘Wider Horizons’:Wider Horizons’:- Group of poets from Egyptian nome Group of poets from Egyptian nome

capitals, ‘Wandering Poets’:capitals, ‘Wandering Poets’:

Olympiodorus of Thebes; Nonnus Olympiodorus of Thebes; Nonnus ((DionysiacaDionysiaca)),, Cyrus of Panopolis (consul Cyrus of Panopolis (consul 441)441)

SB III 6222(Dec. 301?)