In 332 BC Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, conquered Egypt, with little resistance from the Persians. He was welcomed by the Egyptians as a deliverer. He visited Memphis, and went on pilgrimage to the oracle of Amun at the Oasis of Siwa. The oracle had the good sense to declare him to be the son of Amun. He conciliated the Egyptians by the respect which he showed for their religion, but he appointed Greeks to virtually all the senior posts in the country, and founded a new Greek city, Alexandria, to be the new capital. The wealth of Egypt could now be harnessed for Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire. Early in 331 BC he was ready to depart, and led his forces away to Phoenicia.
Later: No, I am wrong. The table doesn't include Ptolemy XV but the numbering down to Ptolemy XIV is correct. For some reason the 1911 EB has them numbered differently. It's very confusing but the article I have written seems to show the currently accepted numbering. Adam
Friday, March 20, 2009
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