Overview

Ptolemy I, whose epithet was Savior, was in many respects the most successful of all of Alexander the Great’s successors. He created the longest lasting of the Hellenistic kingdoms that rose in the aftermath of the great conqueror’s death, ending with the death of Cleopatra VII and Egypt’s incorporation into the Roman Empire. This book is not a standard biography, but rather an examination of the major issues surrounding Ptolemy’s 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.

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9781350260801

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Reviews

Anson’s biography of Ptolemy is both authoritative and engaging. His lucid and clearly articulated narrative maintains an admirably strong focus on the most important themes of the king’s career: politics, administration, diplomacy, propaganda and especially all matters military and strategic. -- Daniel Ogden, Professor of Ancient History, University of Exeter, UK

Anson's biography of Ptolemy is both authoritative and engaging. His lucid and clearly articulated narrative maintains an admirably strong focus on the most important themes of the king's career: politics, administration, diplomacy, propaganda and especially all matters military and strategic. -- Daniel Ogden, Professor of Ancient History, University of Exeter, UK

Author Information

Edward M. Anson is Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, USA. He is the author or editor of nine books, including Eumenes of Cardia: A Greek among Macedonians (2nd ed. 2015), Alexander’s Heirs: The Age of the Successors (2014), After Alexander: The Time of the Diadochi (323-281 BC) (2013), Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues (Bloomsbury Academic, 2013) and Philip II, the Father of Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020); Affective relations and personal bonds in Hellenistic Antiquity (2021).

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