In the previous article, we gave a brief account of the Pharaonic civilization: whereby, due to Egypt’s geography and the Nile, societies settled down in the Valley. Ancient Egyptians worked and developed farming and cattle breeding, in addition to mining and distinct Egyptian craftwork, such as Egyptian ceramic, as well as trade.
The Egyptian civilization included sciences, too. In fact, mathematicians and architects constructed huge building which have always testified to the ancient Egyptians’ genius and adeptness. Likewise they excelled at anatomy and mummification, which have always been mysterious.
Moreover, ancient Egyptians invented orthography, which changed the world. They were unique at Literature: whereby they introduced the narrative art, religious and ethical literature, and documented history. Dr. John Wilson, assistant of American historian James Henry Breasted and professor of History and Egyptology, Chicago University, spoke quite meticulously about the Pharaonic civilization, saying, “We owe the Egyptian civilization a lot of systems. Additionally, Egyptians, Babylonians, Hebrews, and Greeks had precedence in all the realms of life, such as sociology, economy, politics, aesthetics, philosophy, and ethics. They were succeed by others who established their civilization, modifying what they inherited. The flexibility of the Egyptian method of attaining peace, security, and balance amongst conflict forces testifies to the Egyptian people’s greatness and genius.”
This civilization endured through the Pharaonic era: throughout thirty dynasties that ruled over three thousand years. Historians divided this era into periods: the Old Kingdom, the Intermediate Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. Between every period there is an intermediate one which is characterized by schism and deterioration. These eras ended in the third intermediate period in which the country deteriorated economically, politically, and culturally. Also, Egypt was threatened by foreign forces. This took place from the twenty-first to the twenty-sixth dynasties. Then, the Persians seized the country from the twenty-seventh to the thirtieth dynasties.
The Greek Civilization
a. Alexander’s Conquest of Egypt
The Persians were Macedon’s fiercest enemy. Yet, due to the weakness and rupture, they could not resist this enemy that ruled a great Empire and had sovereignty on seas. Philip of Macedon tried to unite Greek cities in order to get ready for the Persians’ raid. Yet, he was assassinated.
Alexander, his son, followed suit. So, he mobilized a great army and marched from Macedon to establish an empire where he would spread Greek culture and be the master of the world. Persians used to depend on their empire’s numerous resources and sea sovereignty. So, Alexander started by seizing their fleet’s bases. Thus, he succumbed the coasts of Asia Minor, Phoenicia, Egypt, and Barqa.
When Alexander reached Egypt, having seized Tyre, Sidon, Palestine, and Gaza from the Persian king Darius, the ruler gave her up without fighting. The Egyptians welcomed Alexander who saved them from the Persian reign. By expelling the Persians from Egypt, a historical epoch which lasted for three thousand years came to an end, and another started, only to be shaped by the Greek and Egyptian civilizations together.
b. Alexander the Great
Alexander was quite intelligent. It came to pass that Philonicus of Thessalonica, the attendant of the king’s stables, wanted to sell an untamable horse. So, he told the king about his intention.
When Alexander got to know, he told his father he wanted to see that horse. Though his father refused lest he get injured, he reassured him, saying, “Do not worry, father. There is no violence without a reason; I will try to tame it.” Still, the king refused due to his son’s lack of experience in comparison to Philonicus’ who failed to tame the horse.
Alexander asked his father to give him a chance to know the reason of the horse’ violence, to which the father consented. So, he went to the stable with Philonicus. No sooner had the young man approached the horse than the latter became fierce. Young Alexander hurried to the horse, holding its reins and changing its head’s orientation. So, the horse calmed down and Alexander rode it easily! When Alexander went to his father, the latter congratulated him on his ability to tame the horse in a short time and asked him, “What did you do, son?” Alexander answered, “It is very easy. The horse used to see its shadow and get scared. When I changed its head’s orientation toward the sun, its shadow remained under its feet, and it calmed down.”
Likewise, Alexander was known for his keenness on learning. He loved all sorts of knowledge and read a lot. He loved talking to scholars and researchers, especially after spending the day in warfare. Alexander was a disciple of great Aristotle. It did come to pass that Alexander wrote him, saying, “It is better for me to excel others in knowledge than in authority and power.”
c. Egypt: a Macedonian Province
Alexander crowned his conquests by winning the provinces’ peoples’ affection. Likewise, he respected their creeds. He respected the ancient Egyptian creed. No sooner than he had reached Egypt and entered Memphis than he offered a sacrifice to the holy calf and the rest of the Egyptian deities. Also, he had his coronation conducted at the temple of Ptah, just as the Pharaohs in order to appear a legitimate heir of theirs and, thus, guarantee the Egyptians loyalty.
Moreover, Alexander went to Amoun temple is Siwa (which became globally famous like those of Zeus and Apollo) to prove his kinship to the Gods before the whole world and have Amoun’s support for his ambition to rule the world. Yet, Alexander never forsook his Greek civilization. Nor did forget it. So, he conducted many Greek celebration in Memphis and offered Zeus sacrifices.
As he ruled Egypt, Alexander realized the importance of the priests’ role: for they supported the Pharaohs beforehand. So, he supported and resorted to the priests. Likewise, he arranged annual meetings in which the king would sit to high ranking officials and priests to discuss their views concerning the country. Thus, he was able to rule a people who succumbed to religious authority. In effect, Amoun’s priests seized the chance to regain their authority in the country and regain the right of benefiting by their divine rights which they were deprived of. At that time, great temples were reconstructed from Philae to the Delta.
d. Alexandria
Alexander established the Egyptian Alexandria. He chose a piece of land with a strategic position between Marriott lake and the Mediterranean to build a new city that would resemble Macedon and be a new trade center between the East and West. He assigned its planning to a Greek architect called Dinocrates. Thus, Alexandria became an international cultural center in third century B.C., a connection point between the East and West, which made the second capital of the extensive empire. Scholars and research flooded on it from the four corners of the world. Before Alexander left Egypt in 331 B.C., she had become a typical Macedonian province. He established an army and a fleet to protect her, and sent expeditions to discover the Nile sources.
Alexander set a system based on dividing authority amidst many rulers that none of them might become despotic. He assigned Egyptians the rule of Upper and Lower Egypt, showing his affection to the people. He also allowed freedom of belief, never to change any of their civic or religious customs.
Alexander left Egypt, assigning Prince Ekleumynes her affairs. He marched to Asia to conquer the Persian provinces there until he reached India. Then, he headed to Babylon where he died in his thirties and at the peak of his glory in 323 B.C. Historians assert that he was striving to establish a world in which the East and West were in concord as one empire based on fraternity.
It is said that Alexander had three wishes on his deathbed which he asked his commander to fulfill. First, none but his physicians should carry his coffin. Second, pieces of gold and gems which he collected throughout his life should be sprinkled on the road between his death place to his tomb. Third, when the coffin is raised, they should take his hands out of the shroud and keep them hanging open!
When the commander asked him about the significance of his wishes, he answered, “I would like to give the world a lesson which I have only learnt now. First, nobody can prevent death even physicians to whom we resort if we feel sick. Life and health are riches which humans do not grant. Second, everybody should know that the time we spent in collecting money is but a waste, and we will take nothing even the minutest crumbs. Third, we came to the world with empty hands and will leave it the same way!
Alexander’s death was to mark the rupture of the empire and rise of several monarchies. Egypt embarked on the Ptolemaic, then Roman era. What stories! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
