HISTORY ARCHITECTURE 1

AHISTOR1
PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE

PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE
BACKGROUND
The Ptolemaic Kingdom was founded by Ptolemy I, one of Alexander the Great's
most trusted officers, and lasted for three centuries until 30 BC.

The Ptolemies were the final dynasty of ancient Egypt, and introduced a new
Greco-Egyptian culture, as Egyptian building designs came under Greek influence
as part of the Hellenization of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ptolemy I moved the Egyptian capital from Memphis (near Cairo) to the new,
Greek-style capital of Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast. The city became the
cultural centre of the ancient Mediterranean for much of late antiquity and was for a
time the largest city in the ancient world, until overtaken by Rome.
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PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE
BACKGROUND
Highlights of the city's architecture include: the Lighthouse of Alexandria at Pharos,
one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Great Library, the biggest in
the ancient world; the Serapeum of Alexandria, a spectacular Greek temple built by
Ptolemy III and dedicated to the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis; and the Catacombs
of Kom El Shoqafa, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

The most important Ptolemaic temples are at Dendera, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo,
and Philae.
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PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE
FOUNDATION OF PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY
Alexander the Great of Macedon was an able
conqueror. Building upon his father's conquest of
Greece, Alexander led Greek and Macedonian
forces to conquer the great empire of his day,
Persia. In 332 BCE, Alexander marched south
from his war against Persia and entered Egypt,
which welcomed him as a liberator from Persian
rule by crowning him Pharaoh. Part of the reason
why this was the case was because Persia did not
respect the Egyptian gods, while Alexander did.
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PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE
FOUNDATION OF PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY

Alexander ordered engineers to construct a new city

in his honor, Alexandria, which would serve as the
capital of Egypt under his rule, then left Egypt within
a few months. In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great
died. Without a clear heir, the empire was divided
between his leading generals. Egypt went to
Ptolemy I Soter, a trusted bodyguard, companion,
and commander of Alexander. He was crowned
Pharaoh in 305 BCE and ruled over Egypt for forty
years.
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PTOLEMAIC ARCHITECTURE
FOUNDATION OF PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY

The Ptolemaic dynasty-controlled Egypt for almost

three centuries (305-30 BCE), eventually falling to
the Romans. Oddly, while they ruled Egypt, they
never became Egyptian. Instead, they isolated
themselves in the capital city of Alexandria, a city
envisioned by Alexander the Great. The city was
Greek both in language and practice. There were
no marriages with outsiders; brother married sister
or uncle married niece. The last Ptolemaic queen,
Cleopatra VII (l. c. 69-30 BCE), remained
Macedonian but spoke Egyptian as well as other
languages. Except for the first two Ptolemaic
pharaohs, Ptolemy I and his son Ptolemy II, most of
the family was fairly inept and, in the end, only
maintained authority with the assistance of Rome.
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TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF EDFU

Location: West bank of the Nile in

Upper Egypt.
Construction: Built between 237 and
57 BCE.
Dedication: Dedicated to the god
Horus.
Notable Features: Depictions of
Ptolemaic victories adorn its entrance
pylon.
Tourist Destination: Today, the Temple
of Edfu is a popular attraction for
tourists, highlighting ancient Egypt's
cultural heritage and architectural
excellence.
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TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF ESNA

Location: Esna on the west bank of

the Nile.
Dedication: Dedicated to Khnum, the
god of creation and fertility.
Historical Function: Once served as
a center for worship and rituals,
honoring Khnum through religious
ceremonies.
Present Status: Today, the Temple of
Esna is a favored tourist destination.
Significance: Offers insight into
ancient Egyptian religious customs
and architectural achievements.
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TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF DENDERA

Location: Upper Egypt near the town of

Dendera.
Dedication: Dedicated primarily to Hathor,
the goddess of love, music, and joy.
Function: Served as a center for religious
worship, festivals, and rituals honoring
Hathor and other deities.
Significance: Considered one of the best-
preserved ancient Egyptian temples.
Tourist Destination: It’s a significant
archaeological site and a favored tourist
destination, providing insight into ancient
Egyptian religious practices and artistic
accomplishments.
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TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF KOM OMBO

Location: Upper Egypt along the Nile River.

Dedication: Dedicated to two gods, Sobek
(the crocodile god) and Horus the Elder.
Features: Renowned for its well-preserved
reliefs and inscriptions, depicting religious
scenes and medical instruments.
Purpose: Served as a center for religious
worship and healing practices.
Tourist Attraction: Today, the Temple of
Kom Ombo is a popular destination for
tourists, providing insight into ancient
Egyptian beliefs and architectural excellence.
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TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF PHILAE

Location: Island in the Nile River near

Aswan in Upper Egypt.
Dedication: Primarily dedicated to the
goddess Isis.
Historical Function: Served as a center for
the cult of Isis, attracting pilgrims and
worshippers from around the ancient world.
Present Status: Today, the Temple of Philae
remains a significant archaeological site and
a popular tourist destination.
Significance: Showcases the enduring legacy
of ancient Egyptian religion and culture.
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STRUCTURE
LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA

A lighthouse built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom

of Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy
II Philadelphus (280–247 BC).[2] It has been
estimated to have been at least 100 metres
(330 ft) in overall height.

The lighthouse was severely damaged by

three earthquakes between 956 and 1323
AD and became an abandoned ruin.
REFERENCE:
https://www.worldhistory.org/timeline/Ptolemaic_Dynasty/
https://www.artslookup.com/ancient/egyptian-architecture.html#ptolemaic
https://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/templekhnum.htm#:~:text=The%20modern%20Egyptian%20village%20of,Third
%20Nome%20of%20Upper%20Egypt.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemaic_Dynasty/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_Kingdom
https://www.thecollector.com/ptolemaic-dynasty-ancient-egypt/