STUDIA HELLENISTICA

48

FACES OF HELLENISM
STUDIES IN THE HISTORY
OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
(4TH CENTURY B.C. - 5TH CENTURY A.D.)

edited by

Peter VAN NUFFELEN

PEETERS
LEUVEN - PARIS - WALPOLE, MA
2009
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VII

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Peter VAN NUFFELEN

On Eating Meat and Human Sacrifice. Anthropology in Asclepiades

of Cyprus and Theophrastus of Eresus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Stefan SCHORN

Una noticia olvidada sobre el principio de las Historias de foro

(Tauro ap. Juan Filpono, Aet. VI 8, p. 147, 17-18 Rabe) . . . . . . . 49
Antonio Luis CHVEZ REINO

Kleopatra and the Diadochoi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Alexander MEEUS

The Name Game: Hellenistic Historians and Royal Epithets. . . . 93

Peter VAN NUFFELEN

Bilingual Greek-Demotic Documentary Papyri and Helleniza-

tion in Ptolemaic Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Mark DEPAUW

We Too Are in Good Health. The Private Correspondence from

the Kleon Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Bart VAN BEEK

The Archive of the Toparch Leon Once Again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Willy CLARYSSE

Lexpression ennemi des dieux: theoisin echthros . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Anne-Emmanuelle VESSE
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why Tax Receipts on Wood? On Wooden Tablet Archives from

Ptolemaic Egypt (Pathyris) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Katelijn VANDORPE and Sofie WAEBENS

The Border between Egypt and Syria from the 7th Century B.C.
until the 7th Century A.D.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Herbert VERRETH

Die Beziehung zwischen rmischem Brgerrrecht und alexandri-

nischem Stadtrecht bis zur Constitutio Antoniniana (212) . . . . . . 217
Gertrud DIETZE-MAGER

The Marbre de Thorigny: Rebellion or Loyalty? . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

Karen HAEGEMANS

Hellenism as a Vehicle for Local Traditions in Third-Century-

Egypt: the Evidence from Panopolis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Karolien GEENS

Know your Classics! Manifestations of Classical Culture in Late

Antique Elite Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Inge UYTTERHOEVEN
 INTRODUCTION

Peter VAN NUFFELEN

The study of the Hellenistic world has become so well-established in

recent decades that it is no longer necessary to repeat the trope that it
was once regarded as a period of stagnation and decay. If anything, the
recent flurry of companions and overviews is an eloquent testimony to a
continuous rise in interest1. The expansion of Greek hegemony and cul-
ture to the East, as well as its subsequent political fragmentation, make
this period of special interest from a contemporary perspective, in par-
ticular in allowing us see how Greek colonisation fostered intercultural
contacts and conflicts. Moreover, as often has been suggested, Hellenis-
tic culture shaped Christianity to the extent that one can argue that
Hellenism has substantially contributed to Western civilisation2.
The section of Ancient History of the University of Leuven started
to focus on the Hellenistic period long before it became fashionable.
Research after the Second World War centred on two long-term projects:
on the one hand, the creation of a prosopography of Ptolemaic Egypt
(the Prosopographia Ptolemaica), with the aim of facilitating the study of
the political and social transformations of that society; and, on the other,
the methodology of Greek historiography. The collaborative efforts of
W. Peremans, E. Vant Dack and H. Verdin soon bore fruit in numerous
works, many of which were published in the series Studia Hellenistica 3.
Generations of doctoral students and research assistants were drafted into
these projects.
The second generation of ancient historians in Leuven, L. Mooren,
G. Schepens, H. Hauben and W. Clarysse, continued this tradition of

1
Since Cartledge (1997), one can point, for example, to Ogden (1999) and (2002),
Erskine (2003), Sartre (2003), Bugh (2006), Weber (2007), Errington (2008), and Grand-
jean, Hoffmann, Capdetrey, and Carrez-Maratray (2008) to mention but a few titles.
2
See, e.g., Hauben (2004).
3
E.g. Peremans and Vant Dack (1950); Verdin (1971).
2 P. VAN NUFFELEN

research, establishing Leuven as one of the centres for the study of

Hellenism and papyrology in particular. This volume marks the retire-
ment of L. Mooren, G. Schepens, and H. Hauben as professors of
Ancient History in Leuven, in successive years from 2006 onwards.
Their retirement signals a change of generation and this volume, with
contributions by colleagues, pupils, and friends, pays tribute to their
decades of teaching and research at the University of Leuven. For gen-
erations of students they have been the face of ancient history, and for
many colleagues faces of Hellenism.
Leon Mooren distinguished himself with his work on the Ptolemaic
court and its hierarchies of honour, which still are points of reference for
scholars working on Ptolemaic Egypt4. This was originally part of the
prosopographical research for the Prosopographia Ptolemaica, to several
volumes of which he has contributed. As director of the Prosopographia
Ptolemaica he has overseen its transformation into an internet database5.
His work on the Ptolemaic court has expanded into reflections on the
nature of Hellenistic monarchy in general6. L. Mooren was also very
active in establishing scholarly contacts across Europe, both as coordina-
tor of the Erasmus exchange programme for students and academic staff,
and as director of the research collaboration Society and Administration
in the Hellenistic and Roman World, funded by the Research Council
Flanders7.
Greek historiography is the main area of interest of Guido Schepens,
with a special interest in ancient historiographical method8. Although
the fourth century remains a special interest, as evidenced in numerous
important publications9, Hellenistic historiography has increasingly
drawn his attention10, especially since he became responsible for the
continuation of F. Jacobys Fragmente der griechischen Historiker. In this
framework he has addressed important issues regarding ancient histo-
riographical genres and the methodology of collecting fragments11, and
studied Jacobys personal correspondence12.

4
Mooren (1975) and (1977).
5
http://prosptol.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/
6
Mooren (1983) and (1988).
7
Mooren (2000) is one of the results of this collaboration.
8
Schepens (1980).
9
E.g. Schepens (2005).
10
Verdin, Schepens, and De Keyser (1990); Schepens and Bollanse (2005).
11
See, e.g., Schepens (1997), (2000), and (2007).
12
Schepens and Bollanse (2008).
 INTRODUCTION 3

Hans Hauben, finally, has done extensive work on the political history
of the Hellenistic period, with a particular interest in the navy and the
Successors of Alexander the Great13. His fundamental study of the early
Hellenistic navy led to numerous detailed studies of nautic history in
Ptolemaic Egypt14. His wide-ranging interests also include the religious
history of the Hellenistic period and the history of Cyprus15. Besides his
numerous publications on the Hellenistic Period, H. Hauben has also
thoroughly revisited the history of the Melitian schism in late-antique
Egypt16. As a testimony to his versatile mind, one finds even topics as
exotic as flying saucers in Livy and mule-breeding in Ptolemaic Egypt in
his bibliography17. Currently he is directing a research project on Book 19
of Diodorus of Sicily.
In tribute to their achievements, this volume explores the various
manifestations of Hellenism in the ancient world from the fourth cen-
tury B.C. to Late Antiquity. The papers cover three areas: Greek histo-
riography from the fourth century B.C. onwards; Hellenistic history, in
particular as evidenced in the papyrological material; and the history of
the Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. It is the nature of volumes
like this to be polyphonies with dissonants. Yet several common themes
surface in the various contributions.
Firstly, a defining characteristic of the world after Alexander the Great
is that Greek established itself as the dominating language and culture in
the Eastern Mediterranean. Intercultural contacts become a key element
in the Hellenistic world. Greeks had been fascinated by other cultures
since long, although they did not always understand their customs (cf.
S. Schorn), but the colonisation of the East generated a new set of prob-
lems: immigrant Greeks had to adapt to a strange environment (B. Van
Beek), whereas bilingualism became a general feature in the areas con-
quered by the Macedonian armies (M. Depauw). In Later Antiquity,
cities sometimes re-invented their own Greek traditions in interplay
with their Egyptian surroundings (K. Geens). Just as Greek culture
could not wipe away local traditions, Christianity did not obliterate
Hellenism in Late Antiquity, but generated an interesting exchange, on
occasions marked by rejection (I. Uytterhoeven).

13
Hauben (1970) and (1975).
14
E.g. Hauben (1997).
15
E.g. Hauben (1989) and (1998).
16
E.g. Hauben (1989-1990) and (2005).
17
Hauben (1983) and (1984-1986).
4 P. VAN NUFFELEN

Secondly, several contributions emphasise the importance of the local

perspective, against attempts to impose a coherence which is not borne
out by the material. This does not only imply a focus on a specific
region (H. Verreth) or an emphasis on the role of the individual, e.g. in
choosing the writing material for his tax receipts (K. Vandorpe and
S. Waebens): G. Dietze-Mager argues for the restricted availability of
Roman citizenship to Egyptians, against attempts to bring Egypt in line
with other provinces. The local importance of the so-called marbre
de Thorigny is stressed by K. Haegemans, who does not think it informs
us on the wider political situation of the third century.
Thirdly, the view we have of the past is the result of the interplay
between the sources and our own preconceptions and ideas. As such, we
often take for granted what may not be securely backed up by the sources.
It is therefore salutary to reflect on what basis our knowledge actually
rests and critically revisit the sources. Reflections on the transmission
of fragmentary historians (A. L. Chvez Reino), re-editions of papyri
(W. Clarysse and A.-E. Vesse), or attention for the method and interests
of ancient historians (A. Meeus; P. Van Nuffelen) can change the basis
on which historical reconstructions rest and provide new impetus for
future research.

In On Eating Meat and Human Sacrifice. Anthropology in Asclepia-

des of Cyprus and Theophrastus of Eresus, Stefan Schorn analyses the
theory on the origin of sacrifice and its relation with human sacrifice as
found in Asclepiades of Cyprus (late fourth century B.C.?). Drawing on
parallels from Theophrastus On Piety, he suggests that it is influenced
by an observation of sacrificial practice as taking place in Syria in Ascle-
piades day, as well as by Greek reflection about the origins of sacrifice.
Antonio Luis Chvez Reino discusses the complicated transmission of
a hitherto neglected fragment of the fourth-century historian Ephorus
(Una noticia olvidada sobre el principio de las Historias de foro).
Found in a late antique quotation by Philoponus of a passage from the
second century philosopher L. Calvenus Taurus, it provides additional
evidence for the starting point of the lost work of this historian.
The precise ambitions of the successors of Alexander are still hotly
debated, in particular the issue whether they all vied for supreme leader-
ship or had more limited goals. Focusing on Alexanders sister, Cleo-
patra, Alexander Meeus argues that all successors considered links with
 INTRODUCTION 5

the Argead house to be of the highest importance (Kleopatra and the

Diadochoi). Indeed, at least six generals sought to marry Cleopatra.
This suggests that dynastic links with Alexander played a key role in the
struggle between the diadochs.
In The Name Game. Hellenistic Historians and Royal Epithets Peter
Van Nuffelen investigates how royal epithets are used by historians of
the Hellenistic and early Roman period. He argues that we see a clear
change in use and perception of epithets after Polybius: they become
much more frequent and are seen as substitutes for the name of the king.
In this they reflect changes in the use of epithets by kings that happened
a generation earlier. Historians from Posidonius onwards also seem to
have drawn on king lists. These were not official documents but compi-
lations made by historians and scholars, and for that reason they do not
always give the official epithet of a king. This raises questions about the
evidence provided by ancient historians regarding the official use of epi-
thets and their role in the Hellenistic kingdoms.
Drawing on an extensive database of Greek and Egyptian documents
pertaining to Hellenistic and Roman Egypt, Mark Depauw develops a
typology of bilingual Demotic and Greek documents (Bilingual Greek-
Demotic Documentary Papyri and Hellenization in Ptolemaic Egypt).
Introducing a quantitative perspective in his analysis, he is able to chart
more clearly how the withdrawal of Demotic from public life under
Ptolemaic rule and its replacement by Greek in the administration are
reflected in the changing contexts in which Demotic is used.
The archive of Kleon, engineer in charge of the drainage and engineer-
ing works in the Fayyum under Ptolemy II, contains a number of private
letters, dating to the middle of the third century B.C. As shown by Bart
Van Beek in We too are in good health. The private correspondence
from the Kleon archive, this correspondence offers a unique insight in
the private life of Greek immigrants in Egypt and gives clue about the
educational background of Kleon and his families, the relationship with
his wife and children, and even his dealings with the king.
Willy Clarysse reconsiders the papyrus archive of the toparch Leon,
which should be dated to the early second century B.C., and provides a
re-edition of P. Yale 40 (The archive of the toparch Leon once again).
In Clarysses new reading of P. Yale 40, the term enemy of the gods
appears. Anne-Emmanuelle Visse offers a full inventory of all occur-
rences of this term (Lexpression ennemi des dieux), a term normally
6 P. VAN NUFFELEN

used in a poetical and rhetorical context to designate ones foes. There is

thus no reason to invest the expression with a wide-ranging political and
religious meaning.
Papyrologists have debated who provided the writing material for
official documents such as tax receipts, the citizen paying his taxes or
the official scribe. Studying a particular set of receipts on wood from
Pathyris, Katelijn Vandorpe and Sofie Waebens argue that it was the
citizen who brought the material along and that its nature is determined
by the citizens access to a particular type of material (Why tax receipts
on wood? On wooden tablet archives from Ptolemaic Egypt (Pathyris)).
As the border region between Syria and Egypt, the northern Sinai has
seen many armies pass and was subject to the changing fortunes of the
empires that occupied it. Herbert Verreth gathers the limited material
that is available for the political and administrative history of this region
from the seventh century B.C. until the end of Antiquity (The border
between Egypt and Syria from the 7th century B.C. until the 7th cen-
tury A.D.). Conclusions can only be tentative and only future finds will
be able to clear up numerous remaining uncertainties.
Gertrud Dietze-Mager studies how Roman citizenship was acquired
in Egypt, and in particular the role played by Alexandrian citizenship in
this process. She argues in favour of the evidence contained in Plinys
correspondence with the emperor Trajan showing that Alexandrian citi-
zenship was a prerequisite for the acquisition of Roman citizenship by
inhabitants of Roman Egypt. Although we have no proof for the infor-
mation contained in Plinys letters, a definite link between the two citi-
zenships can be observed in numerous papyrological sources. In Egypt,
therefore, Alexandrian citizenship seems to have had the function of a
filter for Roman citizenship, comparable to the role played by the ius
Latii in the Western provinces. This illustrates the special position of
Egypt within the Empire: whereas provinces with a denser urban net-
work in the West and in the East offered numerous opportunities for
members of the elite to acquire Roman citizenship through local annual
magistratures, the low level of urbanisation and the lack of municipal
offices in Egypt limited its spread.
Karen Haegemans revisits the famous marbre de Thorigny (CIL
13.3162), from the tumultuous year 238 A.D. which ended with the
accession of Gordianus III to the imperial throne. Emphasising the little
that is actually known about the persons mentioned in the inscription
 INTRODUCTION 7

and the lack of context, she argues against interpretations that consider
the document evidence for the power politics that lead to Gordianus
rise. The text must rather be read in its proper provincial context.
Hellenism as a cultural tendency remained an important influence in
the Roman East, also in a region such as Egypt that had a strong local
tradition. Karolien Geens shows that the local elite of Panopolis, a pro-
vincial town in Egypt, drew on Greek culture to enter into competition
with other cities (Hellenism as a Vehicle for Local traditions in Third
Century Egypt: the Evidence from Panopolis). In particular, it seems
likely that the games in honour of Perseus, inaugurated in 264 A.D.,
were a creative re-interpretation of a story found in Herodotus. Never-
theless, Hellenism did not wash away Egyptian culture: although most
members of the elite bear Greek names, many of these seem to correlate
closely to Egyptian names.
In Know your Classics! Manifestations of Classical Culture in Late
Antique Elite Houses, Inge Uytterhoeven studies the use of references
to classical literature and culture in elite dwellings of Late Antiquity.
Mosaics, statuary, but also objects within the house very often refer to
Homer and Virgil, to name merely two foundational figures of Greek
and Latin literature, as well as classical myth. She warns that classical
references should not be seen as markers of religion: Christian aristo-
crats knew their classics as well as their pagan contemporaries. Rather,
the house was a showcase for wealth, education, and power three
qualities that were closely associated in Antiquity18.

The abbreviations used in this volume follow the conventions set out
in LAnne Philologique for journals, in Guide de lpigraphiste for epi-
graphical sources (Brard (2001)), and in the Checklist for papyrological
editions19.

18
My thanks for help in the early stages of this project go to Jan Bollanse, and for
assistance in the editorial process to Willy Clarysse, Katelijn Vandorpe, Bart Van Beek,
and Lieve Van Hoof.
19
See http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/papyrus/texts/clist.html.
8 P. VAN NUFFELEN

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 INTRODUCTION 9

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