Thion, Stéphane The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt

Cleruchs, Mercenaries and Machimoi 323-30 BCE

Volume 4 of the series From Alexander to Adrianople 3000 BCE-400 CE. Egypt is the ideal starting point for anyone interested in the institutions of Alexander the Great's successors. No other Hellenistic kingdom is fortunate enough to have such a wealth of sources at its disposal, especially in the military sphere. The surviving documents provide insights into the army down to the level of individual commanders and soldiers. This army, heir to Macedonian traditions, is examined in detail in The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt. The organisation of the Ptolemaic army is traced throughout the centuries of its existence, comparing theoretical models with empirical evidence. Its development, shaped by the challenges of the time, becomes clearly visible. One of the most striking features is the modernity of its structure. Far removed from the rigid pyramid-shaped systems described by contemporary tacticians in particular by Asclepiodotos in his Tactica the Ptolemaic organisation bears a surprising resemblance to that of 17th-century Europe. The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt is enriched by numerous illustrations, many of which are derived from statuettes, frescoes and painted stelae, bringing to life the appearance of Ptolemaic soldiers from the 3rd to the 1st century BC.