The Ptolemaic era, the last and one of the longest dynasties in Egypt, was in many ways a golden age. Its early rulers restored and even expanded Egyptian power. Over 300 years, this period witnessed intellectual splendor and the lives of some of the most memorable figures in ancient history, such as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra VII. But these Greek pharaohs from Macedonia embarked on ruinous wars, faced rebellions, and fell into bloody family disputes. Increasingly dependent on the rapid rise of Roman power, Ptolemaic Egypt was finally annexed by Augustus in 30 BC. How did such an ancient civilization reach this point? Exploring the lives of the Ptolemaic pharaohs, de la Bédoyère reveals the jealousy, greed, and murderous ambition that reigned in their Egypt and in the legendary city of Alexandria, its capital. This is a lively and accessible account of the last days of Ancient Egypt and the new power that emerged in its place.
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