Egyptian Royal Sculpture of the Ptolemaic Period

This dissertation analyzes 150 Egyptian-style statues of the Greek Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt from Ptolemy I through Cleopatra VII (305-30 B.C.) and represents the first comprehensive study of these sculptures. Previously, most scholarly attention focused on Greek-style marble portraits of the Ptolemies and Egyptian works influenced by them, typically viewing the Egyptian material from a Hellenistic Greek point of view. This study gains a new understanding of Egyptian-style Ptolemies by interpreting them from a native Egyptian perspective. Archaeological evidence is gathered in a site-by-site analysis in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 studies statue types (such as the category called sculptors' studies or votives), materials (principally limestone and granite), and royal attributes (diadem, cornucopia, and triple uraeus, for example). Chapter 4 examines the conception of the royal image, exploring the decision making process regarding how the Ptolemies were portrayed in their Egyptian-style statues. Central to the discussion is a revised interpretation of the native priestly decrees, including Ptolemy V's Memphis decree inscribed on the Rosetta Stone, which describe the creation of royal imagery. Chapter 5 outlines a chronological framework, collecting sculptures attributed based on inscriptions, archaeological contexts, and/or close visual and typological similarities to images possessing inscriptions and contexts. Chapter 6 describes and groups sculptures not covered in the preceding chapter and suggests new dates and attributions for many. The catalogue entries fully describe each royal sculpture, providing provenance, material, measurements, inscription, and bibliography. Appendix I divides additional sculptures, many of which were previously attributed to the Ptolemies, into several categories: "Date uncertain" (more analysis is needed to determine a date), "Ptolemaic or Roman" (a Ptolemaic or Roman date cannot be determined on present evidence), or "Roman" (a Roman date is probable). Appendix 2 gathers Egyptian stone statue bases inscribed for the Ptolemies in Greek, demotic, and/or hieroglyphs. Appendix 3 addresses modern imitations of ancient works.