Gendered power dynamics and the development of Mammisi Temples in Ptolemaic Egypt: reading Cleopatra VII in context

Abstract

Despite the large body of research dedicated to the reign of Cleopatra VII in Egypt, little of it relies on evidence from Egypt during her reign as its primary source material. What little is referenced is often read out of context and used to prop up themes established by foreign authorship without consideration of potential conflict of interests held by the authors of these texts, or ethnocentric beliefs about Egypt and the Ptolemaic Period as a whole, which may alter both ancient and modern authors’ ability to interpret the information that is being discussed. For this study, I developed an intersectional approach to understanding gendered power dynamics as they developed in Egypt during the Ptolemaic period, their correlation with Cleopatra VII’s reign and method of rulership. This new approach focuses on establishing patterns in religious iconography sourced from Ptolemaic Mammisi Temples and utilizes new analytical tools to allow for a more dynamic discussion of themes of legitimacy, power, and gender which would in turn affect the politico-religious landscape during Cleopatra VII’s reign