Minas-Nerpel, Martina

Propylaeum-DOK

2011 REVIEWS
La stele de Ptolemee VIII Evergete II a Heracleion. By Christophe Thiers. Oxford Centre for Maritime 
Archaeology, Monograph 4. Pp. xxii + 115, pis 8. Oxford, Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology, 
2009. ISBN 978 1 905905 05 8. Price £40.
In this important book, Christophe Thiers presents the monumental bilingual stela (hieroglyphic 
Egyptian and Greek) found in 2001 at the underwater site of Herakleion-Thonis off the Mediterranean 
coast of Egypt near Canopus. The text and commentary of what is the longest surviving hieroglyphic 
inscription on a stela from the Ptolemaic period constitute the heart of this volume. Additional short 
interpretative essays put the document in its historical, religious, and political context during the reign 
of Ptolemy VIII with his two wives, Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III.
The study begins with a brief introduction by Franck Goddio, summarising the discovery and 
the excavation context of the gigantic stela. Luc Tamborero then presents the purely technical data 
concerning the once monolithic gneiss stela, which is 617 cm high, 314 cm wide, and up to 38 cm deep, 
and broken into numerous parts. Altogether, seventeen fragments of the stela have been discovered, 
weighing around seventeen tons. Figure 4 on p. xii, and plate 1, present the re-assembled fragments. 
The lowest part of the stela, about 115-120 cm long, was intentionally left blank as it was embedded in 
the ground. Several parts of the monument are still missing, mainly from the lunette and the middle of 
the hieroglyphic text, but also from the uninscribed lower part. In addition, due to erosion underwater, 
the inscribed face is now quite deteriorated, so that the beginning of every hieroglyphic line has been 
lost. Of the Greek inscription, which followed the Egyptian one, only a few letters remain. According 
to Goddio (p. xv) the stela had not been reused, but tumbled down from its original location.
After the introduction (pp. ix-xxii), the volume is divided into six chapters, by Christophe Thiers. 
First is the general presentation of the stela (pp. 1-6), including the dating and the discussion of its 
lunette; second, the translation of the hieroglyphic text (pp. 7-24); third, the running commentary 
(pp. 25-37); fourth, the presentation of the almost entirely destroyed Greek inscription (p. 39); fifth, 
essays of interpretation (pp. 41-9); and sixth, the conclusion (pp. 51-5). Several useful tools are added: 
chapter seven presents a comprehensive overview of the hieroglyphic inscription and its translation 
as a running text (pp. 56-66). The volume concludes with extensive indices (Chapter 8, pp. 67-92), a 
wide-ranging bibliography (Chapter 9, pp. 93-105), as well as several plates of the stela—now in the 
Maritime Museum Alexandria (SCA 529)—and squeezes of it, which are now kept in Paris. Highly 
useful is the loose facsimile drawing inserted at the back cover. Altogether, the volume is well produced 
with fine plates and figures in clear print. The hieroglyphs are for the most part legibly printed, but 
occasionally they are partly cut, primarily in the notes (for example on pp. 15-16).
After a general description, Thiers’ first chapter deals with the dating of the stela (pp. 2-3). Most 
of the stela’s right half is destroyed, as is the first part of line 1 and with it the year date. This date 
can be narrowed down, however, since Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II is depicted with both his wives, 
his sister Cleopatra II and his niece Cleopatra III; the stela must therefore have been erected in the 
years after the wedding of Ptolemy VIII and his younger wife, Cleopatra III, either between 1421 and 
131, or 124 and 116. Following Werner Huss, Thiers dates this event to the year 140/141 (p. 2 n. 8). 
A further indication of the stela’s terminus post quern is the presence of Ptolemy Neos Philopator as a 
royal ancestor on the left side of the lunette. He can be rather clearly identified by the only surviving 
word in his inscription (C 5, p. 7), hnw (neos). Neos Philopator was the son of Ptolemy VIII and 
Cleopatra II and is first attested in the ruler cult and thus in the titles of the eponymous priests only 
after the amnesty edict in 118. This dates the stela to the years 118-116.
The only problem with Neos Philopator’s identification in the lunette is his position on the right, after 
the second, third, and fourth Ptolemaic couple, which places him in a position that is—chronologically 
speaking—rather unexpected. Due to the poor state of preservation, the Ptolemaic ancestors depicted 
in the lunette are not easy to identify. In addition, no comparable stela with ancestors survives from 
the reign of Ptolemy VIII, but Thiers presents a nuanced analysis, in which he reconstructs the almost 
entirely lost right half of the lunette. There, only the last human figure survives more or less complete, 
easily recognised by her crown: Arsinoe II. She is thus depicted twice on this stela, on either side of 
the lunette, perhaps due to the fact that she was specifically venerated at Zephyrion, located close to
281
1 For a discussion of the date of the wedding, see M. Minas, Die hieroglyphischen Ahnenreihen derptolemdischen 
Konige: Ein Vergleich mit den Titeln der eponymen Priester in den griechischen und demotischen Papyri (AegTrev 9; 
Mainz, 2000), 146.
Originalveröffentlichung in: The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 97, 2011, S. 281-283
282 REVIEWS JEA 97
Herakleion. Before the deified queen, only the lower halves of two figures now exist, presumably the 
fifth Ptolemaic couple. Thiers reconstructs before them Ptolemy Eupator and Ptolemy VI Philometor, 
who are placed directly behind Amun-Ra and Khonsu. Chronologically, one would have expected 
Neos Philopator before Philometor, but this might have put too much emphasis on him, since then he 
would have been placed at the start of the row of ancestors.
The identification and positioning of the ancestors is complicated by the fact that Neos Philopator 
is neither mentioned in the lists of dynastic ancestors in line 2, nor in line 24 (pp. 8 and 22). One 
can only pose the question why he was depicted in the lunette and not listed in the text. There is yet 
another inconsistency in the written record of the Ptolemaic dynasty members: one should note that 
in line 2 the Theoi Euergetai are correctly referred to in the plural (ntr.w mnh.w), whereas in line 24 
only in the dual (ntr.wj mnh.ivj), thus obviously omitting one wife. This seems a small enough mistake, 
but it seems to reflect the confusion that prevailed during the later Ptolemaic period with regard to the 
royal ruler cult and its attestation. This might help to explain why Neos Philopator was not introduced 
in the written form but included in the depiction. Could this point to a creation of the stela rather 
shortly after the philanthropa in 118, rather than nearer the death of Ptolemy VIII in 116?
In the second chapter, Thiers presents the inscription accurately line by line in computer-generated 
hieroglyphs and a translation, with short but useful philological notes. The hieroglyphic inscription 
amounts to thirty-three lines, of which the last eight (11. 26-33) are almost completely destroyed. In 
addition, the beginning of each line is lost. One can only admire Thiers’ ability to read and understand 
such a badly preserved and difficult text. It would have been helpful, however, to add the transliteration 
for such a demanding inscription.
The text is laid out in a traditional Ancient Egyptian way, starting with the royal protocol. Here, one 
specific fact deserves more attention, the designation of Cleopatra III as hr.t or female Horus, which 
Thiers equates with the Greek basilissa (p. 8, line 1, n. a). It is remarkable that only Cleopatra III bears 
this title, but not her mother Cleopatra II, Ptolemy’s other wife. Mamdouh Eldamaty has discussed 
the designation hr.t for the Ptolemaic queens,2 and argued that Cleopatra III was only granted this 
title under Ptolemy IX Soter II. This is now disproven, and we need to ask why on this stela only 
Cleopatra III but not her mother has been assigned this title, even though Cleopatra II was designated 
together with Ptolemy VIII as the ‘two Horuses’ (hr.wj), for example at Tod.3 Obviously, our text 
provides fresh insight into the dynastic power struggle, which requires further analysis, as does the 
position of the two queens.
After the protocol in line 1, roughly one third of the inscription comprises the royal eulogy (11. 
2—11), which underlines in traditional Ancient Egyptian phraseology the ruler’s qualities and good 
deeds, especially with regard to the native temples and their deities. In line 12, which appears to mark 
an end of the royal praise, the king’s beneficence is once again emphasised and the stela’s specific 
narrative starts. Lines 13—14 recount Amun-Ra’s celebratory procession to ‘Thebes of the North’, 
a place that can presumably be identified with Tell el-Balamun or Diospolis Kato, the capital of the 
17th Lower Egyptian nome. On his way, the god gives an oracle in the presence of the king. After 
further royal beneficences for the temples are mentioned, the ancient age and precise location of a 
temple at Herakleion is established in line 15. Further details of the region’s cult topography are 
provided when the theology of Khonsu is explained in 1. 16 and a new temple for Mut is reported 
(1. 17), probably founded during a royal visit in July/August 144. In the following line (1. 18) an old 
donation of land is re-established and a visit of Ptolemy IV Philopator is mentioned in this context. 
Line 19 refers to a conflict prior to the reign of Ptolemy VIII, when rebels seemed to have transgressed 
a decree promulgated by Ptolemy V Epiphanes, the reigning king’s father. In line 20 we learn about 
an assembly of administrative officials of the entire country at Alexandria convened by the king, but 
the content of their discussions is not preserved. It was not a priestly synod, such as is attested by the
2 M. Eldamaty, ‘Die ptolemaische Konigin als Weiblicher Horus’, in A. Jordens and J. Quack (eds), Agypten 
zwischen innerem Zwist und aufierem Druck: Die Zeit Ptolemaios' VI. bis VIII. Internationales Symposion Heidelberg 
16—ig. 9. 2007 (Philippika 45; Wiesbaden, 2011), 24-57. See also G. Holbl, ‘Ptolemaische Konigin und weiblicher 
Pharao’, in N. Bonacasa et al. (eds) Faraoni come dei, Tolemei come faraoni: Atti del V Congresso Internazionale 
Italo-Egiziano, Torino, Archivio di Stato, 8—12 dicembre 2001 (Turin, 2003), 88-97.
3 C. Thiers, Tod: Les inscriptions du temple ptolemaique et romain, II (FIFAO 18/2; Cairo, 2003), 224.1 (no. 
285); cf. J.-C. Grenier, ‘Ptolemee Evergete II et Cleopatre II d’apres les textes du temple de Tod’, in N. Bonacasa 
and A. Di Vita (eds), Alessandria e il mondo Ellenistico-Romano: Studi in onore di Achille Adriani (Roma, 1983), 
33. 37-
2011 REVIEWS 283
trilingual decrees like the Rosetta Stone. Line 21 records the ownership of land, which goes back to 
Regnal Year 44 of Amasis (570-526 bc), that is, just before the first Persian invasion. The contract 
was deposited under Darius I in the temple at Heliopolis. By naming Amasis and Darius, Cambyses 
is condemned and the other kings, including Ptolemy VIII, and their attitudes to the native temples 
are praised. Line 22 reports again the euergetism, but also that the king has summoned his scribes in 
order to announce publicly all the deeds he has undertaken in the form of a decree, and also to validate 
an ancient right of asylum. Line 23 mentions a gift of money and a silver monument, perhaps a naos. 
Lines 23 and 24 are quite rudimentary, but a feast and the decree, presumably relating back to the 
asylum, are mentioned as well as the Ptolemaic ancestors. The rest is lost.
The Greek text is so badly destroyed that Thiers dedicates to it only two paragraphs (chapter 
4, p. 39). The emphasis of the entire book is thus on the Egyptian inscription. In chapter 3 (the 
continuous commentary) and chapter 5 (the essays of interpretation), the author leads the reader 
through the context of the hieroglyphic inscription. Because of the gaps, many details remain obscure, 
but one should congratulate Christophe Thiers on writing such a fine analysis. The stela is monumental 
evidence of the good deeds of a ruler who showed his care for the native temples and their deities. 
Ptolemy VIIPs claim to the throne and his rule were legitimised by his visit to Amun-Ra and Khonsu 
at Herakleion in the year following his coronation, and the stela is further proof of his legitimacy. 
His support of the indigenous temples is in line with his general attitude to the native population, on 
whom he based his rule. Granting Herakleion and its temples the income from old land donations, tax 
benefits, and the right of asylum emphasises this attitude.
With the erection of such a monumental stela, the native priests set out their claims unmistakably, 
recording for eternity in the sacred hieroglyphic script the right of asylum, and their financial benefits. 
At the same time, the Greek text, probably a translation, was added and inscribed at a height that 
would have been accessible for reading when standing in front of such a gigantic monument. The 
hieroglyphic text, which only priests could have read, was located far too high up in order to be 
legible.
The exact original location of the stela is unclear. Obviously it stood in the temple district of 
Herakleion, and we can only imagine from the size of the monument how huge the temple must have 
been. This is underlined by the fact that colossal statues of Hapi and a Ptolemaic couple have been 
found at the site of the temple of Amun of Gereb at Herakleion-Thonis, all between 540 and 490 cm 
high (see figure 8 on p. xvi of Thiers’ book). Putting this into a wider context, it underscores the fact 
that the native temples of the north are almost all lost to us, and we therefore base our understanding of 
the Egyptian temples of the Graeco-Roman period on those that are still survive, mainly from Athribis 
southwards, with Edfu and Dendera being the main examples. However, the cultural centre was in the 
north and the most creative regions were probably in the Delta and the Memphis area. Therefore, one 
could assume that Graeco-Roman temples there were probably even larger and more richly decorated 
than those in the south. The fact that almost all surviving buildings of the Ptolemaic and the Roman 
periods are in Upper Egypt presents a bias that gives rise to well-known problems of interpretation.
To conclude, Christophe Thiers has produced an important and well-illustrated edition of a highly 
important monument dating to the reign of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II. As well as contributing to our 
understanding of the cult topography of the littoral region near Alexandria and Canopus and the Delta 
in general, this book also further illuminates the royal attitude to the native population and temples. 
This is mainly due to Thiers’ careful and accurate reading of the inscription and his profound analysis 
of the entire context, demonstrating his wide knowledge of the Ptolemaic period.
Martina Minas-Nerpel


La stèle de Ptolémée VIII Évergète II à Héracléion. By Christophe Thiers

http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/4081/1/Minas_Nerpel_Rez_Thiers_2011.pdf

La stèle de Ptolémée VIII Évergète II à Héracléion. By Christophe Thiers

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