Greeks and Egyptians: separate but equal?

The Ptolemies remained resolutely Greek, with, for example, only the last of its rulers, Cleopatra VII, learning the Egyptian language. Nonetheless, attempts were made to connect the two

Figure 18.9 Serapis, basalt statue, Roman copy of an early Hellenistic original.

Villa Albani, Rome

Cultures. The Ptolemies married their siblings, royal marriages that recalled the traditional Egyptian style. Further, the Ptolemies were careful to respect Egyptian religious traditions, allowing Egyptian temples to continue as always and supporting them with generous donations. Indeed, ancient Egyptian temples — their layout, decoration, symbolism, and function — are best understood by examining Ptolemaic examples. In newly built temples in the traditional style, such as the Temple of Horus at Edfu (in Upper Egypt), the Ptolemies had themselves depicted in the time-honored way, piously venerating the gods. The style of these reliefs carved on temple columns and walls was always pure Egyptian. Only their names indicate that the rulers shown were not Egyptian, but Greek.

The creation of the Hellenistic god Serapis shows how a mixture of Greek and Egyptian could work (Figure 18.9). A combination of the Egyptian Apis bull and Greek divinities, notably Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, this god, shown in realistic Greek style as a mature man with a beard, was promoted in order to unite the inhabitants of Egypt, both Greeks and Egyptians, in religious practice. The Egyptians did not take to Serapis, perhaps because he did not look at all Egyptian, but the Greeks and later Romans worshipped him with enthusiasm. Here was a deity who powerfully combined the Greek underworld with Egyptian mystic beliefs, an association that became increasingly appealing as cults offering the promise of life after death gained ground in the Classical world.

Painted decoration in the cemeteries of Alexandria tried blends of Greek and Egyptian motifs and styles, but the results were awkward, never quite gelling. How different this situation is from the Archaic period, when Greek art smoothly absorbed and digested Egyptian practices in sculpture and architecture! Now, in the Hellenistic period, like Egyptian art, Greek art was set in its aims and conventions. Neither had much to say to the other.