1. Egypt 3: The Cities

4. Administration Important: pp. 54-62 c. 201: Septimius Severus: all nome capitals polis- status (before only Ptolemais, Naucratis, Alex., Antinoopolis) Introduction of boule (city council): esp. for tax collection by land-owning elite

5. Administration Cities before Diocletian Mix of Greek, Egyptian and Roman elements Greek: - City councils (boulai) - Magistrates: euergetism - gymnasial/councillor class (bouleutai) Egyptian: - Division in nomes (districts), strategos Roman: -toplayer above Egyptian-Greek administration, e.g. prefect and other high officials in Alex.

6. Tasks of councillors: Tax collection Tax collection Magistratural functions: Magistratural functions: - Exegetes: accounting for status - Gymnasium (e.g. gymnasiarch) - Food supplies (e.g. agoranomos) Appointed by council and had to report back to them * Also special public events, such as festivals, visits of emperors etc.

7. Changes Diocletian ‘ decline’ of boule > better perceived as ‘transformation’! - Changes in city itself: gymnasium losing central place in city in favour of other forms of amusement, e.g. horses; religious functions (e.g. archiereus) taken over by functions in Church - Early fourth-century administrative changes: Introduction of logistes (curator civitatis); strategos > exactor; riparius: public order; defensor civitatis: justice -

8. In general: In general: Shift away from council to curial class (curiales/politeuomenoi) Basically the councillors in Late Antiquity are only involved in tax collection Countryside: Countryside: Toparchies replaced with muncipalities (pagi); at head: praepositus pagi (councillor class) > ‘decline of nome system’

9. What changed for the elite: ‘growing power but diminished autonomy’ Because of this three-tired system, imperial government not very present, except e.g. through army

10. Provinces of Egypt 298, Diocletian: Egypt and Thebaid 298, Diocletian: Egypt and Thebaid 314/5: Herculia, Iovia, Thebaid 314/5: Herculia, Iovia, Thebaid 322: Herculia, Mercuriana, Iovia, Thebaid 322: Herculia, Mercuriana, Iovia, Thebaid 324: Egypt, Thebaid 324: Egypt, Thebaid 341: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid 341: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid 381: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid 381: Augustamnica, Egypt, Thebaid Head of these provinces: praeses 381: creation of Egypt as diocese with Augustal Prefect above other praesides 397-ca. 500: Augustamnica, Egypt, Arcadia, Thebaid 397-ca. 500: Augustamnica, Egypt, Arcadia, Thebaid * 6 th cent.: 6 or 7 provinces; from 539 dux et augustalis

12. Landowning elite Concentration of wealth but not undifferentiated unity: - Small landowners: < 10 arouras (ca. 40- 50% of all holders) Cannot live off these lands: civil/military service, other occupations - Middle group: 11-100 arouras (ca. 40 %) Not dependent on occupation; civil service - Large land holders: > 100 arouras (ca. 10%): rich; councillor class

13. Extensive lands in the countryside, sometimes spread over several pagi Extensive lands in the countryside, sometimes spread over several pagi Staples, such as grain Staples, such as grain Other: ships, town houses etc. Other: ships, town houses etc. In general about 5-10% of city population could live off lands owned For further details read pp. 68-78

14. What did the rest of the population do? Production (food, shelter, clothing, technology) Production (food, shelter, clothing, technology) e.g. processing and milling of grain, meat and fish etc. Construction business, textile industry etc. Metal working etc. Distribution: market centre for food and drink, cf. Mediterranean market places, highly specialised Distribution: market centre for food and drink, cf. Mediterranean market places, highly specialised Services: transportation (e.g. on Nile); slaves Services: transportation (e.g. on Nile); slaves

15. Women Patriarchal society (though not as bleak as classical Greece): position depended on family, wealth and social position Patriarchal society (though not as bleak as classical Greece): position depended on family, wealth and social position - Owning and leasing of land Ca. 8.5 % of land holders were women - Lower classes: shops, domestic service etc. Widows and orphans not socially accepted

16. Greek education and culture Mostly councillors, but exception are e.g. wealthy athletes Mostly councillors, but exception are e.g. wealthy athletes Education system: Education system: - Grammatistes - Secondary eduction: grammatikos Educational institution: gymnasium, only accessible to gymnasial class Educational institution: gymnasium, only accessible to gymnasial class Ca. 14 years: ephebes Also sports: local, but also trans-regional (Panopolis), or even international (Olympic Games)

17. High culture Main centres: Panopolis, Hermopolis, Oxyrhynchus - Full-time philosophers - Little evidence for libraries, but large amount of literary works seem to have come from Panopolis (Bodmer collection, perhaps Chester Beatty) - Main development: incorporation of Christian literature and use as part of Christian education

18. Other changes: gymnasium > circus (cf. before on ‘decline of the council’ Other changes: gymnasium > circus (cf. before on ‘decline of the council’ ‘Wider Horizons’: - Group of poets from Egyptian nome capitals, ‘Wandering Poets’: Olympiodorus of Thebes; Nonnus (Dionysiaca), Cyrus of Panopolis (consul 441)

19. SB III 6222 (Dec. 301?)