Many of us have heard the story of Octavian, Mark Anthony, and Cleopatra. Certainly the movies have helped spread the story of love and suicide starring Octavian (later known as Caesar Augustus) from Rome and Cleopatra who would be the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. “Roman Egypt” as it is simply referred to in many historical texts show that the Roman province of Aegyptus (Egypt) was established in 30 BC; however this was not the first time that other civilizations had either controlled or attempted to control Egypt. The Nubians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks had all invaded Egypt over the years but it was the Roman rule that helped to unify Egypt. As far back as 5,500 BC early humans settled the area known as Lower Egypt (the northern section of the Nile) because the Nile such a dependable source of water, transportation, and irrigation which supported agriculture which in turn supported settlements. The unification of the upper and lower Nile (the Nile is one of the few rivers in the world that flows South to North, therefore the “upper” section is actually South and the “lower” section is actually North) to create Ancient Egypt is believed to have taken place around 3150 BC. (“Egyptian History Before & During Roman Rule”, http://www.muhlenberg.edu/library/papyri/egyptian_history.html)
The fact that Romans or Greeks were in Egypt does not in itself prove that the Egyptian culture was affected by Rome. To prove that theory I’d like to point to three historical findings that show a definitive Roman influence on the Egyptian way of life.
The first historical finding comes in the form of a boat. The Ploion Hellenikon was a style of Nile transport craft which was very different from other Nile vessels of the time. Though the boats both discovered and described vary in size and carrying capacity they are very similar in the fact that they store their cargo below decks floor that separates them from any potential bilge water in the bottom of the boat. Egyptian craft on the Nile at the time, other than the obvious river rafts, held their cargo on main deck of the boat much like a modern barge. Because the Nile is not subject to the same weather and rough water conditions found in the open water of the Mediterranean cargo could be loaded directly onto the surface of the boat. The ship would then float with the current (if traveling North), be assisted by the wind with a sail, or commonly pulled by teams of men on the banks. Vessels who moved the estimated 135,000 to 150,000 tons of grain per year (“Ploion Hellenikon”, Emand Khalil) across the Mediterranean from Egypt to Rome utilized a cargo hold but the boats on the Nile didn’t with the exception of the Ploion Hellenikon. According to Emand Khalil this boat was introduced to the Egyptians by Greek settlers of the area. Prior to this introduction, Egyptians viewed Nile vessels as floating surfaces which cargo could be stacked on top of rather than boats as we think of them with a cargo area below deck. We see this influence by the Greeks as having been accepted since boats still travel the Nile to this day with the same cargo storage configuration. This finding is significant because the type of boat used to transport goods is not the kind of change that a foreign ruler or invading army would have implemented but rather a shift in thinking adopted by Egyptians over time. It is this type of voluntary change that shows true influence and the cross-cultural exchange of ideas that occurs when civilizations interact peacefully.
The second example of cultural exchange comes to us in the form of mummy portraits found in Roman Egypt. Mummies and Egypt go hand and hand but the focus of this exchange comes from the types of wood used to create the mummy portraits. During the Roman Egypt there is evidence that wood found in the Roman Empire on the northern side of the Mediterranean Sea we imported into Egypt to create these portraits. This discovery is significant because Egyptians burial process was very sacred which is proven by the elaborate steps taken to preserve honor the dead. The fact that wood from other parts of the world, specifically Roman areas means that cross-cultural exchange penetrated even the most sacred of Egyptian practices. The type of wood discovered was that of lime wood. This discovery coupled with the introduction of Roman artistic style in the mummy portraits shows a definitive influence over Egyptian burial practices. Evidence also exists that shows how the shift in timber used was not a complete change from one type of wood to another but rather a blending of imported wood and local wood. Lime wood, known as Tilia, is found across Europe and would have been a plentiful source of timber. Tilia can grow to 100 feet tall with diameters upwards of 4 feet. Furthermore, Tilia grows straight which makes it ideal for making planks and has a low susceptibility to insect attack. This type of wood and others were blended with native Egyptian wood like Ficus Sycomorus to create the mummy portraits. Ficus Sycomorus differs greatly from the Tilia in that it is a light fig wood that is much more prone to insect attack and doesn’t respond as well to cutting and planking. However, for the purpose of this document, Tilia and Ficus Sycomorus woods used together shows how outside influence changed even sacred Egyptian burial practices. (“Portrait Mummies from Roman Egypt”)
The third cultural influence that cannot be overlooked is that of the Roman and Greek rule of Egypt. Like it or not the fact that Romans and Greeks ruled and settled Egypt during the civilization’s early history and left behind traditions, religions, and systems of government that outlasted the periods of ruling authority. Many examples of blended or new styles of art and pottery immerged in Egypt that scholars believe were influenced by cultures outside of Egypt. Though the Greeks and Romans cannot be credited with the introduction of Christianity to Egypt, the history of conquest after Christianity’s introduction cannot be ignored. This fact does not prove the point that the Greeks or Romans changed the culture of Egypt but rather that outside cultural influence forever changed the entire region, Egypt included. The fact that the city of Alexandria in Egypt was named after Alexander the Greek is another unavoidable example of outside influence on Egypt that cannot be discounted and must not be overlooked for the purpose of this thesis. Furthermore, the fact that Alexandria became such a center of learning and scholarship is evidence in and of itself. During Roman rule, Egypt was divided into areas of bureaucratic administration which forced formerly non-existent boundaries of power and authority to shape the way common Egyptians interacted with both Romans and other Egyptian citizens. (“Cultural Contacts: Egypt, the Ancient Near East, and the Classical World”)
In conclusion, the culture of Egypt has been affected in many ways from its history of interaction with different civilizations. Whether it's the types of boats used to transport good up and down the Nile, the way that Egyptians honored and buried their dead, or the history of Egypt’s conquest and rule the fact that Egypt has been greatly affected by other cultures cannot be ignored.