The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome: A History of the Ptolemies

Review

by Arienne King
published on 07 January 2025

Guy de la Bédoyère’s The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome deals with the decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 323 to 30 BCE. The book explores how Egypt was weakened by civil wars and rebellion until it became an easy target for the rising Roman Republic. It is comprehensive but still accessible to general audiences.

The book is divided into three parts, each comprising several chapters. Part One deals with the Ptolemaic dynasty's foundation and the beginnings of its decline under Ptolemy IV. Part Two includes four chapters on what life was like in Ptolemaic Egypt. It covers topics like the people of Egypt, religious beliefs, mummification and funerary practices, crime, and governance. Part Three concludes the book with an eight-chapter overview of the later Ptolemies and their relationship with Rome. The last two chapters focus on Egypt’s final ruler Cleopatra VII, who committed suicide after being defeated by the Roman leader Octavian.

The book explains the Roman annexation of Ptolemaic Egypt in the broader context of Mediterranean politics at the end of the 1st millennium BCE. It focuses on the outbreaks of civil war and rebellion in the late 3rd century BCE, as Egypt was destabilized by economic shocks and the loss of overseas territories. Meanwhile, the Roman Republic emerged as the dominant power in the western Mediterranean and began extending its influence eastward.

As Rome ascended, the Ptolemaic dynasty grew to rely on it for political and military support, which paved the way for Egypt’s fall. This core idea of Ptolemaic decline and increasing reliance on Rome is widely accepted in academia, and de la Bédoyère compellingly presents it to new readers. He portrays the complex personalities of key figures who shaped Egypt’s destiny. The ruthless choices made by the last Ptolemies as they fought for the survival of their dynasty are portrayed sympathetically but never apologetically. The Romans are similarly complex, each having gotten involved in Egypt for their own reasons.

Guy de la Bédoyère is a historian and archaeologist who has written many books about Rome and Egypt aimed at general audiences. He utilizes a wide collection of archaeological and textual evidence to support his arguments. He also includes anecdotes from first-hand accounts of life in Ptolemaic Egypt, providing readers with a personal insight into the past.

At the end of the book, there is a very useful collection of appendices. These include a simple timeline, family trees of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, an explanation of the royal titulary used by Ptolemaic queens, and an overview of Ptolemaic coinage. It has extensive notes and recommendations for further reading, which make it a good starting point for readers interested in learning more about Ptolemaic Egypt.

The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome compares favorably to the available English-language monographs on Ptolemaic Egypt. It is written in a light tone and is not overly technical, but it does address topics like economic and political systems at length. While accessible to casual audiences, it is most well-suited to readers who have some familiarity with Classical antiquity. Students and serious enthusiasts interested in Ptolemaic history will particularly enjoy this.

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