The Ptolemies: Rise of a Dynasty – Ptolemaic Egypt in 330-246 BC

REVIEW BY SG This is the first of three planned books on the last of Egypt’s dynasties, written not by an Egyptologist, but by a specialist in Classical and Hellenistic Greek history. This initial volume, covering the reigns of the first two Ptolemies, focuses more on military activities across the Mediterranean, than on providing an in-depth account of life in Egypt at this time. Grainger details the main events of the wars between the Successors of Alexander the Great – their constantly shifting alliances, and their territorial losses and gains. There was something of an arms race between the Successors to build armies and fleets of warships. Within Egypt, the Ptolemaic Dynasty r