Dated to 311 BC, and likely erected in the town of Buto in the Nile Delta, the Stele of the Satrap is an important document for understanding Ptolemy’s tenure as satrap of Egypt prior to his assumption of the kingship. Notably, Alexander IV is used for the dating formula at the beginning of the inscription, but the text is about Ptolemy first and foremost. He is referred to as a “great prince of Egypt”, for example, and the identity of the king making offerings to Horus Edjo in the accompanying relief is ambiguous, the cartouche left empty.
The bulk of the inscription is concerned with Ptolemy’s actions as satrap of Egypt. Significantly, the stele records how Ptolemy restored several cultic symbols, from sacred statues to scrolls, to Egyptian temples. Additionally,…
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Ancient History (Digital) - 1 Issue, AH 53