The Great Revolt

The Great RevoltThe Great RevoltClarysse Texts 2 & 6Clarysse Texts 2 & 6

Background on Great Background on Great RevoltRevolt

Lasts from 206 BCE until 186 BCELasts from 206 BCE until 186 BCE

After reclaiming Coele Syria from Antiochos III After reclaiming Coele Syria from Antiochos III in the battle of Raphia, the Egyptians armed in the battle of Raphia, the Egyptians armed by Ptolemy IV search for native leaders to by Ptolemy IV search for native leaders to back.back.

Two priests, Chaonnophris and Haronnophris, Two priests, Chaonnophris and Haronnophris, lead the rebellion.lead the rebellion.

Ptolemy V puts down the last of the rebels in Ptolemy V puts down the last of the rebels in the South in 186 BCE.the South in 186 BCE.

Texts 2 & 6 Background Texts 2 & 6 Background and Similaritiesand Similarities

Both are texts inscribed upon Egyptian Both are texts inscribed upon Egyptian templestemples

Both the texts praise Ptolemy V as a hero for Both the texts praise Ptolemy V as a hero for defeating the rebels.defeating the rebels.

Both texts insult the character of the native Both texts insult the character of the native rebels.rebels.

Told from the point of view of the Egyptian Told from the point of view of the Egyptian priests, who are in a coalition with the priests, who are in a coalition with the Ptolemaic rulers.Ptolemaic rulers.

Where did the texts Where did the texts come from?come from?

Why are the texts Why are the texts important?important?

The documentation of the Great Revolt is The documentation of the Great Revolt is sparse because Greek historians largely sparse because Greek historians largely refused to legitimize it.refused to legitimize it.

Clarysse refers to the Great Revolt as a Clarysse refers to the Great Revolt as a “hidden” war.“hidden” war.

These decrees/inscriptions provide us with These decrees/inscriptions provide us with crucial information on the revolts from around crucial information on the revolts from around the same time period as the events.the same time period as the events.

Clarysse Text 2Clarysse Text 2

Hieroglyphic inscription on temple at EdfuHieroglyphic inscription on temple at Edfu

Details how revolts interrupted construction of Details how revolts interrupted construction of a gate for the temple. a gate for the temple.

Construction starts in 206/207, and is not Construction starts in 206/207, and is not finished until 176finished until 176

Ptolemy V referred to as “the strong one” and Ptolemy V referred to as “the strong one” and “the king who chased disorder out of the “the king who chased disorder out of the country”.country”.

Rebels referred to as “ignorant”.Rebels referred to as “ignorant”.

Clarysse Text 2Clarysse Text 2

Language of inscription mirrors that of Language of inscription mirrors that of Memphis Decree and others in its praise of Memphis Decree and others in its praise of Ptolemaic rulers.Ptolemaic rulers.

Priests have interest in keeping the ruler Priests have interest in keeping the ruler unopposed, because this assures funding of unopposed, because this assures funding of temples.temples.

The interruption of the building of the gate is The interruption of the building of the gate is symbolic of the interruption of the larger cycle symbolic of the interruption of the larger cycle of benefaction and praise that runs between a of benefaction and praise that runs between a Ptolemaic ruler and the religious elite.Ptolemaic ruler and the religious elite.

Clarysse Text 6Clarysse Text 6

Demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions (bi-Demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions (bi-lingual) found on a lingual) found on a mammisimammisi in Philae in Philae

Mammisi= A temple of royal birthMammisi= A temple of royal birth

Goes more in depth as to the supposed Goes more in depth as to the supposed crimes of the rebels.crimes of the rebels.

Authored by high priests and scribes Authored by high priests and scribes convening in Alexandriaconvening in Alexandria

Clarysse Text 6Clarysse Text 6

Source of these accounts is from throne of Source of these accounts is from throne of Ptolemaic power and priestly cohorts.Ptolemaic power and priestly cohorts.

Therefore, it is hard to dissect truth from Therefore, it is hard to dissect truth from biased accounts.biased accounts.

Rebels credited with everything from stealing Rebels credited with everything from stealing taxes, raiding towns full of women and taxes, raiding towns full of women and children, and destroying temples.children, and destroying temples.

Clarysse Text 6Clarysse Text 6

High priests write that these crimes were High priests write that these crimes were committed “in the name of anarchy”, implying committed “in the name of anarchy”, implying that these Egyptians have no real cause or that these Egyptians have no real cause or complaints.complaints.

Leader’s name “Chaonnophris”, which means Leader’s name “Chaonnophris”, which means “may Onnophris live” is reduced to the “may Onnophris live” is reduced to the meaningless name “Char-Wenef” in this account.meaningless name “Char-Wenef” in this account.

These inscriptions are important because, despite These inscriptions are important because, despite their obvious bias, we don’t have many other their obvious bias, we don’t have many other sources to piece together the Great Revolt.sources to piece together the Great Revolt.

Question Time?Question Time?

??