Not drowning but waving?: Between temples and empire in Roman Egypt

Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and EventsPublic lecture/debate/seminar

Description

With the Augustus’ conquest of Egypt and the creation of the new province of Aegyptus, newly arrived imperial administrators came face to face with some of the most physically and figuratively imposing institutions in the country: the temples. The indigenous temples of Egypt retained a vast religious, cultural, social, and economic role, even as the growing numbers of legionaries, prefects, and administrators marked an inexorable shift of power away from the traditional centres of power along the Nile. From Roman Egypt’s first poet-
governor to temple staff finding new ways to resolve internal feuds, the story of Rome’s time in Egypt became interwoven with the long, complex history of Egypt’s temple-focused religion. This talk will explore how Roman administrators and temple officials could understand each other, where they might find common ground, and the impact that their centuries of coexistence had on the history, art, and documentary record of Egypt.
Period20 Sept 2023
Held atRundle Foundation Ltd, Australia, Victoria
Degree of RecognitionRegional