Land and Taxes in Ptolemaic Egypt

This edition of a Greek papyrus land survey presents a detailed picture of landholding in Upper Egypt under the Ptolemies.

The first edition with introduction and commentary of a unique second-century BC land survey written on papyrus in Greek which, coming from Edfu in Upper Egypt, provides a new picture of landholding and taxation in the area. This volume is essential for all scholars of ancient Egypt and Hellenistic history.This book provides the first edition with an extensive introduction and full commentary of a unique land survey written on papyrus in Greek which derives from that area of southern (Upper) Egypt known as the Apollonopolite (or Edfu) nome and is now preserved in Copenhagen. Dating from the late second century BC, this survey provides a new picture of both landholding and taxation in the area which differs significantly from that currently accepted. The introduction sets this new evidence in its contemporary context, drawing particular attention to what it reveals about the nature of the relations of the Ptolemaic royal administration with local grandees, Egyptian temples and the army. No student of Hellenistic Egypt can afford to ignore this text, which importantly extends our knowledge of Upper Egypt under the Ptolemaic kings and involves some modification to the prevailing picture of landholding in Hellenistic Egypt.