On Ethiopians and the Potter's Oracle

[Cheexsta]

I had an interesting class today on the Potter's Oracle (http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/texts/potters_oracle.htm) that was "discovered" during this period. It was said to have been spoken by a potter-made-oracle during the New Kingdom in Egypt that Ptolemaic Egyptians thought was referring to their time (though was more likely written by a contemporary Hellenised Egyptian to stir up trouble - which makes sense, since it was written in Greek).

Now, in this papyrus there was a line that caught my attention:


And out of Syria will come he who will be hateful to all men [presumeably Antiochus IV]...he [someone else?] will come from Ethiopia...and from the realms of the impious into Egypt and he will be established in the city which will later be laid waste [Alexandria].
One of the questions raised in the class was who was coming from Ethiopia and why were they going to Alexandria? I raised the possibility that it referred to the Ptolemaic kings who used Ethiopian soldiers in their armies, which would also explain why he would then go to Alexandria...

And it was the first the lecturer has heard of Ethiopians being used extensively in Ptolemaic armies. I mentioned that I would try to find the references and we moved on.

Now, my question is this: what actual evidence do we have of Ethiopian soldiers being used in Ptolemaic armies? I did a search for this and found a couple of threads (one by Spendios (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=63017) and the other by MeinPanzer (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=77826)) but neither were particularly useful other than to inform me that there isn't much in the way of textual evidence and that it was mostly from art.

I'm specifically after the evidence we have, not a simple "yes/no" answer. If there are images or texts that suggest Ethopian troops were used by Ptolemaic kings, I'd definately like to see them, and if they're documented somewhere I'd like to know where. This is in no way meant to be a hostile demand - it's simply a question that would put my mind at ease (and may make for a good argument when exams roll around ~;)).

Cheers in advance for your help.

[paullus]

Well, they didn't look quite like our ethiopian agema, which is scheduled for the axe once it has a suitable replacement. but we do have quite a few ethiopians attested in the papyri. they were especially common as marines, but could be found in any number of unit types. I can't recall exactly, but I think they were also mentioned in Ptolemy II's large military parade at one of the Ptolemaia festivals.

They also come up as enemies of the Ptolemies. In the 180's and 160's Ethiopian or Nubian rulers supported Pharaonic pretenders in wars waged in Upper and Middle Egypt. Their involvement in the 180's is attested in a priestly inscription made following the Ptolemaic victory over them, and in the 160's via papyri. None of those armies came anywhere near Alexandria though.

[Cheexsta]

Paullus,

Thank you for your response. Would it be possible to find a copy of these papyri and/or inscriptions in a journal or similar? I'm after the specific references, rather than a second-hand account of them.

Anyone else?

Edit: I have managed to find one very brief mention of Ethiopians in Ptolemaic armies in a JSTOR review of another book, so I may have to dig up that reference...

Here (http://www.jstor.org/view/0009840x/ap020479/02a00490/1?frame=noframe&userID=896f82cc@mq.edu.au/01cc993315162ea115e905c04c&dpi=3&config=jstor) is the link for those with JSTOR access.

[cmacq]

Now, my question is this: what actual evidence do we have of Ethiopian soldiers being used in Ptolemaic armies?

Cheers in advance for your help.

Think not Ethiopia, rather Kush, Napata, or more likely Meroë.

I had hoped that even the most casual observer, would not misconstrue my subtle nature?

[Cheexsta]

cmacq,

I'm well aware of the distinction there. When I say "Ethiopian" I do mean in the sense of "Aithiops," which I take to mean included the Cushites/Napatans/Meroïtes. Nothing that I've read mentions these people (specifically the Meroïtes) as being a part of the Ptolemaic army; more that they did trade and come into conflict with the Ptolemies at various points in history.

If I'm reading everything right, the kingdom of Meroë was of Nubian ethnicity (if such a word can be applied here), so I assume Nubians = Ethiopians?

In any case, I'm still eager to get my grubby mitts on copies of these papyri and transcriptions of the inscriptions (sounds like a bad hip hop song...) Paullus alluded to. Unfortunately I haven't the faintest clue as to where to find them...

[cmacq]

Thats Medewi or Bedewi, Ptolemaic period? I belive that would be the late Napata, and early Meroitic periods? It's Ergamenes, but this was the Meroitic king involved in the native revolt of upper egypt, in Ptolemy V's reign. About Ethopian troops used by Ptolemaic kings? Possibly, but no direct evidence. Evidence of Greek, near eastern, and even Kelt merks, but none from Meroitic kingdom? It seems this maybe related to iron working being introduced very late in Napata period. Kush, rich in gold, poor in iron.