Thanks guys.

FYI, I managed to win last night. The notification about Egypt was just a notification that they had taken out the Seleucids. Luckily for me, Armenia (the other state the Egyptians have to crush to win) held out. I took down the Macedonians and then simulataneously launched a four-pronged assault on the four remaining Greek cities, and took them in two turns (the were my allies, but hey, they'll prosper under the new Pax Romana :) ). Victory, and the ability to play any faction, is now mine.

Thanks for the help!