Portrayal of Ptolemaic Egypt in Film+TV

[J.Alco]

I just need to get this written down, since it's been bugging me for a while.

A coupla weeks ago I finished watching season 2 of HBO's Rome (the series). While I think it's perhaps the most accurate portrayal of Ancient Rome yet in the media (dubious army uniforms, shields, tactics, and flags notwithstanding) I was, to say the least, dissapointed with how the producers chose to represent Egypt as still being caught in the time of Pharaos, worship of the old gods (Ra et al), painted eyes, curious wigs, and gilded make-up. Having read here on EB, as well as several dozen other history books/articles and internet sources, that Egypt under the Ptolemaic dynasty was turned into another version of Greece (Greek religion being followed by rulers, armies modified to hellenic standards, and direct descendents of Ptolemy Soter being the ones governing the country, not to mention the rulers adopting the same dress-codes and language) I found it dissapointing that the series producers chose to stick with the outdated 'Tutankhamen-Ramses II' version of Egypt.

At least Cleopatra, in the series, was portrayed as having fairer skin and a more european look, which as far as I know is pretty accurate (She was, after all, of Greek descent).

Now I'm just wondering. Has there been any portrayal in any film/tv medium (even if it was a documentary) that accurately portrayed Ptolemaic Egypt? Or has the 'RTW Mummy Returns' Egypt the only version portrayed in the Media?

Or is it that I am wrong? I mean, did the rulers really begin assimilating local culture to that extent? (I mean, a few customs being adopted I can understand, but worshipping the sun-God? Call me skeptical but I have a hard time buying it)

Anyway. Just needed to vent on that. Like I said, I love Rome, and truth be told, the whole Egypt thing was only a small distraction, not a downside. Just had to get this offa my chest.

[Watchman]

What I know is that most comics involving the period I've seen clearly haven't done their homework in the matter...

That aside, while I don't know the details I wouldn't be one bit surprised if the Ptolemies only too readily adopted most of the Pharaohs' trappings to help shore up their somewhat lackluster legitimacy in the eyes of the common folk. They came up with at least one new deity for the same purpose, didn't they ?

[Bootsiuv]

Ptolemy Soter I took the title of Pharoah, and the residents of the Ptolemaic Empire, greek or otherwise, did worship the sun god Amun-Ra, in the form of Zues-Amun.

Now, to what extent they actually adopted local dress, language, customs, etc. is probably debateable. I would think they would have used as many of the native customs as they could bring themselves to, as that has the effect of sedating the native population.

I'm sure the official government language was greek, but they probably adopted local languages as well. The rosetta stone comes to mind...

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I think Cleopatra - Burton and Taylor and Harrison and co. - comes closer than anything else I've seen. That was pretty much the consensus of a friend of mine who taught a Cleopatra course this past spring too. Comparing what all is out there of course, not what might ideally be created. There's a lot of "grittyness" and detail that shows like Rome get across though that those older movies don't convey, and there's realism in that of course too. A sort of combination to the detail and "commonness" of HBO's Rome's sets and character portrayal and the sets, casting, grandeur of the Cleopatra, with the attention (more than just nominal at least) to historical detail of both would be something really awesome to behold imho.

[iamroot]

I think the portrayal was pretty accurate in ROME. I mean, the Ptolemies pretty much assimilated with the local culture to a very great degree.

[paullus]

no, it wasn't.

The Ptolemies were Greek. A few of them at various times were looked upon very harshly by other Greeks for their excessive indulgence in luxury, which may have involved some Pharaonic trappings. Generally, however, they remained rather Hellenic; they allowed--encouraged--the native Egyptians, and particularly the priests of the native cults, to think of them in a Pharoanic sense. So there were inscriptions drawn out to look like decrees of the Middle Kingdom, and multilingual decrees which included heiroglyphics, but they spoke Greek, and were generally great supporters and partarkers of Hellenic culture.

It also ticked me off to the see the ridiculous Egyptian guards--Ethiopians in goofy getups. Kleopatra had a bodyguard of Galatians. Get it right, HBO!

[Bellum]

I don't think Egypt itself changed all that much. The common people were still Egyptian.

Islam probably had a greater effect. You can confuse Ra with Zeus, but not with 'God'.