Quote Originally Posted by Omanes Alexandrapolites
There are quite a few other factors also. This included the inconvenient starting positions of their units combined with the AI's standard strategy (see here). There also is the matter of the early Selcuid training strategy - millita hoplites which are not only a phalanx unit, but are also a fairly low class one.

True true. Egypt does get quite a superb starting postion. The wealth is one thing, but also not surrounded by hostile factions is another.