The Rise of the Egyptian Priestly Synods during the Ptolemaic Era

Abstract

This article examines the issues on the emergence of the Egyptian priestly synods known through the trilingual decrees. They were an important innovation in the Ptolemaic era. Their origin is of particular interest. Here, the early history of the synods is analyzed. The following questions are answered: When were the synods established? Who started convening them? And why was this institution founded? Based on the results obtained, a number of conclusions are drawn. Firstly, the synods were introduced during the reign of Ptolemy III, and the earlier assemblies under Ptolemy II should be viewed as their prototypes. Secondly, the synods were arranged and controlled by the king, even if the decrees stated otherwise. Thirdly, the synods were needed to strengthen support for the priesthood in the early reign of Ptolemy III when there was a major uprising during the Third Syrian War. Thus, it was a major tool for boosting the king’s legitimacy and securing the loyalty of the Egyptian priesthood.