Greco-Roman Period Overview
- Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
- Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
- Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
- 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
- Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
- 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
- New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
- 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
- Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
- Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
- Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
- Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today
- Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
- Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
- Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
- 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
- Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
- 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
- New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
- 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
- Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
- Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
- Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
- Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today
The Greco-Roman Period
332 BCE – 642 CE
The Macedonian/Greek army of Alexander the Great occupied Egypt in 332 BCE, and the young Alexander declared himself pharaoh. Alexander’s generals, including a man named Ptolemy, split up his empire when he died.
Ptolemy gained control of Egypt, establishing a dynasty that lasted for nearly three hundred years, concluding with the tragic story of Cleopatra.
After Cleopatra’s death, the Romans seized Egypt as its province and used her people to farm food for its troops. Life expectancy of common people dropped sharply under Roman rule. In 384 CE the Roman Emperor Theodosius effectively converted the Empire to Christianity.
Ruler: Cleopatra VII
Monuments: Edfu Temple, Dendera Zodiac, Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria and Philae – Temple of Isis.
Artifacts from the Greek and Roman Periods