Epistrategos (Ancient Greek: ἐπιστράτηγος, lit. 'over-general'; Latin: epistrategus) was a senior military and administrative office in Ptolemaic Egypt, which was retained during the subsequent Roman period as well. Each epistrategos were responsible for an epistrategy (Ancient Greek: ἐπιστρατηγία, romanized: epistratēgia).
Under Ptolemaic rule, a Greek strategos was appointed to each of the Egyptian nomes, originally as garrison commander for the Greek troops, but soon eclipsing the nomarch and assuming administrative duties as well. Gradually, a number of nomes began being placed under the authority of a single strategos, and under Ptolemy II Philadelphus (r. 283 – 246 BC), the office of epistrategos of the "Chora" (i.e. the interior country) was established, with authority over the other strategoi in the entirety of Egypt beyond the capital, Alexandria. Later, a second epistrategos was created for the Thebaid. As with most of the Ptolemaic system, the office was retained after the Roman takeover in 30 BC, with a layer of Roman officials under the augustal prefect grafted onto the existing administrative structure. The office remained important, although it apparently lost any military responsibility; very soon, it came to be held by Roman citizens of equestrian status. Reflecting the Roman division of Egypt in three broad areas (the Nile Delta area or Lower Egypt, Middle Egypt or Heptanomis, and the Thebaid), during the Roman era there were three or four epistrategoi, as there were often two holders of the office in Lower Egypt, one for the east and one for the west.
Sourcesedit
Thomas, J. David (1975). The epistrategos in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, Part 1: The Ptolemaic epistrategos. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag. ISBN3-531-09906-X.
Thomas, J. David (1982). The epistrategos in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, Part 2: The Roman epistrategos. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag. ISBN3-531-09914-0.
Vandoni, Mariangela (1971). Gli Epistrategi nell' Egitto greco-romano (in Italian). Milan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
January 01, 1970
epistrategos, ancient, greek, ἐπιστράτηγος, over, general, latin, epistrategus, senior, military, administrative, office, ptolemaic, egypt, which, retained, during, subsequent, roman, period, well, each, epistrategos, were, responsible, epistrategy, ancient, g. Epistrategos Ancient Greek ἐpistrathgos lit over general Latin epistrategus was a senior military and administrative office in Ptolemaic Egypt which was retained during the subsequent Roman period as well Each epistrategos were responsible for an epistrategy Ancient Greek ἐpistrathgia romanized epistrategia Under Ptolemaic rule a Greek strategos was appointed to each of the Egyptian nomes originally as garrison commander for the Greek troops but soon eclipsing the nomarch and assuming administrative duties as well Gradually a number of nomes began being placed under the authority of a single strategos and under Ptolemy II Philadelphus r 283 246 BC the office of epistrategos of the Chora i e the interior country was established with authority over the other strategoi in the entirety of Egypt beyond the capital Alexandria Later a second epistrategos was created for the Thebaid As with most of the Ptolemaic system the office was retained after the Roman takeover in 30 BC with a layer of Roman officials under the augustal prefect grafted onto the existing administrative structure The office remained important although it apparently lost any military responsibility very soon it came to be held by Roman citizens of equestrian status Reflecting the Roman division of Egypt in three broad areas the Nile Delta area or Lower Egypt Middle Egypt or Heptanomis and the Thebaid during the Roman era there were three or four epistrategoi as there were often two holders of the office in Lower Egypt one for the east and one for the west Sources editThomas J David 1975 The epistrategos in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt Part 1 The Ptolemaic epistrategos Opladen Westdeutscher Verlag ISBN 3 531 09906 X Thomas J David 1982 The epistrategos in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt Part 2 The Roman epistrategos Opladen Westdeutscher Verlag ISBN 3 531 09914 0 Vandoni Mariangela 1971 Gli Epistrategi nell Egitto greco romano in Italian Milan a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epistrategos amp oldid 1005763018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
