Originalveröffentlichung in: Damian Robinson, Andrew Wilson (Hg.), Alexandria and the North-Western Delta. Joint conference proceedings of Alexandria: City and Harbour (Oxford 2004) and The Trade and Topography of Egypt's North-West Delta, 8th century BC to 8th century AD (Berlin 2006), Oxford 2010, S. 15-24 2: Naukratis, Heracleion-Thonis and Alexandria - Remarks on the Presence and Trade Activities of Greeks in the North-West Delta from the Seventh Century BC to the End of the Fourth Century BC Stefan Pfeiffer The present article examines how Greek trade in Egypt 2. Greeks and SaTtic Egypt developed and the consequences that the Greek If we disregard the Minoan and Mycenaean contacts economic presence had on political and economic condi ­ with Egypt, we can establish Greco-Egyptian relations as tions in Egypt. I will focus especially on the Delta region far back as the seventh century BC.2 A Greek presence and, as far as possible, on the city of Heracleion-Thonis on in the Delta can be established directly or indirectly for the Egyptian coast, discovered by Franck Goddio during the following places: Naukratis, Korn Firin, Sais, Athribis, underwater excavations at the end of the twentieth Bubastis, Mendes, Tell el-Mashkuta, Daphnai and century. The period discussed here was an exceedingly Magdolos. 3 In most of the reports, 4 Rhakotis, the settle­ exciting one for Egypt, as the country, forced by changes ment preceding Alexandria, is mentioned as the location in foreign policy, reversed its isolation from the rest of the of the Greeks, an assumption based on a misinterpreted ancient world. and long-outdated reading of a semi-literary papyrus from the Roman period. 5 1. Preliminary remarks on the sources Psammetichus I (reigned 664-610 BC) Before turning to the relationship between Greeks and Egyptians in the Archaic and Classical periods, it must According to the historian Diodorus writing in the first be noted that most of the information on the subject century BC, Greek trade with Egypt, indeed even a settled comes from the second book of Herodotus ’ Histories. Greek presence in Egypt, began in an era when the The value of this source, written just after the mid-fifth country was governed by many local clan chiefs under century BC by 'The Father of History', is rather contro ­ the central rule of the Assyrian king. One of the local versial. Some consider him a reliable source, while others chiefs supported by the Assyrians was Psammetichus I, view him solely as a storyteller, in fact, even as a 'liar'.’ residing in Sais in the Delta, of whom Diodorus gives the Thus, all interpretations of his work must be approached following account: cautiously as they are coloured by varying judgements Psammetichus of Sais ... furnished wares for all regarding his quality as a source. merchants (emporois) and especially for the Strabo and Diodorus are also controversial sources, Phoenicians and the Creeks ; and since in this manner but for a different reason: they wrote between 400 and he disposed of the products of his own district at a profit 600 years after the events they reported. It must always and exchanged them for those of other peoples, he was be questioned how much true historical information not only possessed of great wealth (euporian) but also can be contained in accounts written after such a long enjoyed friendly relations with peoples and rulers. 6 time and how much of it is simply local tradition or even erroneous information taken at face value. Psammetichus was thus the first to become aware of The Greek literary sources are complemented, however, the advantages of foreign trade and thereby achieved by epigraphic and archaeological evidence of Egyptian great wealth. He declared himself independent from the and Greek origin. These are so-called primary sources, Assyrians and began his military campaign against the which give us details without establishing a direct histor ­ other clan chiefs of the country; he was able to fall back ical connection like the literary sources. Epigraphic and on the aid of Carian and Ionian mercenaries because of archaeological evidence, however, can be inserted into the good foreign relations created through trade. With the network of events and economic history conveyed their support, the local SaTtic ruler succeeded in bringing by the Greek historians. Thus, if the Egyptian textual Egypt once again under a united Egyptian rule. 7 Thus, sources and artefacts can be connected to the reports of by at least 557 BC, he was recognised as Pharaoh in Herodotus, Diodorus and Strabo, then a probable recon ­ Thebes. Starting with his rule over the reunited country, struction of events is possible. the so-called SaTtic period began with the 26th Dynasty 15 Stefan Pfeiffer (664-525 BC). Scholars perceive this period as the last Greeks residing in SaTtic Egypt has been found. Therefore, heyday of Egypt.8 Of interest to us is that Creek trade for the time being at least, it is suggested that we should and the Greek art of warfare contributed significantly take Diodorus literally, and suggest that because the towards reuniting Egypt and freeing it from Assyrian rule, country was not open to Greek trade for very long, the although Diodorus possibly exaggerated the importance Greeks had little time to create any lasting evidence of of the Creek military. their presence. Potentially the first Greek trader known Havin g established his rule over a reunited Egypt, to us by name is the Samian 'pirate' Kolaios, incidentally Psammetichus stationed Greek mercenaries at various mentioned by Herodotus, 17 whose journey Boardman strategic points in the Delta to protect the country dates to the year 638 BC.18 from invasions. We thus learn from Herodotus and Diodorus that he provided a piece of land near Bubastis Amasis (570-526 BC) for the settlement of Ionian and Carian mercenaries 'with the river Nile between'; these were called 'Camps' About 40 years after the reign of Psammetichus I, one of (.stmtopeda ).9 Carrez-Maratray assumes that they his successors, the usurper Amasis, reorganised Egyptian were located near the modern site of Tell el-Shuqafiya, trade with the Greeks. His goal was to place Greek close to Tell el-Kebir in the region of Faqus/Qantir, economic activity under state control by concentrating called Thou or Tacasarta (ta castra = stratopeda) in their economic presence in one place. For this purpose antiquity. 10 An additional Greek military base, named he selected, as we learn from Herodotus, the town of 'Wall of the Milesians' (milesion teichos)," was situated Naukratis, located on the Canopic branch of the Nile in at the Bolbitinic mouth of the Nile. Although previous the western Nile Delta.19 As indicated by archaeological research interprets this base as either one of the Milesian finds, 20 Greeks lived there as early as the seventh century thalassocracy or as one of Strabo's fictions, 12 it seems BC. Therefore the archaeological evidence theoretically more likely that the Milesians had constructed a fort on contradicts Herodotus. This problem can be eliminated, the orders of the Pharaoh to protect the coast from pirate however, by viewing Herodotus' information as a descrip ­ raids by their own compatriots. This is later archaeologi- tion of a new organisation associated with an upswing cally documented, for instance, for Migdol at the border in Naukratis, as Vittmann emphasises. 21 Thus, Naukratis of Syria.13 must have already been of great significance for trade Psammetichus not only established the Greek military policy at the time of Psammetichus. in the country but also, according to Diodorus, gener ­ Herodotus, who is the most important source for ously sponsored Greeks and other foreigners in matters Naukratis because he is the most detailed, reports the of trade after his assumption of power: following on its establishment as the only Greek emporion in Egypt:22 the Pharaoh Amasis, whom he calls philhellene, He also regularly treated with kindness any foreigners gave the polis Naukratis to those Greeks who wanted to who sojourned in Egypt of their own free willand, live in Egypt, as their residence; but to those Greeks who speaking generally, he was the first Egyptian king to only wanted to trade (nautillomenoisi), he gave certain open to other nations the trading-places (emporia) places (chorous ), doubtless located in Naukratis as well, throughout the rest of Egypt and to offer a large where they could erect their sanctuaries for the gods. The measure of security to strangers from across the seas. most important sanctuary was the so-called Hellenion, For his predecessors in power had consistently closed founded by Ionian (Chios, Teos, Phocaea, Clazomenae), Egypt to strangers (abaton epoioun tois xenois), either Dorian (Rhodes, Knidos, Halicarnassos, Phaselis), and killing or enslaving any who touched its shores.' 4 Aeolian (Mytilene) Greeks. The Hellenion, from which We see that in the Greek tradition it was Psammetichus there are confirmed archaeological remains, can in fact who opened up Egypt, which had hitherto been barred be dated to the time of Amasis in its earliest construction from foreign trade. 15 The expression used by Diodorus phase. 23 Herodotus reports an additional sacred precinct in this case, 'rest of Egypt' (ten alien choran), may be of Zeus established by the Aeginetans (a possible parallel explained as follows: trade had been possible only in the to the excavated Dioskouri temple), the precinct of Hera original sphere of power of the clan chief Psammetichus established by the Samians and that of Apollo established and was expanded after he gained exclusive control over by the Milesians. 24 all of Egypt, after which it became possible for Greeks to The Greek settlers, the majority of whom were establish trading stations (emporia ) all over Egypt.