Imagination of a Monarchy: Studies in Ptolemaic Propaganda (review)

Hazzard traces back to the reign of Ptolemy II an element of Ptolemaic royal ideology: the significant role—real or imaginary—attributed to the queens; this, in his view, attempted to give to the queens' monarchy a more civilian image. This basic thesis is explored in a series of essays whose aim is to show that an important change occurred around 263/2 B.C., when, according to Hazzard's assumption, Ptolemy II attributed the title Soter to his father, introduced a new dating era, and soon after (January 262) organized the great procession in Alexandria, known from a description of Kallixenos of Rhodes. The individual essays examine the use of the title Soter for Ptolemy I, the "Soter era," the date of a decree of the Nesiotic League (IG 12.7.506) declaring its participation in the Ptolemaia (again 263 B.C.), the propagandistic aims of the great procession, the change in the perception of Arsinoe II, and the gradual change of the role of Ptolemaic queens. Four appendices (the date and purpose of the Parian Chronicle; the Ptolemaic officials in Syll.³ 390; a dedication to Ptolemy IV Philopator; a Ptolemaic Chronology to 105 B.C.), bibliography, and indices complete the volume.

This book consists of intriguing hypotheses based on a thorough examination of the literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and numismatic sources. As far as I can judge, for none of them does Hazzard provide the final proof. The very complex mosaic of indications is not free of circular arguments; plausible suggestions at some point become convictions. E.g., it may be true that no scholar has challenged Hazzard's low date of the great processions, but this is due to the fact that he did this in a study published in a journal not regularly consulted by classicists (Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada). This low date is hard to reconcile with some of the internal evidence of Kallixenos' account (e.g., the images of Corinth and the liberated Ionian cities). The traditional early date of the decree of the Islanders accepting the Ptolemaia (c. 280 B.C.) is supported by the fact that two Ptolemaic officials mentioned in it are known to be active in the Aegean in 279, not sixteen years later. Some of Hazzard's suggestions seem more attractive than others. E.g., a low date for Kleitarchos (c. 260–250 B.C.) is quite plausible, as is the assumption that he invented the story of how Ptolemy I Soter ("the Rescuer") rescued Alexander in a battle. There is strong numismatic evidence for the existence of a "Soter era," but that it was used by the author of the Parian Chronicle is speculation. In his analysis of the propagandistic aims of the great procession Hazzard looks only for elements that make sense in the last years of the Chremonidean War and not in the first years of Ptolemy II's reign. The best chapters are in the second part of the book, where Hazzard explores the development and perception of Ptolemaic rule and the role of Ptolemaic queens. Despite the weaknesses, which are ultimately due to the gaps in our source material, scholars interested in Hellenistic history and ideology will find in Hazzard's books interesting suggestions on Ptolemaic propaganda.