Review: [untitled] Author(s): G. J. D. Aalders Source: Mnemosyne, Fourth Series, Vol. 28, Fasc. 4 (1975), pp.

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which will neatly suppromised by L. on the latter phenomenon, Starr's on intelligence. study political plement the present volume. and an index rerum conclude A bibliography An index hcorum would have been helpful. Oegstgeest, Pr. Beatrixlaan 27 Alexandria. XVI, H. W. Pleket Clarendon 812; XIII, Press: 1116;

?. M. Fraser, Ptolemaic Oxford Press, University 157 p. Pr. ? 25 per set.

1972.

the comprehensively sketched of the topobackground Against and social the the and the structures, economics, political graphy, life of Ptolemaic the author offers a detailed Alexandria, religious and thoroughly of the lasting achievedocumented description in the field of science and literature, ments of Ptolemaic Alexandria from a detailed treatment of Alexandrian art refiaining only so, the flowering history. Understandably age of Alexandrian in the lime-light. The the third century culture, B.C., is especially central figure is Callimachus; after the broad survey of Alexandrian a lengthy science and culture, has been devoted to 'the chapter horizon of Callimachus'. The representatives of the third of the Alexandrian culture B.C. came from all parts of the Greek world, attracted century by of the first Ptolemies. the generous This cultural flourpatronage had an essentially to Fraser Greek character; ishing according as "the last age of classical (I, 793), it may even be regarded Greece". in the second century in B.C., which culminated Decay the persecution of the Greek element of the population by Euergetes cultural revival in the first century II, was followed by a limited B.C. F. has written a detailed and thorough of Alexandrian description cultural in a separate, life, which he has documented extensively of notes. Nearly all Greek and Latin sources very bulky volume have been quoted in full, and rich bibliographical references and numerous of detail can be found there. discussions about matters Thus n. 31 on II, p. 13 ff. is a full and up-to-date of the survey literature on Alexandrian In the 'Addenda' and topography. 'Addenda ultima' at the end of vol. II, literature which appeared after 1967 has at least partly A third volume been mentioned. the extensive contains indices which help to disclose the wealth of information contained in this work. One is duly impressed by the vast extent of the author's learning, which appears especially from the notes. His knowledge of Alexandrian literature and its numerous and even of such problems, Mnemosyne, Vol. XXVIII, Fase. 4

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technical as Hellenistic and medicine, mathematics is as subjects as his mastery of technically difficult sciences impressive auxiliary as archaeology, and papyrology. Hence his book is not epigraphy only a masterly survey of Alexandrian history and culture, but also a 'Fundgrube' of specialized about numerous knowledge topics which are more or less neglected outside a narrow circle of specialists. I have some doubt about the correctness of taking Callimachus as the central figure of early Alexandrian cultural life, just because he is a unique personality with a very outspoken character. Perhaps the multi-faceted Eratosthenes would have been a better reprethat from his works even less has sentative, though it is a handicap been preserved than from those of Callimachus. But this is more a matter than of truth. My only serious of taste and of emphasis with the author concerns his conception of a culture as disagreement he assumes an organism between cultural (I, 86), the connection and race he and the in which the creativity (I, 80), way explains excitable and savage temper of the Alexandrian unorderly, population of later times from the character of the Greco-Egyptians who in the city (I, 805; 812). A culture is not a living then dominated and the character of a population, its cultural creativity organism, as well as its temper, is not so much conditioned by biological factors (race) as by social, and religious traditions and political circumstances. The author does not refrain from giving his own opinion about It controversial his it. and for without arguments goes questions not everybody will always that in this respect agree with saying Alexander's for deification, demand him, for instance regarding about which he seems to be over-cautious (II, 362 n. 196), or that Callimachus the possibility in Ep. 55 took a phrase regarding version of Isaiah from the Septuagint 14, 12 (I, 584; II, 1000 f. defends the n. 325). In this book (I, 248 ff.) Fraser again vigorously tradition was introduced I. that the cult of Sarapis by Ptolemy But about the same time the thesis of an earlier origin of this cult Isis und Sarapis bei has once more been advocated by L. Vidman, den Griechen und R?mern (RGVV 29, Berlin 1970), 18 ff., and by under the Early Ptolemies (Et. pr?lim. 25, J. Stambaugh, Sarapis Leyden 1972), n ff. For instance, Fraser Of course some details may evoke criticism. all land was collective that in Euhemerus' contends Panchaia, it is far more probable however, property (I, 290). In my opinion, the king owned all land and that he commissioned that ultimately to the priests. of its produce Fraser's the distribution argument the dedicatee of the fourth book of Apol(I, 418) that Attalus,

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lonius' be identified with Attalus I of Pergamum Contes, cannot because he is not marked as 'king', does not hold water, for Attalus I seems to have himself after his styled 'king' only some years accession. There are some, but few, minor slips, for instance "Bivanck" instead of Byvanck The chthonic (II, 274 n. 61 and elsewhere). can hardly be called a Thracian Dionysus god (I, 202). 460 B.C. is too early a date for a book by Democritus I of (I, 380). Demetrius IV (I, 416). Syria was not a son of Antiochus obscure the details, however, Enlarging upon might great merits of this book. It should be emphasized that it offers a wealth of solid information. who studies it will profit greatly. Everybody There is no space here to sum up the many excellent points made I mention by the author. exempli gratia only what he says about the influence of the Aristotelian school upon the cultural policy of the first Ptolemies and his emphasizing the (I, 114 and elsewhere) character of Callimachus' unique (in its time and environment) to his native lasting allegiance city Cyrene (I, 789). For many Alexandria, years this will be the book about Ptolemaic indispensable to all those who are interested in Hellenistic and history culture. Huizen, Nieuwe Bussummerweg 147 G. J. D. Aalders H. Wzn.

R. A.D. Press,

Roman Social Relations MacMullen, New Haven and London, Yale 284. 1974. 212 p. Pr. D. 8.95.

50 B.C. to University

To introduce this important book one can start with the following words which I have taken from the dust jacket flap: "Defrom the conventional to Roman social history, parting approach which describes Roman life from the viewpoint of the wealthy, influential and 'literary' classes who left ample evidence of their ideas and life-styles, he focuses on what life was like to agricultural urban and prostitutes, workers, craftsmen, freedmen, beggars, among others, who left no formal records of their lives. His search leads him from the metropolis to the provinces, from urban centers to remote and the constituted sources villages, beyond externally of power?legal and administrative?to the tacit but ubiquitous sources: land ownership, and force.. . He examined 'connections', with a fresh eye not only standard classical but also writers, Talmudic texts and innumerable and inscriptions".?A papyri and in the stimulating study on a neglected part of social history 'histoire des mentalit?s'. style of the French Mnemosyne, Vol. XXVIII, Fase. 4