Encompasses ancient Egypt and northern ancient Nubia - 1st
century A.D. Alexandria is the focal point of Greek culture on
the Mediterranean and the nexus of Roman trade routes to the
deserts, inner Africa, and the East. Sarapis and Isis attain
great popularity throughout the Roman empire. Within Egypt, the
Roman emperors represent themselves as the successors to the
pharaohs and continue to build temples in Egyptian style. The
ancient Egyptian funerary tradition is little changed and the
dead continue to be mummified, but the funerary arts evolve in a
new direction marked by the incorporation of Greco-Roman
hairstyles, dress, and artistic techniques and styles.
Christianity arrives in Egypt, flourishing in the large Jewish
community in Alexandria. Saint Mark is called the first bishop
of that city and is said to have been martyred there in 66 A.D.
- 2nd century A.D. Hieroglyphic and demotic are now used only in
connection with the temples and priesthoods; Greek is the
language of administration. The panel-por