Dekret von Kanopos (238 v. Chr.)

A commentary and historical analysis of a trilingual synod decree by Egyptian priests, in honour of Ptolemy III and his family. The 'Kanopos-Decree' refers to two texts, united as one, and comprising of the resolutions passed by an Egyptian synod in 238 B.C., in honour of Ptolemy III and Queen Berenice II and the deceased princess Berenice, in Kanopos (near Alexandria), dedicated to. In accordance with the will of the synods, inscriptions of the decree were to be made in all Egyptian temples in Hieroglyphics, Demotic and Greek. This work is a historical analysis of the most important document of the early period of Ptolemy. The basis thereof is an evaluation, in the form of annotated sections, treating all three languages equally. Central to the evaluation are: the analysis of a description in the decree, of how the danger of an imminent Egyptian famine was overcome, on the one hand. And, using the decree, ruler worship, introduced to the Egyptian temples by the priests, is analysed on the other. Finally, this work demonstrates the obvious intention of the priests who wrote the decree, to bind the king and his family into the religion of the Egypt; this was to be achieved by granting the Regent the status of an Egyptian god in the course of regular festivals and perpetuating the apotheosis of the deceased daughter Berenice.