n Acta Classica : Proceedings of the Classical Association of South Africa - Crossing the Roman frontier : Egypt in Rome (and beyond) : chairperson's address

Abstract

A coin issued by Octavian in 27 BC, when he became the Emperor Augustus, proclaims AEGYPTO CAPTA, 'Egypt has been captured.' In actual fact Egyptian culture, architecture, art and religion crossed the Roman frontier and captured the imagination of the Roman world. Apart from Greece, no other country had greater influence over the Romans. The most distinctive evidence of Egyptian presence in Rome is the obelisks. Several of the obelisks exalted the military victories of the pharaohs to whom they were originally dedicated. The Roman emperors, as rulers of Egypt, identified with this use for their own imperialistic and propagandistic purposes.