Au-delà de l’idée communément admise de la rareté du bois en Égypte, les documents grecs d’Égypte, grâce à la richesse et à la variété des informations qu’ils livrent, offrent les moyens de mieux appréhender la place qu’occupaient l’arbre et son bois aussi bien dans le paysage que dans l’économie du pays : depuis son rôle écologique ou ornemental, jusqu’à la production de fruits, de fourrage ou de combustible, l’arbre fournit aussi le bois alimentant les activités de menuiserie, de charpenterie ou de construction navale. Cette thèse présente ainsi une étude de l’exploitation de ces ressources par la société gréco-égyptienne au cours de la période couverte par la documentation papyrologique (de la fin du IVe s. av. J.-C. jusqu’au VIIIe s. ap. J.-C.), en partant de l’étude des papyrus et ostraca grecs pertinents, soit plusieurs centaines de documents édités. À la croisée des sources textuelles et archéobotaniques, une analyse lexicographique a ainsi permis de vérifier et d’établir dans la langue grecque d’Égypte les noms des principales essences locales exploitées pour leur bois (acacia, sycomore, perséa, saule, tamaris et jujubier épine-du-Christ). Outre les enjeux philologiques, cette étude a conduit à mettre en évidence des implications qui relèvent de l’histoire des paysages – introductions, abandons, répartition des espèces arborées –, de l’histoire économique – gestion, importation, distribution et consommation du bois –, de l’histoire culturelle – circulation des noms et sélection des essences –, mais aussi de la culture matérielle – travail du bois et usages des objets produits. / Beyond the common idea of wood scarcity in Egypt, the wealth of Greek documentation from Egypt provides solid ground to reevaluate the importance of trees and wood production in both the landscape and economy of the country : be they ornamental or ecologically functional, trees provide fruits, fodder and fuel, but also timber for woodworking, shipbuilding or charcoal. This dissertation thus contains a study of the exploitation of these natural resources by the Graeco-Egyptian society, from the end of the 4th century BC to the 8th century AD, based on the study of the relevant papyri and ostraca from Egypt, i.e. several hundreds of published documents. As a prerequisite for their right interpretation, a comprehensive lexicographical analysis was made, consisting of crossing textual and archaeobotanical sources, with the objective to crosscheck and establish the correct Greek names of the main local trees providing timber (acacia, sycamore, perséa tree, willow, tamarisk and nabk tree). In addition to these philological stakes, this study allowed as well to evidence implications in different fields, and in particular in the history of landscaping, like the introduction, abandonment, distribution of tree species, in the economy, like the production, importation, distribution and consumption of timber and fuel, in the cultural history, like flow of names and wood species selection, as well as in the art of wood crafting and culture of use of wooden artefacts.

La violence interpersonnelle n’a encore jamais été globalement étudiée pour l’Égypte antique. Elle a été examinée pour les époques lagide et romaine, mais à partir de la seule documentation grecque. Cette thèse a pour objectif l’étude de ce phénomène au Nouvel Empire et aux époques grecque et romaine. Cette approche comparative vise à souligner les spécificités propres aux deux grandes périodes, ainsi que les similarités dans l’expression et le traitement de la violence interpersonnelle. Pour mener cette recherche, tous les textes égyptiens des périodes envisagées mentionnant une agression physique dans un cadre quotidien ont été traduits et analysés. Le corpus de cette étude intègre des textes documentaires, littéraires, royaux et funéraires. Une analyse du vocabulaire de la violence a été menée, ainsi qu’une étude des mécanismes du règlement des conflits violents. Enfin, a été posée la question d’une spécificité de ces aspects en fonction de la nature des protagonistes de la violence. / Interpersonal violence in Ancient Egypt has never been subjected to a comprehensive study. Papyrologists examined it for the Hellenistic and Roman periods, though based on the sole Greek documentation. The objective of this dissertation is to study this social phenomenon for the New Kingdom, and the Greek and Roman periods. This comparative approach endeavours to highlight the characteristics and similarities of each epoch in the mechanisms of expression and treatment of interpersonal violence. For this purpose, every Egyptian text from the New Kingdom, and Greek and Roman periods that reports a physical assault has been translated and analysed. Therefore, this research includes documentary, literary, royal and funerary texts. A thorough analysis of the terminology of violence was carried out, as well as a study of the mechanisms of conflicts regulation. Finally, the issue of specificities according to the gender, the social status and the age of both victim and assailant was raised.

The aim of this thesis is to examine changes in the status of traditional Egyptian religious culture during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, from 331 BCE to 313 CE. Four distinct categories of material culture are examined: monumental construction of temples and civic buildings, traditional hard-stone sculpture, Alexandrian tombs, and Roman coins. These bodies of evidence were chosen because each offers a unique perspective, reflecting respectively the personal inclinations and official attitudes of both the culturally Hellenic and indigenous elites, which have not previously been studied in this context. Examined together for the first time, these categories reveal commonalities that show clearly the progression of the status of indigenous religious culture. From this, it is argued that, despite being economically disadvantaged by the Roman administration, the high status of this culture persisted in Egyptian society under both the Ptolemies and the Romans. Patterns of Egyptian temple and classical civic building show that Egypt's indigenous elite controlled the resources allocated for temple construction under the Ptolemies, but that the Romans gradually transferred this land into the management of the culturally Hellenic elite. This resulted in a decrease in Egyptian temple building after the first century CE and a corresponding increase in classical construction from then on. The production of hard-stone statues is shown for the first time to reveal that the indigenous elite had the resources and cultural confidence to continue and develop their traditions under the Ptolemies, while the sharp decrease at the start of the Roman period reflects their diminution in autonomy and prosperity under Roman rule. New analysis of traditional elements and motifs in the tombs of Alexandrian elites shows that this group respected and adopted indigenous religious customs and beliefs, with a higher incidence of indigenous imagery in the Roman period compared with the Ptolemaic period. In a similar way, well-informed Egyptian religious iconography rendered in a classical style on Alexandrian coins demonstrates the respect of the Roman authorities for Egyptian religious cults and institutions at an official level. In sum, it is argued that indigenous religious culture largely maintained its privileged economic and social status throughout the Ptolemaic period, despite political upheavals. Under Roman rule, the individuals and institutions representing Egyptian religious culture were disadvantaged economically; however, its social importance and standing were preserved and it continued to enjoy respect.

Dans le cadre de ce doctorat sur la représentation des bijoux féminins dans les portraits de l’Égypte romaine, les recherches se concentraient sur les « portraits du Fayoum » et masques funéraires des trois premiers siècles après J.-C.Bien que les masques funéraires et les portraits du Fayoum aient été le sujet de plusieurs publications pendant ces dernières années, il nous manquait encore une étude détaillée sur les bijoux féminins qui s’inspiraient presque exclusivement de la mode romaine. Une classification chronologique de ces portraits, mais aussi des masques funéraires, pouvait être obtenue par les coiffures féminines. Par conséquence, la distinction des portraits par époque nous permettait d’identifier les changements dans la mode des bijoux pendant les trois premiers siècles après J.-C., en donnant aux archéologues la possibilité de classifier encore mieux certains types de bijoux qui sont découverts pendant des fouilles ou sur le marché de l’art. Dans le cadre ce cette étude, les diverses représentations de bijoux, en provenance d’autres provinces romaines mais aussi des originaux, appartenant à des trésors et à des tombes datés étaient également consultés. L’application de nos résultats à d’autres contextes géographiques est toujours légitime, car les mêmes principaux types de bijoux étaient utilisés dans tout l’empire romain.Grâce à toutes ces données, il était possible de reconstruire les différents aspects de la mode des bijoux pour les différentes dynasties impériales pendant les trois premiers siècles après J.-C. / This particular PhD research project focuses on the representation of jewellery on “Fayum portraits” and mummy masks from Roman Egypt. Even though Roman mummy masks and the so called “Fayum portraits” have been the subject of numerous research in recent years, a detailed study on the individuals’ jewellery is still missing up to this date. This is particularly regrettable because females on these portraits are almost exclusively wearing Roman-type jewellery. A chronological order that includes a precise dating must be obtained by the female hairstyles that have been influenced by Roman fashion dispersed in the Roman Empire through representations in form of busts, coins and paintings of the Empresses and members of the imperial families. Consequently, this chronological order allows us to identify the various changes in the jewellery fashion throughout the imperial dynasties of the first three centuries A.D. A goal of the chronological classification of jewellery in the art of Roman Egypt is to help future researchers to date jewellery more precisely, in particular – which is quite common for jewellery - when their provenance is unknown or imprecise. The results will be complemented by representations of jewellery in art from other regions of the Empire but also by actual dated finds. Finally, all these factors will help to obtain a better understanding of Roman jewellery fashion, its distribution and even more which types were “à la mode” at what particular time.

Ce travail de recherche constitue une étude globale du portique occidental de Philae, prenant en compte l’ensemble architectural, théologique et cultuel qu’il forme. Une première partie pose le cadre dans lequel se situe le portique, en le replaçant dans son contexte topographique, architectural et historique, et présente les fonctions du monument. La deuxième partie aborde plus en détail le monument en présentant ses particularités architecturales, les malfaçons de sa conception, la singularité de ses fenêtres et la diversité de ses chapiteaux. Ensuite, la chronologie de la décoration est établie, depuis le règne d’Auguste jusqu’à celui de Néron et peut-être au-delà. La troisième partie est consacrée à la translittération, la traduction et le commentaire des textes. Les erreurs de signes et les incompréhensions diverses sont exposées. Puis, vient la synthèse, formée par l’étude de la « grammaire » du temple et le commentaire théologique des textes. Enfin une dernière partie présente les différents témoignages de l’homme sous le portique: inscriptions démotiques, grecques, graffites figuratifs et cupules. Cette documentation apporte des informations sur les travaux du portique, le culte officiel et les pratiques en marge du culte officiel qui se déroulaient dans l’espace du parvis du temple d’Isis. Un volume de 158 planches accompagne le volume de texte. Il comprend la copie de tous les textes du portique, pour la plupart inédits. / This work is a comprehensive study of the western portico of Philae temple, taking into account its architectural features, its theology and its function as a place of worship. The first part gives an overview of the topographical, architectural and historical contexts and presents the function of the monument. The second part details its architectural peculiarities, the misconceptions, the singularity of its windows and the diversity of its capitals. Chronology of the decoration is then established, extending from the reign of Augustus till the reign of Nero or maybe after. The third part is devoted to the transliteration, translation and commentary of the texts. Various miswritings and uncomprehensions of the texts are exposed. The synthesis takes into account the « grammaire du temple » and theological commentary of the texts. The last part is devoted to the portico considered as a place of worship and the marks left by the men who worked and passed by there : demotic and greek inscriptions, carved images, gold covering and small cavities. This documentation gives informative insights on the works of the portico, the official cult and the more « popular » practices which occured in the forecourt of the temple of Isis. A volume of 158 plates is added, containing the copy of all the texts of the portico, which are mainly unpublished.

Claude fut empereur romain entre 41 et 54 apr. J.-C., succédant à son neveu Caligula. Alors que les sources littéraires antiques témoignent de la faiblesse d’esprit d’un empereur dirigé par ses affranchis et par ses femmes, les documents épigraphiques et papyrologiques mettent en lumière un empereur soucieux de rendre la justice et dont les décisions tournées vers un pragmatisme lui ont valu le surnom d’empereur des citoyens. Cependant, si le personnage hors du commun a fait couler beaucoup d’encre, les spécialistes ne se sont attardés que très rarement à la province d’Égypte sous son règne, alors que celle-ci est pourtant aux prises avec un important conflit judéo-alexandrin qu’a mis au jour la fameuse Lettre de Claude aux Alexandrins. En lisant celle-ci, nous en apprenons non seulement sur le conflit en question, mais encore sur la citoyenneté alexandrine, le culte impérial et le témoignage direct d’une politique personnelle engagée de l’empereur Claude envers l’Égypte. Ce présent mémoire est divisé en quatre chapitres. Le premier examinera les traits du multiculturalisme égyptien sous la présence romaine. Le deuxième chapitre expliquera la crise qui opposa les Grecs aux Juifs d’Alexandrie et qui fut l’élément déclencheur d’une politique personnelle de Claude. Le troisième chapitre se penchera sur d’autres témoignages du reste de l’Empire pour mieux déterminer le caractère passif ou actif de Claude et évaluer si la Lettre est bel et bien de son initiative personnelle. Enfin, le quatrième chapitre abordera le sujet du culte impérial en Égypte pour s’intéresser au souci de légitimation et d’acceptation de l’empereur par ses sujets égyptiens. / Claudius was a Roman Emperor between 41 and 54 AD who succeeded his nephew Caligula. While ancient literary sources testify the weakness in the spirit of an emperor led by his freedmen and wives, epigraphic and papyrological documents highlight an emperor eager to render justice whose pragmatic-oriented decisions earned him the nickname of Emperor of citizens. However, if this unusual character has spilled much ink, specialists will rarely linger in the province of Egypt under his reign, while the latter is experiencing significant Judaeo Alexandrian conflicts that the famous Letter to the Alexandrians has brought to light. By reading it, we learn not only about the conflict in question, but also about Alexandrian citizenship, the imperial cult as well as a direct testimony of a personal political commitment to Egypt. The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter will examine multiculturalism traits in Egypt under Roman rule. The second chapter will scrutinize the crisis opposing the Greeks and the Jews of Alexandria, which was the trigger for a personal political commitment of Claudius. The third chapter will analyse whether the Letter is indeed the initiative of Claudius by searching amongst other evidences from the rest of the Empire to better assess its passive or active character. Finally, the fourth chapter will address the topic of the imperial cult in Egypt in the quest for legitimacy and acceptance of the emperor by his Egyptian subjects.

Cette étude concerne le fait théâtral dans ses dimensions matérielles, éclairé par les textes relatifs au fonctionnement et à la place du théâtre dans la société de l'Égypte hellénistique et romaine. Foyer d'expression et de diffusion de la culture gréco-romaine, la pratique théâtrale apparaît comme un élément fondamental au sein du processus d'hellénisation qui se met en place en Égypte à partir de la conquête d'Alexandre le Grand. Trois grands axes de recherche ont été définis : en premier lieu, le théâtre est étudié en tant qu'ouvrage architectural. Cette approche, essentiellement archéologique, est également mise en relation avec la notion de cadre urbanistique et de parure monumentale des villes d'Égypte à cette période. Nos recherches s'orientent ensuite plus spécifiquement sur le rayonnement de la pratique théâtrale en Égypte, à travers l'étude des productions d'objets issus de l'univers théâtral et dionysiaque. Ces représentations témoignent non seulement de la diffusion et de l'adaptation d'une composante essentielle de la culture grecque et romaine en Égypte, mais également de l'attachement royal à Dionysos, considéré comme l'ancêtre de la dynastie lagide. En troisième et dernier lieu, les activités et les diverses manifestations associées à l'édifice théâtral sont développées ; il s’agit d’aborder non seulement les spectacles, les auteurs et les acteurs, mais également les questions d'entretien, de maintenance et de gestion du bâtiment. L'apport de la documentation textuelle et archéologique constitue un outil précieux dans le développement de cette problématique. / This study deals with theatre in his material dimensions, enlightened by the texts relating to the operation and place of theatre in the society of Hellenistic and Roman Egypt. Centre of expression and diffusion of Graeco-Roman culture, theatrical practice appears as a fundamental element in the process of Hellenization which implements in Egypt from the conquest of Alexander the Great. Three main areas of research were identified : first, the theatre is discussed as in his architectural dimension. This approach, mainly archaeological, is also in relation with the notion of urban planning framework and set of monumental cities of Egypt at this time. Then our research focuses specifically on the influence of theatrical practice in Egypt, through the study of the production of objects associated to theatrical and Dionysiac world. These images reflect not only the diffusion and adaptation of an essential component of Greek and Roman culture in Egypt, but also the royal attachment to Dionysus, considered the ancestor of Ptolemaic dynasty. Third and finally, the various activities and events associated with the theatre building are developed ; we deal not only dramatic shows, authors and actors, but also maintenance and building management issues. The contribution of textual documentation is an invaluable tool in the development of these notions.

This paper deals with the chemical identification of artefacts correlated with the process of ancient Egyptian mummification dating to the Graeco-Roman period. The samples were harvested from two artefacts belonging to the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm. The original description of the said samples defined them, as natron filled linen bags and bee product (honey?). To identify the true nature of the samples, advanced methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and powder X-ray Diffractometry were used. The results were correlated with previous made analyses regarding embalming materials to discover similarities. Furthermore, the research revealed that the previous sample identifications were false, while providing hypotheses based on the new results.

The port site of Berenike Troglodytica - located on the Egyptian Red Sea coast - served the spice and incense routes that linked the Mediterranean World (specifically the Roman Empire) to India, Southern Arabia and East Africa. In the Greco-Roman period the site was at the cutting edge of what was then the embryonic global economy, ideally situated as a key node connecting Indian Ocean and Mediterranean trade for almost 800 years. It is now located in an arid, marginal, hostile environment but the situation must have been very different 2300 years ago, at the time of its founding. At the time of elephant-hunting trips during the Hellenistic period before the inception of its important role in the global markets of the day in the Roman period Berenike would have to have looked much different to what we can now imagine. What was it like then, when the first prospectors visited this location at the time of Ptolemy II? Why this particular place, and this particular landscape setting seemed such a propitious location for the siting of an important new harbour? Given the importance of the port over almost a millennium it is perhaps surprising that very little is known about the different factors impacting on the foundation, evolution, heyday and subsequent decline of the city; or the size, shape, and capacity of its harbour. The intention of this research is to address this shortfall in our knowledge, to examine the drivers behind the rise and fall of this port city, and to explore the extent to which the dynamics of the physical landscape were integral to this story. Using an innovative Earth Science approach, changes in the archaeological 'coastscape' have been reconstructed and correlated with periods of occupation and abandonment of the port, shedding light on the nature, degree and directionality of human-environment interactions at the site. This work has revealed profound changes in the configuration of the coastal landscape and environment (including the sea level) during the lifespan of Berenike, highlighting the ability of people to exploit changes in their immediate environment, and demonstrating that, ultimately, the decline of the port was partly due to these landscape dynamics. To further explore these themes the landscape reconstructions have been supplemented by semi-quantitative analyses of a suite of variables likely to influence the initial siting of new ports of trade. These have shown that although the site of Berenike was ideal in terms of its coastal landscape potential, possessing a natural sheltered bay and lagoon system, the choice of location was not solely influenced by its environmental conditions. Additionally, a detailed review of vessels that plied Red Sea and Indian Ocean routes is presented here in order to better understand the design and functioning of Berenike's harbour. This serves the purpose of identifying unifying features that provide more detail about the size and draught of vessels and the potential capacity of the harbour basin. By using this multi-scalar approach it has been possible to reconstruct the 'coastscape' of the site through the key periods of its occupancy and those phases immediately before and after its operation. This has wide-ranging implications for researchers studying ancient ports along this trade network as a larger database will tease out more details about how influential the landscape was in the initial siting of the port and its subsequent use and decline.