Ptolemy I as Theos Soter and the Historical Context of the Decree I.Prose 62 from Ptolemais Hermiou"

This paper reassesses the historical context of an Hellenistic decree from Ptolemais Hermiou in Upper Egypt, known from a copy of the Imperial period. Special attention is paid to the date of publication of the Hellenistic original and to its ideological meaning in relation to the construction of the figure of Ptolemy I as both civic and dynastic founder. Aspects of the formulary of the text together with an analysis of the institutional history of Ptolemais suggest that the decree was most probably issued during the reign of Ptolemy II. It is tempting to see this fragmentary document as closely related to the establishment of an oecist’s cult of Ptolemy I in Ptolemais, even though this cult only became eponymous under Ptolemy IV.