GREEKS IN EGYPT: SOCIAL-POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES FROM 7 BC TILL 5 AD

Dolazak grčkih plaćenika u Egipat obilježava jednu posebnu epizodu u egipatskoj povijesti čije je sudjelovanje u borbama za prijestolje omogućilo dolazak nove – Saiske dinastije na egipatsko prijestolje, čime je nakon dugo vremena Egipat ponovno ujedinjen. Psametih I., utemeljitelj Saiske dinastije, za zadržavanje svoje vlasti oslanja se isključivo na pomoć grčkih plaćenika koji dolaze poglavito iz jonskih gradova na obalama Male Azije. Osim plaćenika u vojsci, područje Egipta sve više posjećuju strani putnici i trgovci koji se polako počinju trajno naseljavati u delti Nila. Amasis, jedan od faraona Saiske dinastije, dozvoljava Grcima naseljavanje isključivo u jednom naselju – Naukratisu koji kao emporij dobiva posebne trgovinske povlastice prema kojima sva uvezena roba u Egiptu mora doći u naukratsku luku. Prosperitet Naukratisa bio je kratkoga vijeka, naime dolaskom Aleksandra Makedonskog na egipatsko prijestolje i osnivanjem Aleksandrije, trgovački pravci polako počinju zaobilaziti Naukratis koji s vremenom gubi svoj značaj i utjecaj kao međunarodne luke za trgovinu. Osim proučavanja Naukratisa kroz prizmu trgovačkih odnosa na cijelom Sredozemnom moru, od posebne su važnosti kontakti i razmjene koje su se odvijale na dnevnoj razini između doseljenog Grčkog stanovništva i lokalnih Egipćana. Upravo je stoga cilj i svrha ovoga rada prikazati položaj i strukturu grčkih doseljenika u Egiptu od 7. st. pr. Kr. do 5. st. sagledavajući način života u gradu pod izravnim trgovačkim povlasticama egipatskih vlasti.The arrival of Greek mercenaries in Egypt marks an unique episode in Egyptian history with whose participation in the throngs of the throne allowed the arrival of a new - Saite dynasty to the Egyptian throne, which, after a long time, united Egypt again. Psammtichos I's, the founder of the Saite dynasty, relied solely on the help of Greek mercenaries who come mainly from the Ionian cities on the shores of Asia Minor. Apart from having a Greek mercenaries in the army, the area of Egypt has been increasingly visited by foreign travelers and merchants who were slowly beginning to settle permanently in the Nile Delta. Amasis, one of Pharaohs of the Saite dynasty, allowed the Greeks to settle exclusively in one settlement - the Naukratis, which as an emporion gained a special trade preferences by which all imported goods to Egypt must first reach the Naukratis port. The prosperity of Naukratis was a short-lived one, namely by the arrival of Alexander of Macedonia to the Egyptian throne and the founding of Alexandria, because trade routes were slowly beginning to overlook Naukratis, which over time lost its significance and influence as an international trading port. Apart from researching Naukratis through the prism of trade relations across the Mediterranean Sea, the contacts and exchanges that took place on a daily basis between the Greek population and local Egyptians were of particular importance. This research paper presents an overview of the position and structure of Greek immigrants in Egypt from the 7th century BC until the 5th century AD, viewing the way of life in the city under the direct trade privileges of the Egyptian authorities