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Praefectus Aegypti
(1,315 words)

[German version]

Governor of the province of Egypt, which Augustus created in 30 BC after the taking of Alexandria [1]; the full official title was praefectus Alexandreae et Aegypti (Greek ἔπαρχος Αἰγύπτου/ éparchos Aigýptou, P.Oxy 237; ὁ τῆς Αἰγύπτου ἄρχων/ho tȇs Aigýptou árchōn, Cass. Dio 54,51).

The first incumbent was Cornelius [II 18] Gallus, an equestrian; he had three legions at his disposal. The political situation still uncertain, Octavian (Augustus) had him granted by lex 'the jurisdiction of a magistrate comparable to that of a proconsul'(Dig. 1,17,1: imperium ad simil…

Cite this page
Eck, Werner (Cologne), “Praefectus Aegypti”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 05 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1007130>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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