Spätzeit

Spätzeit is a term used in German scholarship to refer to the Late Period of ancient Egypt, generally considered to run from the end of the New Kingdom in 1070 BCE to the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. This long span of time was characterized by a decline in centralized political power and the fragmentation of Egypt into various dynasties and foreign rulers. The period begins with the Third Intermediate Period, during which native Egyptian pharaohs ruled concurrently with powerful Libyan and Nubian dynasties.

Following the Third Intermediate Period, Egypt experienced invasions and rule by foreign powers, including the Nubians (25th Dynasty), Assyrians, and Persians. Despite these external influences, Egyptian culture and religious practices persisted, often adapting to new circumstances. The Saite Dynasty (26th Dynasty) saw a brief resurgence of native Egyptian rule and a revival of Old Kingdom artistic and cultural traditions. However, this was followed by further Persian domination.

The Ptolemaic Dynasty, founded by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great's generals, marks the final phase of the Spätzeit. The Ptolemies, Greek rulers of Egypt, adopted many Egyptian customs and religious practices, but their reign ultimately ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman annexation of Egypt. The Spätzeit is thus a complex and multifaceted era, marked by both decline and resilience, foreign rule and intermittent native revival, ultimately paving the way for Egypt's incorporation into the Roman Empire.