Cobb, Matthew (2025) The Palmyrene merchant diaspora in Egypt. In: Palmyrenes Abroad. Diasporas from Rome to Mesopotamia and Beyond. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart, pp. 155-170. ISBN 9783515138710
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Abstract
Palmyrene individuals and diaspora communities can be traced to various parts of the Europe, Africa and Asia. Some were clearly undertaking military service in different territories controlled by the Roman Empire. Others were engaged in some form of commercial (and diplomatic) activity which saw them travel to a number of regions, both inside and beyond Rome’s frontiers, such as Socotra, southern Arabia, Mesopotamia and “Skythia” (northwest Indian subcontinent). In the case of Egypt, we have clear evidence for both the presence of Palmyrene military auxilia and for a “merchant diaspora”, a settled community based in Egypt that was engaged in long-distance trade. The latter represents something more substantive and long-lasting than just individuals who may have temporarily ended up in a location due to trade, diplomacy or some other unknown factor (such as Abgar who turns up on the island of Socotra). It is the merchant diaspora in Egypt which forms the main focus of this chapter, although there are some intersections with the evidence for military units. Among the issues discussed are the character and location of this diaspora, its duration, and the expressions of identity by its members
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D051 Ancient History |
| Divisions: | Institutes and Academies > Institute of Education and Humanities > Academic Discipline: Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Matthew Cobb |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Mar 2025 11:42 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Mar 2025 11:42 |
| URI: | https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/3630 |
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