ITEM: Rosette inlay discs (3 pieces) MATERIAL: Limestone CULTURE: Egyptian PERIOD: Ptolemaic period, 3rd - 1st Century B.C DIMENSIONS: 17 mm diameter each CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex English gallery, ADA member, acquired betweemn 1980s - 1990s Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license If you bid outside the european union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks. The Ptolemaic period (305–30 BCE) in Egypt began after the death of Alexander the Great, when one of his generals, Ptolemy I Soter, established himself as ruler of Egypt and founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty. This era marked a unique fusion of Greek and Egyptian cultures, as the Ptolemies, though Macedonian Greeks, adopted many aspects of Egyptian traditions to legitimize their rule. They embraced Egyptian religion, portrayed themselves as pharaohs in traditional Egyptian style, and supported Egyptian temples and priesthoods. The capital of Alexandria, founded by Alexander, became a thriving center of Hellenistic culture, science, and trade, rivaling other great cities of the ancient world. Alexandria was the intellectual and cultural heart of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, home to the famous Library of Alexandria and the Museum (a research institution). These institutions attracted scholars, scientists, and philosophers from across the Mediterranean, making Alexandria a hub of learning and innovation. The city was also a cosmopolitan trading center, with a diverse population that included Greeks, Egyptians, Jews, and other peoples. The blending of Greek and Egyptian elements during this period is evident in art, architecture, and religion, where deities such as Serapis—a syncretic god combining aspects of Greek and Egyptian gods—were worshiped. The Ptolemaic period came to an end with the reign of Cleopatra VII, the last of the Ptolemaic rulers, whose political alliances and romantic relationships with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony became legendary. Cleopatra's defeat by Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE and her subsequent suicide marked the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the beginning of Egypt as a Roman province.