The discovery of the votive statue dedicated by Pedon, a Greek mercenary in the service of the pharaohs of the 26th dynasty of Egypt, offers a fascinating glimpse into the interactions between Greek and Egyptian cultures in the first half of the 6th century BC. Found in a cave near Priene in Ionia during the late 1980s and now hosted at the Hierapolis Archaeological Museum in modern Turkey, the statue is a significant artifact that highlights the mercenary activities of Greeks in ancient Egypt and their integration into Egyptian society.
Historical Context and Discovery
After the impact of the Assyrian Empire and the ascendancy of Pharaoh Psammetichus in Egypt, the Greek contacts with Egypt joined the Ionians from Minor Asia and the islands like Samos to lead these contacts. The mercenaries followed the merchants. The Ionians founded a colony in Naucratis. especially when Pharaoh was Amasis, the relations between Greeks and Egyptians became closer. Herodotus mentions Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos, who corresponded frequently with the great pharaoh.
At this time, Pedon, the son of Amphinneo, dedicated an Egyptian block statue in Priene. This headless and footless statue, measuring 21 × 17 × 17 cm, is believed to date back to the reign of Psammetichus I (664-610 BC). The pharaoh Psammetichus I is known for recruiting Greek and Carian mercenaries to stabilize and unify his kingdom. The statue's stylistic features and the inscription on its front side support this date. However, some paleographic analysis suggests it might date to the reign of Psammetichus II (595–589 BC), who also utilized Greek mercenaries during his Nubian expedition.
The Inscription and Its Significance
The inscription on the statue is bustrophedon, meaning it is written in alternating directions. This nine-line inscription follows the typical formula of dedication and includes autobiographical references. Pedon mentions the pharaoh Psammetichus and the rewards he received: a gold bracelet and a city. These gifts reflect both Egyptian and Persian royal practices, indicating the cross-cultural influences in the region.
The inscription reads:
Pedon, son of Amphinneo, dedicated me, having brought me from Egypt; and to him, the Egyptian king Psammetichus, as rewards for valor, gave a gold bracelet and a city, for his virtue.
The gifts of a gold bracelet and a city are particularly noteworthy. In Greek culture, gold bracelets were typically considered effeminate and were more associated with Persian and near-Eastern customs. The gift of a city likely refers to an administrative role or the command of a city rather than ownership, reflecting a common Egyptian practice of rewarding loyal military officers.
Cultural and Historical Implications
The presence of Greek mercenaries in Egypt during the 26th dynasty underscores the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean world in antiquity. Mercenaries like Pedon played crucial roles in the military and administrative spheres of foreign kingdoms, bridging cultural and political divides. The bilingual inscription and the statue's fusion of Greek and Egyptian cultural elements serve as additional proof of this integration.
The stylistic features of the statue, such as the absence of a dorsal pillar, crossed arms, and a trapezoidal kilt, are consistent with other statues from Psammetichus I's reign. These elements, along with the paleographic analysis, suggest that Pedon may have acquired the statue in Egypt and later inscribed it upon his return to Ionia.
Revised Interpretation: Hellenized Egyptian Native Hypothesis
In 2019, Alessandro Piccolo suggested that, through a textual, historical, and linguistic analysis, it will be argued that Pedon was not a successful Greek mercenary in Saite Egypt, as previous scholarship stated, but rather a Hellenized Egyptian native. He suggests that such a scenario might fit better into the trends of coeval Greek-Egyptian interactions.
This interpretation suggests that Pedon, possibly an Egyptian by birth, had adopted Greek customs and language, reflecting the profound cultural exchanges occurring during this period. This perspective shifts the focus from Pedon as a foreign mercenary to a local individual deeply integrated into both Greek and Egyptian milieus, offering a more nuanced understanding of the sociopolitical dynamics in the Mediterranean world of the 7th and 6th centuries BCE.
Conclusion
The votive statue that Pedon dedicated offers a distinctive window into the life of a Greek mercenary in ancient Egypt. It illustrates the mobility of individuals and the exchange of cultural practices across the Mediterranean. The rewards given to Pedon by the Egyptian pharaoh highlight the value placed on foreign mercenaries and their significant contributions to the military and administrative domains. This artifact not only enriches our understanding of Greek-Egyptian relations but also exemplifies the complex interplay of cultures in the ancient world.
