Phylakitai

The '''''phylakitai''''' were the main [[police force]] of [[Ptolemaic Egypt]], when the kingdom was ruled by the Greek [[Ptolemaic dynasty]]. While the history of institutional policing in [[Egypt]] dates to the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]], it is unclear whether the ''phylakitai'' were a continuation of older Egyptian institutions or whether they were a new development of the Ptolemaic period. The ''phylakitai'' were disbanded after [[War of Actium|Egypt was conquered by the Roman Empire]] in 30 BCE, and the [[Roman army]] took over police functions in [[Roman Egypt]].

The '''''phylakitai''''' were the main [[police force]] of [[Ptolemaic Egypt]], when the kingdom was ruled by the Greek [[Ptolemaic dynasty]]. While the history of institutional policing in [[Egypt]] dates to the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]], it is unclear whether the ''phylakitai'' were a continuation of older Egyptian institutions or whether they were a new development of the Ptolemaic period. The ''phylakitai'' were disbanded after [[War of Actium|Egypt was conquered by the Roman Empire]] in 30 BCE, and the [[Roman army]] took over police functions in [[Roman Egypt]].

''Phylakitai'' were professional police officers responsible for law enforcement and protection in the cities and countryside. While the ''phylakitai'' bore organizational similarities to the [[Ptolemaic army]] and received similar types of compensation, they were separate institutions. Officers were recruited from both the native Egyptian populace and from Greek immigrants. Like other parts of the Ptolemaic government, the ''phylakitai'' used [[Koine Greek|Greek]] as their official language for correspondences, although the majority of Egypt's population spoke [[Demotic Egyptian language|Egyptian]]. The term "''phylakitai''" derives from the Greek word {{langx|grc|φύλαξ|label=none}} ({{Transliteration|grc|phylax}}), which means "guard".

''Phylakitai'' were professional police officers responsible for law enforcement and protection in the cities and countryside. While the ''phylakitai'' bore organizational similarities to the [[Ptolemaic army]] and received similar types of compensation, they were separate institutions. Officers were recruited from both the native Egyptian populace and from Greek immigrants. Like other parts of the Ptolemaic government, the ''phylakitai'' used [[Koine Greek|Greek]] as their official language for correspondences, although the majority of Egypt's population spoke [[Demotic Egyptian language|Egyptian]]. The term "''phylakitai''" (φυλακῖται) derives from the Greek word {{langx|grc|φύλαξ|label=none}} ({{Transliteration|grc|phylax}}), which means "guard".

Much of what is known about the ''phylakitai'' comes from ancient [[papyrus]] documents that survived into the modern period. These documents include records of court proceedings and police correspondences that describe law enforcement operations in Ptolemaic Egypt. There is no comparable evidence for the existence of professional police forces in other ancient societies.

Much of what is known about the ''phylakitai'' comes from ancient [[papyrus]] documents that survived into the modern period. These documents include records of court proceedings and police correspondences that describe law enforcement operations in Ptolemaic Egypt. There is no comparable evidence for the existence of professional police forces in other ancient societies.