Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

L'Armée Romaine d'Égypte d'Auguste à Dioclétien [Mémoires Publiés par l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale du Caire. Tome Quarante et Unième]. 2-vol. set (Complete)

Lesquier, Jean (Text by); George Foucart (Ed.)

Le Caire (Cairo): Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1918. First edition. Hardcover. Folio (14 1/4 x 11"). [6], xxxi, [1], 280pp (Vol. 1); 281-586pp (Vol. 2). Modern full olive cloth, with gold lettering to spines. Publisher's device to title page.

Jean Lesquier's monumental "L'Armée Romaine d'Égypte d'Auguste à Dioclétien" is the first complete study of the Roman army in Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian.

"After a preliminary bibliography in which is reviewed the principal sources of information, the author begins his task with a sketch of the history of the Roman army in Egypt, so far as it can be recovered, from the expedition of Gabinius in BC 55 to the reign of Diocletian. This is followed by a detail study of the evidence bearing on the history and activities, during their residence in Egypt, of the various units composing the army of occupation, legions, alae, auxiliary cohorts, ethnic corps, and fleet; and this leads to a review of the composition of the army and an attempt to estimate its total strength at various periods.

After this, Jean Lesquier passes to a consideration of the method of command, from the prefect himself to the officers of the single units. After dealing with recruitment the author next passes to the actual conditions of service, a subject which he treats in all its aspects, the various functions performed by soldiers of various grades, the pay, the vexed questions concerning the marriage of soldiers, and the cults popular in the army. This is followed by a chapter on the veterans, their discharge, and the privileges and immunities accorded to them, and that by another on the supplies for the army.

Finally, a detailed study is made of the territorial occupation, both in its general character and in detail, the various districts being taken in turn. In a concluding section Lesquier briefly sums up the results obtained by him, giving an excellent conspectus of the preceding chapters." (For more information see: H. Idris Bell's article in "The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology," Vol. 6, No. 3 (July 1920), pp.222-224).

This work is complete with its large folded color map in pocket of last volume.

Ex-library copy with bookplate on inside of each front cover, and stamp at upper and lower paper edges. Lower corner of pp. 281-284 expertly repaired (not affecting lettering). Text in French. Binding and interior in very good condition. vg. Item #42901

Price: $650.00