SIBLING MARRIAGE IN THE PTOLEMAIC DYNASTY: NOBLES’ INCEST

Abstract

The subject of this study is the sister marriages of the Ptolemaic rulers and the incest relations that emerged due to these marriages. The aim of the study is to discuss the question of why the Ptolemaic rulers, who were almost all of them, adopted this tradition in the Ptolemaic period, where incest was frequently seen in connection with the tradition of sister marriage, which has existed in Ancient Egypt since the Early Dynastic Period (3150-2686 BC). The focus of the article is the sister marriages of the rulers who took the throne during the Ptolemaic Dynasty. The period between the date when Ptolemy I Soter was the ruler and the period when Rome took Egypt under his protection (305-30 BC) constitutes the starting and conclusion line of this study. That chronological boundaries cover the years when the dynasty continued its political existence. The main paradigm focused on in the study is what are the main factors leading the Ptolamaic rulers who married with their brothers like Egyptian gods and pharaohs, the relationship of this common trend among the royal family with the local culture and social dynamics of Ancient Egypt, and finally whether the practice of this tradition served the political strategy of the monarchs. In this context, the subject has been handled as to identify the Ptolamaios rulers who married their own sisters and brothers, and to analyze the mythological, religious, political and social factors that caused these rulers to marry their brothers. It is thought that this subject, which is handled at the level of articles and books by academics from different disciplines in the Western literature, will contribute to the Turkish literature.

Keywords

• Ancient Egypt
• Ptolemaic Dynasty
• Sibling Marriage
• Incest

PTOLEMAİOS HANEDANINDA KARDEŞ EVLİLİĞİ: SOYLULAR ENSESTİ

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın konusu Ptolemaios hükümdarlarının yaptığı kardeş evlilikleri ve bu evliliklere bağlı olarak ortaya çıkan ensest ilişkilerdir. Çalışmanın amacı Eski Mısır’da Erken Hanedan Dönemi’nden (İÖ 3150-2686) beri var olan kardeş evliliği geleneği ile ilişkili olarak ortaya çıkan ensestin sıkça görüldüğü Ptolemaioslarda neredeyse tamamı kardeş evliliği yapan hükümdarların bu geleneği niçin benimsedikleri sorusunu tartışmaktır. Makalenin odağını Ptolemaios Hanedanı boyunca tahta geçen hükümdarların gerçekleştirdiği kardeş evlilikleri oluşturmaktadır. I. Ptolemaios Soter’in hükümdar olduğu tarih ile Roma’nın Mısır’ı himayesi altına aldığı tarih aralığında kalan dönem (İÖ 305-30) bu çalışmanın başlangıç ve sonuç çizgisini oluşturmaktadır. Bu kronolojik sınırlar hanedanın siyasi varlığını sürdürdüğü yılları kapsamaktadır. Çalışmada üzerinde durulan temel paradigma öz kardeşleriyle evlilik yapan Mısır tanrıları ve firavunlar gibi kardeş evliliği yapan Ptolamaios hükümdarlarını bu tarz bir evliliğe yönelten temel faktörlerin neler olduğu, kraliyet ailesi arasında yaygın olan bu eğilimin Eski Mısır yerel kültürü ve toplum dinamikleri ile olan ilişkisi ve bu geleneğin uygulanmasının hükümdarların siyasi stratejisine hizmet edip etmediğidir. Bu bağlamda konu, öz kız ve öz erkek kardeşleri ile evlenen Ptolamaios hükümdarlarını tespit etmek ve bu hükümdarların kardeşleriyle evlenmesine neden olan mitolojik, dini, siyasi ve toplumsal faktörleri analiz etmek şeklinde ele alınmıştır. Batı literatüründe farklı disiplinlere mensup akademisyenlerce makale ve kitap düzeyinde ele alınan bu konunun Türkçe literatüre katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• Eski Mısır
• Ptolemaios Hanedanı
• Kardeş Evliliği
• Ensest

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