Ptolemaic Period Demotic and Late Egyptian Script Developments (c. 332 BCE–4th century CE)

1. Alexander the Great conquers Egypt

   Jan 1, 332 BCELabels: Alexander the, Achaemenid Egypt

   • Britannica

2. Ptolemy I assumes kingship of Egypt

   Nov 7, 305 BCELabels: Ptolemy I, Ptolemaic dynasty

   • Britannica

3. Decree of Alexandria promulgated (synodal decree series)

   Dec 3, 243 BCELabels: Priestly synod, Ptolemy III

   • Synodal

4. Decree of Canopus issued in three scripts

   Mar 7, 238 BCELabels: Decree of, Trilingual inscription

   • Britannica
   • Attalus

5. Raphia Decree records Ptolemy IV’s victory

   Jan 1, 217 BCELabels: Raphia Decree, Ptolemy IV

   • Raphia
   • Synodal

6. Memphis (Rosetta Stone) decree issued for Ptolemy V

   Jan 1, 196 BCELabels: Rosetta Stone, Ptolemy V

   • Britannica
   • Attalus

7. Second Philae Decree inscribed after revolt suppression

   Jan 1, 186 BCELabels: Second Philae, Philae temple

   • Attalus
   • Synodal

8. End of Ptolemaic rule; Egypt becomes Roman province

   Aug 12, 30 BCELabels: Cleopatra VII, Roman Egypt

   • Britannica

9. Demotic continues as common handwritten Egyptian script

   Jan 1, 1Labels: Demotic script, Documentary texts

   • Britannica

10. Coptic script develops and begins displacing Demotic

    Jan 1, 300Labels: Coptic script, Alphabet reform

    • Egyptian
    • WorldHist

11. Last known hieroglyphic inscription carved at Philae

    Aug 24, 394Labels: Last hieroglyph, Philae Graffito

    • Memphis
    • Esmet

12. Hieratic graffiti at Philae survive into late antiquity

    Jan 1, 452Labels: Hieratic graffiti, Philae priests

    • Britannica

13. Last securely dated Demotic inscription at Philae

    Dec 1, 452Labels: Last Demotic, Philae inscription

    • Esmet
    • NileScr