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sygnathid t1_izu2414 wrote

Reply to comment by TeacherAdorable4864 in Egypt: Portraits of Egyptian Mummies Discovered in Ancient Philadelphia by IslandChillin

Is there any standardization of the use of the word "ancient"? Feels like, in the context of Egyptian mummies, the Ptolemaic dynasty is not very ancient/the headline is almost misleading.

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MeatballDom t1_izu636x wrote

The Ptolemaic Period is still very much considered ancient. Yes, Egyptian history goes back much further, but modern history goes ahead much longer. It was recognised during the time that the history was already so old though. There's the famous tidbit about Cleopatra (VII) living closer to the age of computers than the building of the Great Pyramid, which is true, but she still died (and effectively ended the Ptolemaic dynasty) ~2,050 years ago which was a time very much considered ancient.

Also considering the importance of the Ptolemies in Greek and Roman history, they are brought within those timeframes as well. The Ptolemies pre-date the Roman Empire and their downfall is part of the empire's rise.

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MC1065 t1_izune8g wrote

I've seen ancient used to describe eras up to the 14th century, the word basically conveys no useful information anymore.

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nuggets792 t1_izvrwhh wrote

It's all relative. The pyramids at Giza would've been ancient to the Ptolemies, even as early as the time of Alexander the Great.

Egypt is an exceptionally old polity.

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