Kom el-Hisn Stele "Decree of Canopus"
لوحة كوم الحصن "مرسوم كانوب"
Decree of Canopus
A trilingual inscription dating back to the Ptolemaic period in Ancient Egypt, written in three writing systems: Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Demotic, and Koine Greek.
History
The decree records the events of a great priestly synod held in Canopus on March 7, 238 BCE, in the ninth year of the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes.
Purpose
The decree honored Pharaoh Ptolemy III, his wife Queen Berenice, and their daughter Princess Berenice, and recorded the official decisions and celebrations of the priests.
Historical Significance
The decree is an important historical document for understanding the religious and political administration in Ptolemaic Egypt, and illustrates the relationship between the Pharaohs, the priests, and the status of the royal family.