Product guide

The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt: Cleruchs, Mercenaries and Machimoï, 323–30 BCE

Cleruchs Mercenaries Machimo: The Armies of Ptolemaic Egypt examines the organisation and development of the kingdom’s army from 323 to 30 BCE. The listing describes a source-based account of military institutions, with illustrations of soldiers drawn mainly from statuettes, frescoes and painted stelae.

At a glance

Covers the Ptolemaic army across its centuries of existence, with the title defining the period as 323–30 BCE.
Discusses military organisation by comparing theoretical descriptions with surviving empirical evidence.
Illustrations are described as being based mainly on statuettes, frescoes and painted stelae.

Price

£14.99Save 40%

Reference price: ~~£25.00~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A focused treatment of Ptolemaic military organisation and its changes over time.
The described use of written evidence and visual material gives readers more than a narrative overview.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Publication
Publisher	Helion & Company
Publication date	21 Jan. 2026
Language	English
Print length	184 pages
ISBN-10	1804518255
ISBN-13	978-1804518250

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	454 g
Dimensions	18.03 x 1.02 x 24.64 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers studying Ptolemaic Egypt, Hellenistic military institutions or the armies of Alexander’s successors.
Those seeking an illustrated historical account of soldiers and army organisation.

Less suited to

Readers looking for a general history of ancient Egypt rather than a focused military study.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 3 ratings

5 stars63%63%
4 stars37%37%
3 stars0%0%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

The supplied aggregate ratings are positive overall, but the sample is very small and no written customer feedback is available. The scores therefore offer limited guidance on the book’s treatment or illustrations. Its listed subject and image-based material are most relevant to buyers seeking a focused study of Ptolemaic military history.

Frequently asked questions

What period does the book cover?

The title gives the period as 323–30 BCE, and the description discusses the Ptolemaic army over its centuries of existence.

What kind of material does the book include?

The listing describes an account of army organisation using documentary evidence and illustrations mainly based on statuettes, frescoes and painted stelae.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 184 pages.