| Provincia Arcadia Aegypti ἐπαρχία Αρκαδίας Αιγύπτου | |
|---|---|
| province of the Roman Empire | |
| After 386–640s | |
 Diocese of Egypt, c. 400 | |
| Capital | Oxyrhynchus |
| History | |
• Established | After 386 |
• Disestablished | 640s |
| Today part of | 
Egypt |
Arcadia or Arcadia Aegypti was a Late Roman province in northern Egypt. It was named for one of the reigning Augusti of the Roman Empire, Arcadius ( r. 383–408) of the Theodosian dynasty when it was created in the late 4th century. Its capital was Oxyrhynchus and its territory encompassed the Arsinoite nome and the " Heptanomia" ("seven nomes") region. [1]
History
It was created between 386 and ca. 395 out of the province of Augustamnica and most of the historical region known as " Heptanomis" ("seven nomes"), except for Hermopolis, which belonged to the Thebaid. [2]
In the Notitia Dignitatum, Arcadia forms one of six provinces of the Diocese of Egypt, under a governor with the low rank of praeses. [2] [3]
By 636, the praeses governor had been replaced by a governor with the rank of dux. [1]
Episcopal sees
Ancient episcopal sees in the Roman province of Arcadia Aegypti, listed in the Annuario Pontificio as titular sees: [4]
- Oxyrhynchus, the Metropolitan Archbishopric, so probably the provincial capital
- Alphocranon (Helwan)
- Aphroditopolis (Atfih)
- Arsinoë in Arcadia (Faiyum)
- Cynopolis in Arcadia (El-Queis? Cheikh-Fadl?)
- Heracleopolis Magna
- Memphis
- Nilopolis
- Theodosiopolis in Arcadia (Taha-el-Amudein)
References
- ^ a b Keenan, James (2018), Nicholson, Oliver (ed.), "Arcadia", The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi: 10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-388, ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8, retrieved 2020-12-29
- ^ a b Keenan (2000), p. 613
- ^ Notitia Dignitatum, in partibus Orientis, I
- ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), "Sedi titolari", pp. 819-1013
Sources
- Keenan, James K. (2000). "Egypt". In Cameron, Averil; Ward-Perkins, Bryan; Whitby, Michael (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume XIV - Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors, A.D. 425–600. Cambridge University Press. pp. 612–637. ISBN 978-0-521-32591-2.