Podcast Summary: HISTORY This Week

Episode: Egypt’s Last Hieroglyph and the Fiery Archbishop of Alexandria

Release Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Sally Helm

Episode Overview

This episode explores a transformative moment at the end of ancient Egypt’s millennia-old religious and linguistic traditions, telling the parallel stories of the last known hieroglyph ever carved (394 CE) and the rise and ruthless consolidation of power by Theophilus, the Archbishop of Alexandria. Through expert interviews, it examines the dramatic shift from Egyptian paganism to Christianity, the violent and political machinations that shaped this era, and asks whether it’s possible to truly erase a faith—or if, as history shows, old customs live on in new forms.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Last Hieroglyph: An End and a Beginning

• Setting the Scene (00:46–03:46):

  • In 394 CE, Esmet-Akhom, an Egyptian priest, approaches the temple walls at Philae to carve an inscription in hieroglyphics—a language nearly extinct after centuries of decline and religious repression by Roman authorities.
  • Only a handful could still write hieroglyphics. Esmet-Akhom, one of the last, was "not very good."

    "If you look at the hieroglyphs, they're really ugly... struggling to compose intelligible sentences." — Solange Ashby (02:32)

  • This act was a tribute to the god Mandulis and a quiet act of resistance, but a futile one as Christianity ascended and old practices were banned.

• Personal and Cultural Loss (03:06):

  • The end of hieroglyphics is depicted as both tragic and monumental.

    "It's kind of heartbreaking to me... this culture has now stumbled and we see it fall." — Solange Ashby (03:28)

2. The Rise of Theophilus and the Suppression of Paganism

• Religious Upheaval in Roman Egypt (04:44–05:51):

  • The Roman Empire officially outlaws Egyptian religion in 391 CE under Theodosius.
  • Christianity, once persecuted, now aggressively replaces traditional beliefs.

• Enter Theophilus (06:16):

  • Theophilus, the ambitious and charismatic Archbishop of Alexandria, sees an opportunity to dominate the emerging Christian landscape.

    "He's a good talker, really intense... if he's your friend, that's great. But if you're on the wrong side, that's not going to be so much fun." — Ben Dickstein (06:16)

• Symbolic Transformation (07:17–09:02):

  • The conversion of sacred sites, especially the Serapeum (a major pagan temple), into Christian spaces serves as both a real and symbolic conquest. This included public mocking of pagan relics and parading them through Alexandria.

• Clash and Destruction (09:02–11:22):

  • Riot erupts between Christians and pagans. Practitioners of old religion retreat to the Serapeum, a letter from Theodosius grants Christians permission to destroy the temples.

    "A Christian soldier takes an axe to the statue of Serapis... damnatio memoriae, damning of memory." — Sally Helm/Ben Dickstein (11:22)

• Deliberate Memory and Power (12:19):

  • The ruined Serapeum is left as a visual reminder of Christian victory, not rebuilt as a church.

3. Theophilus Versus Christian Rivals

• Ambition and Internal Strife (14:26–17:42):

  • Theophilus’s rise is not just about eliminating paganism, but consolidating power in Alexandria.
  • Dispute with his former ally Isidore over church donations and accusations of sexual impropriety leads to Isidore's excommunication, worsening tensions between Theophilus and powerful desert monks ("The Tall Brothers").

• Violent Suppression of Monks (18:36–21:17):

  • Monks shelter Isidore, refuse to align with Theophilus’s agenda—prompting an assault on their desert monastery (Nitria) with imperial backing. Monks’ cells and their possessions are burned; legends say some may have been burned alive.

• Justifying Violence (21:34–23:02):

  • Theophilus frames his actions as religious duty, seeing violence as a justified means to preserve the Church and orthodoxy.

    "If a few monks have to die in a cell in order to save everybody else, it's worth the cost to him." — Ben Dickstein (22:06)

• PR Campaign and Self-Justification (23:02–23:45):

  • Theophilus calls himself "the second Moses" in letters, framing his aggressive actions within biblical precedent.

4. Showdown in Constantinople

• The Synod of the Oak (24:09–29:07):
  • Theophilus faces charges in Constantinople, home of the powerful Patriarch, John Chrysostom.

    "Chrysostom means golden mouth... he was so eloquent as a preacher." — Stephen Davis (24:09)

  • Theophilus campaigns across the region, gathers 29 supportive bishops, turns the trial against his rival. John is exiled, Theophilus emerges triumphant.

5. Legacy and Continuity

• Mixed Legacy (30:50):

  • Theophilus remains a saint in various Orthodox churches, but historians debate his character—was he a defender of faith or simply a political opportunist?

    "In Egypt... his reputation is the bishop that fought the pagans and won. I think amongst historians it ends up being a mixed bag." — Stephen Davis (30:50)

• The Fate of Egyptian Tradition (31:07–32:00):

  • Ancient customs never fully vanished; Egyptians continued private worship, and elements of their tradition persisted within Christian practices (e.g., the ankh-like Coptic cross, Marian iconography resembling Isis).

    "The very traditions that Theophilus sought to crush arguably live on in his very own church." — Sally Helm (32:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the last hieroglyph:
  • “He would have had a bad feeling that their way of worshiping traditional gods... was really coming to a close.” — Solange Ashby (03:06)
• On Theophilus’s personality:
  • “He’s fiery. If he’s your friend, that’s great. If you’re on the wrong side... not so much fun.” — Ben Dickstein (06:16)
• On the destruction of Serapis:
  • "Theophilus and his rowdy Christian crew break in and decimate the statue." — Ben Dickstein (11:09)
  • “It’s a desecration of the Egyptian faith.” — Sally Helm (11:49)
• On motivations for violence:
  • "For Theophilus, it's about keeping his power consolidated... if he doesn't, then he must be on the wrong side of God." — Sally Helm (17:47)
• On Christian hypocrisy and historical myth:
  • “Actually, Christians were as bad as any other human... orthodoxy was at stake, and that felt crucial.” — Ben Dickstein (22:06)
• On legacy and syncretism:
  • “The monastic tradition... still continues throughout the world today. The Coptic church still uses the ankh-like cross... the very traditions Theophilus sought to crush arguably live on in his very own church.” — Sally Helm (32:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:46–03:46 – Story of Esmet-Akhom and the last hieroglyph
• 04:44–11:22 – Christianization of Egypt, destruction of pagan sites (Serapeum)
• 14:26–21:17 – Power struggles within the Christian church; attack on Nitria
• 23:02–23:45 – Theophilus as "second Moses"
• 24:09–29:07 – Confrontation with John Chrysostom; Synod of the Oak
• 30:50–32:00 – Legacy of Theophilus and survival of Egyptian traditions

Conclusion

This episode examines the complex interplay of faith, power, and legacy at a pivotal moment in Egyptian and Christian history. While Theophilus succeeded in stamping out visible signs of the old order, centuries-old religious customs refused to disappear completely, instead transforming and persisting in the very institutions that sought to erase them. The episode underscores the irony and resilience inherent in the history of belief—and the peril of believing any culture can be totally eradicated.