Silvia Bussi

This article deals with the very first period of the life of Egypt as a Roman province, and in particular with the political relationship established by the first Prefect of Egypt, Cornelius Gallus, with the nubian State. The analysis of the disgrace of Cornelius is conducted on a philological base and is focused on the Philae Stela, through a confrontation of the Latin, Greek and hieroglyphic texts. This text is presented as the clue to demonstrate that a change in the Augustus’ policy after 27 B.C. pushed him to eliminate Gallus, who had acted as a continuator of the Ptolemies in regulating diplomatic relations between Egypt and Nubia.