This paper considers the nature of Greco-Roman historical knowledge of Egypt and its influence on formation of the image of Egyptian culture in Roman society. It is noted that Greek historiographic tradition influenced, in a fundamental manner, the formation of the Roman concepts of Egyptian history: Roman authors borrowed not only Greek knowledge of Egyptian culture and history, but also the approaches to their description where the presentation of historical material was not central. The author comes to the conclusion that the Greco-Roman historical literature of the 1st century BC - 4th century AD, with some exceptions, promoted formation of a positive image of Egypt. Even the stories of the legendary Pharaoh Sesostris actually repeated Egyptian folklore, where in the spirit of the Egyptian «nationalism» the conquest of all nations was attributed to Sesostris. Ancient historians, by keeping the focus on Egyptian patriotic orientation and by paying tribute to the great past of the country of the Pharaohs, raised the authority of Egypt in the eyes of the enlightened part of the Hellenistic world.
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