All Topics  
Ptolemaic dynasty

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Ptolemaic dynasty
 
 
  Topics Ptolemaic dynasty Topic Home

The Ptolemaic dynasty (sometimes also known as the Lagids, from the name of Ptolemy I's father, Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
) was a Hellenistic Macedon
Macedon

Macedon or Macedonia was the name of a monarchy centred in the northernmost part of ancient Greece. The homeland of the ancient Macedonians, it was bordered by the kingdom of Epirus to the west and the region of Thrace to the east....
ian royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
 for nearly 300 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC.

Ptolemy
Ptolemy I Soter

Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
, a somatophylax, one of the seven bodyguards who served as Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
's generals and deputies, was appointed satrap
Satrap

Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of ancient Medes and Persian Empire empires, including the Achaemenid Empire and in several of their heirs, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic civilization empires....
 of Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
 after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC, he declared himself King Ptolemy I, later known as "Soter" (saviour).






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ptolemaic dynasty'
Start a new discussion about 'Ptolemaic dynasty'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Ptolemaic dynasty (sometimes also known as the Lagids, from the name of Ptolemy I's father, Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
) was a Hellenistic Macedon
Macedon

Macedon or Macedonia was the name of a monarchy centred in the northernmost part of ancient Greece. The homeland of the ancient Macedonians, it was bordered by the kingdom of Epirus to the west and the region of Thrace to the east....
ian royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
 for nearly 300 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC.

Ptolemy
Ptolemy I Soter

Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
, a somatophylax, one of the seven bodyguards who served as Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
's generals and deputies, was appointed satrap
Satrap

Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of ancient Medes and Persian Empire empires, including the Achaemenid Empire and in several of their heirs, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic civilization empires....
 of Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
 after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC, he declared himself King Ptolemy I, later known as "Soter" (saviour). The Egyptians
Egyptians

Egyptians is the name of the nationality and Mediterranean North African ethnic group native to Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to the Geography of Egypt, dominated by the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the Cataracts of the Nile to the Mediterranean Sea and enclosed by desert both to the Easte...
 soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaoh
Pharaoh

Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. In antiquity this title began to be used for the ruler who was the religious and political leader of united ancient Egypt, only during the New Kingdom, specifically, during the middle of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt....
s of independent Egypt. Ptolemy's family ruled Egypt until the Roman
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
 conquest of 30 BC.

All the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy. Ptolemaic queens, some of whom were the sisters of their husbands, were usually called Cleopatra, Arsinoe or Berenice. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, Cleopatra VII, known for her role in the Roman political battles between Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar

'Gaius Julius Caesar' , July 13, 100 BC ? March 15, 44 BC,) was a Roman Republic military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
 and Pompey
Pompey

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'p?mpi/, Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir , was a distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman Republic....
, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony
Mark Antony

Marcus Antonius , known in English as Marc Antony, was a Roman Republic politician and General. He was an important supporter and the best friend of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesar's second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Antonia....
. Her suicide at the conquest by Rome marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.

Ptolemaic rulers and consorts


Diadochen1
The dates in brackets are regnal dates for the kings. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters. Several queens exercised regal authority, but the most famous and successful was Cleopatra VII (51 BC-30 BC), with her two brothers and her son as successive nominal co-rulers. Several systems exist for numbering the later rulers; the one used here is the one most widely used by modern scholars. Dates are years of reign.

  • Ptolemy I Soter
    Ptolemy I Soter

    Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
     (305 BC-282 BC) married first (probably) Thais
    Thaïs

    Tha?s was a famous Greek hetaera who lived during the time of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns.Tha?s first came to the attention of history when, in 330 BC, Alexander the Great burned down the palace of Persepolis after a drinking party....
    , secondly Artakama
    Artakama

    Artakama, daughter of Artabazus, a grandson of king Artaxerxes II, satrap of Daskyleion under Artaxerxes III and Darius III, satrap of Bactria under Alexander 2....
    , thirdly Eurydice
    Eurydice of Egypt

    Eurydice was daughter of Antipater and wife of Ptolemy I Soter, the son of Lagus. The period of her marriage is not mentioned by any ancient writer, but it is probable that it took place shortly after the Treaty of Triparadisus, and the appointment of Antipater to the regency, 321 BC....
     and finally Berenice I
    Berenice I of Egypt

    Berenice I, daughter of Magas, was first the wife of Philip, an obscure Macedon nobleman, with whom she gave birth to the future Magas of Cyrene....
  • Ptolemy II Philadelphus
    Ptolemy II Philadelphus

    Ptolemy II Philadelphus , was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC. He was the son of the founder of the Ptolemaic kingdom Ptolemy I Soter and Berenice I of Egypt, and was educated by Philitas of Cos....
     (284 BC-246 BC) married Arsinoe I
    Arsinoe I of Egypt

    Arsinoe I was queen regnant of Egypt 284 BC/281 BC-ca. 274 BC and first wife of Ptolemy II of Egypt.Arsinoe I was the daughter of Lysimachus, king of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedonia....
    , then Arsinoe II
    Arsinoe II of Egypt

    Arsinoe II , was queen of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedonia as wife of King Lysimachus , and later co-ruler of Egypt with her brother and husband Ptolemy II Philadelphus ....
     Philadelphus; ruled jointly with Ptolemy the Son (267 BC-259 BC)
  • Ptolemy III Euergetes
    Ptolemy III Euergetes

    Ptolemy III Euergetes, was the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. He was the eldest son of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and his first wife, Arsinoe I, and came to power in 246 BCE upon the death of his father....
     (246 BC-222 BC) married Berenice II
  • Ptolemy IV Philopator
    Ptolemy IV Philopator

    Ptolemy IV Philopator , son of Ptolemy III of Egypt and Berenice II of Egypt was the fourth Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Egypt. Under the reign of Ptolemy IV, the decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty began....
     (222 BC-204 BC) married Arsinoe III
    Arsinoe III of Egypt

    Arsinoe III was Queen of Ptolemaic Egypt . She was a daughter of Ptolemy III of Egypt and Berenice II of Egypt.Between late October and early November 220 BC she was married to her brother, Ptolemy IV of Egypt....
  • Ptolemy V Epiphanes
    Ptolemy V Epiphanes

    Ptolemy V Epiphanes , son of Ptolemy IV of Egypt and Arsinoe III of Egypt, was the 5th ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He became ruler at the age of five, and under a series of regents the kingdom was paralyzed....
     (204 BC-180 BC) married Cleopatra I
    Cleopatra I of Egypt

    Cleopatra I Syra , c. 204?176 BC was a queen of Ptolemaic dynasty Egypt, the daughter of Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III. She married Ptolemy V of Egypt in 193 BC...
  • Ptolemy VI Philometor
    Ptolemy VI Philometor

    File:Ptolemy_VI_Philometor_ring.jpgPtolemy VI Philometor was a king of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty. He reigned from 180 to 145 BC.Ptolemy succeeded in 180 at the age of about 6 and ruled jointly with his mother, Cleopatra I, until her death in 176 BC....
     (180 BC-164 BC, 163 BC-145 BC) married Cleopatra II
    Cleopatra II of Egypt

    Cleopatra II was a queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I.Following the death of their mother , she was married to her brother in 173 BC, Ptolemy VI....
    , briefly ruled jointly with Ptolemy Eupator
    Ptolemy Eupator

    Ptolemy Eupator was for a short time in 152 BC joint ruler with his father Ptolemy VI Philometor. It is thought that Ptolemy Eupator died that same year....
     in 152 BC
  • Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
    Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

    Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator was an Egyptian king of the Ptolemaic dynasty period. His reign is controversial, and it is possible that he did not reign at all, but was only granted royal dignity posthumously....
     (never reigned)
  • Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon)
    Ptolemy VIII Physcon

    Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II , nicknamed , Ph?skon, Physcon for his obesity, was a king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. His complicated career started in 170 BC, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Egypt, captured his brother Ptolemy VI Philometor and let him continue as a puppet monarch....
     (170 BC-163 BC, 145 BC-116 BC) married Cleopatra II
    Cleopatra II of Egypt

    Cleopatra II was a queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I.Following the death of their mother , she was married to her brother in 173 BC, Ptolemy VI....
     then Cleopatra III
    Cleopatra III of Egypt

    Cleopatra III was queen of Egypt 142–101 BC.She was born in 161 BC to Ptolemy VI of Egypt and Cleopatra II of Egypt. Ptolemy VII of Egypt was her brother....
    ; temporarily expelled from Alexandria by Cleopatra II
    Cleopatra II of Egypt

    Cleopatra II was a queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I.Following the death of their mother , she was married to her brother in 173 BC, Ptolemy VI....
     between 131 BC and 127 BC, reconciled with her in 124 BC.
  • Cleopatra II Philometora Soteira
    Cleopatra II of Egypt

    Cleopatra II was a queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, daughter of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I.Following the death of their mother , she was married to her brother in 173 BC, Ptolemy VI....
     (131 BC-127 BC), in opposition to Ptolemy VIII
  • Cleopatra III Philometor Soteira Dikaiosyne Nikephoros (Kokke)
    Cleopatra III of Egypt

    Cleopatra III was queen of Egypt 142–101 BC.She was born in 161 BC to Ptolemy VI of Egypt and Cleopatra II of Egypt. Ptolemy VII of Egypt was her brother....
     (116 BC-101 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy IX (116 BC-107 BC) and Ptolemy X (107 BC-101 BC)
  • Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros)
    Ptolemy IX Lathyros

    Ptolemy IX Soter II or Lathyros was king of Egypt three times, from 116 BC to 110 BC, 109 BC to 107 BC and 88 BC to 81 BC, with intervening periods ruled by his brother, Ptolemy X Alexander....
     (116 BC-107 BC, 88 BC-81 BC as Soter II) married Cleopatra IV
    Cleopatra IV of Egypt

    Cleopatra IV was the daughter of Ptolemy VIII Physcon and Cleopatra III . She reigned as Queen of Egypt briefly from 116 BC-115 BC, jointly with her husband Ptolemy IX of Egypt....
     then Cleopatra Selene; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III
    Cleopatra III of Egypt

    Cleopatra III was queen of Egypt 142–101 BC.She was born in 161 BC to Ptolemy VI of Egypt and Cleopatra II of Egypt. Ptolemy VII of Egypt was her brother....
     in his first reign
  • Ptolemy X Alexander I (107 BC-88 BC) married Cleopatra Selene then Berenice III
    Berenice III of Egypt

    Berenice III , sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X of Egypt....
    ; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III
    Cleopatra III of Egypt

    Cleopatra III was queen of Egypt 142–101 BC.She was born in 161 BC to Ptolemy VI of Egypt and Cleopatra II of Egypt. Ptolemy VII of Egypt was her brother....
     till 101 BC
  • Berenice III Philopator
    Berenice III of Egypt

    Berenice III , sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X of Egypt....
     (81 BC-80 BC)
  • Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III
    Berenice III of Egypt

    Berenice III , sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X of Egypt....
     before murdering her; ruled alone for 19 days after that.
  • Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes)
    Ptolemy XII Auletes

    Ptolemy Neos Dionysos Theos Philopator Theos Philadelphos , New Dionysus, God Beloved of his Father, God Beloved of his Brother) was more commonly known as "Auletes" , or "Nothos" ....
     (80 BC-58 BC, 55 BC-51 BC) married Cleopatra V Tryphaena
    Cleopatra V of Egypt

    Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt was a Ptolemaic dynasty Queen of Egypt. She is the only surely attested wife of Ptolemy XII Auletes....
  • Cleopatra V Tryphaena
    Cleopatra V of Egypt

    Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt was a Ptolemaic dynasty Queen of Egypt. She is the only surely attested wife of Ptolemy XII Auletes....
     (58 BC-57 BC) ruled jointly with Berenice IV Epiphaneia
    Berenice IV of Egypt

    Berenice IV , born in Alexandria, Egypt in 77 BC, died in Alexandria 55 BC, was the daughter of Ptolemy XII of Egypt and probably Cleopatra V of Egypt Tryphaena, sister of Cleopatra VI of Egypt, and the famous Cleopatra VII ....
     (58 BC-55 BC)
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator
    Cleopatra VII of Egypt

    Cleopatra VII Philopator was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt, originally sharing power with her father Ptolemy XII Auletes and later with her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV; eventually gaining sole rule of Egypt....
     (51 BC-30 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy XIII (51 BC-47 BC), Ptolemy XIV
    Ptolemy XIV of Egypt

    Ptolemy XIV , was a son of Ptolemy XII of Egypt and one of the last members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Following the death of his older brother Ptolemy XIII of Egypt on January 13, 47 BC, he was proclaimed Pharaoh and co-ruler by their older sister and remaining Pharaoh, Cleopatra VII of Egypt....
     (47 BC-44 BC) and Ptolemy XV Caesarion
    Caesarion

    Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion Greek language: ?t??e?a??? ??' F???p?t?? F?????t?? ?a?sa?, ?a?sa????, Ptolemaios Philop?tor Philom?tor Kaisar, Kaisar?on was the last king of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, who reigned, as a child, jointly with his mother Cleopatra VII of Egypt from S...
     (44 BC-30 BC).
  • Arsinoe IV
    Arsinoe IV of Egypt

    Arsinoe IV was the youngest daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, sister of Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII, and one of the last rulers of the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt....
     (48 BC-47 BC) in opposition to Cleopatra VII
    Cleopatra VII of Egypt

    Cleopatra VII Philopator was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt, originally sharing power with her father Ptolemy XII Auletes and later with her brothers/husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV; eventually gaining sole rule of Egypt....


Simplified Ptolemaic family tree

Many of the relationships shown in this tree are controversial. The issues are fully discussed in the external links.

Other members of the Ptolemaic dynasty


  • Ptolemy Keraunos
    Ptolemy Keraunos

    Ptolemy Keraunos was the King of Macedon from 281 BC to 279 BC.He was the eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter and his first wife Eurydice . His younger half-brother, also called Ptolemy, became heir apparent and, in 282 BC, ascended to the throne as Ptolemy II Philadelphus....
     (died 279 BC) - eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter. Eventually became king of Macedon.
  • Ptolemy Apion
    Ptolemy Apion

    Ptolemy Apion or simply known as Apion was the last Greek Cyrenaean King and was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Ptolemy in descent was Greeks Ancient Macedonians and native Egyptian....
     (died 96 BC) - son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Made king of Cyrenaica. Bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
  • Ptolemy Philadelphus
    Ptolemy Philadelphus (Cleopatra)

    Ptolemy Philadelphus was a Ptolemaic Prince and was the youngest child of Greeks Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman Republic Triumvir Mark Antony....
     (born 36 BC) - son of Mark Antony
    Mark Antony

    Marcus Antonius , known in English as Marc Antony, was a Roman Republic politician and General. He was an important supporter and the best friend of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesar's second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Antonia....
     and Cleopatra VII.
  • Ptolemy of Mauretania
    Ptolemy of Mauretania

    Ptolemy of Mauretania or Ptolemy of Morocco was a prince and the last Roman client king of Mauretania.Ptolemy was the only son to queen Cleopatra Selene II and king Juba II of Mauretania....
     (died AD 40
    40

    Year 40 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar....
    ) - son of Juba II
    Juba II

    Juba II or Juba II of Numidia was a king of Numidia and then later moved to Mauretania. His first wife was Cleopatra Selene II, the last Ptolemaic dynasty Monarch and daughter to Greece Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman triumvir Mark Antony....
     of Mauretania and Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony
    Mark Antony

    Marcus Antonius , known in English as Marc Antony, was a Roman Republic politician and General. He was an important supporter and the best friend of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesar's second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Antonia....
    . King of Mauretania
    Mauretania

    In Antiquity, Mauretania was originally an independent Berber people monarchy on the Mediterranean coast of north Africa , corresponding to western Algeria, northern Morocco and Spain Plazas de soberan?a....
    .


Medical Analysis


A number of the Ptolemaic dynasty are described as being extremely obese, whilst sculptures and coins reveal prominent eyes and swollen necks. Familial Graves’ disease could explain the swollen necks and eye prominence (exophthalmos), although this is unlikely to occur in the presence of morbid obesity.

In view of the familial nature of these findings, members of this dynasty likely suffered from a multi-organ fibrotic condition such as Erdheim-Chester disease or a familial multifocal fibrosclerosis where thyroiditis, obesity and ocular proptosis may have all occurred concurrently.

See also

  • Hellenistic period
    Hellenistic period

    The Hellenistic period describes the era which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its zenith in Europe and Asia....
  • History of ancient Egypt
    History of Ancient Egypt

    The History of ancient Egypt spans the period from the early Predynastic Egypt settlements of the northern Nile Valley to the History of Roman Egypt in 30 BC....
  • Ptolemaic kingdom
    Ptolemaic Kingdom

    The Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Aegyptus in 30 BC....
  • Ptolemy I Soter
    Ptolemy I Soter

    Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
  • Ptolemaic Decrees
    Ptolemaic Decrees

    The Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC, issued these series of decrees over the course of their reign. The Rosetta Stone is a well-known example of one of the decrees....


Further Reading

  • Karen Essex
    Karen Essex

    Karen Essex is a historical novelist, a screenwriter, and journalist....
    , Kleopatra Pharaoh
    Kleopatra Pharaoh

    Kleopatra and Pharaoh are a two volume novel by historical novelist Karen Essex, author of Leonardo?s Swans and Stealing Athena. The books emphasize the Egyptian queen?s Greek roots as a descendent of Alexander the Great and re-imagine her as an astute ruler and diplomat....
     (2001,2002)


External links

  • , by Jona Lendering