With this part in the
administration
of affairs.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
But we have little information concerning the remain-
when he found himself established on the throne ing events of his reign, we do not find that it was
of Egypt, he gave free scope to his sanguinary again disturbed by any civil disorders. His
disposition. Many of the leading citizens of Alex- attention was principally directed to the affairs of
andria, who had taken part against him on the Syria, where Demetrius had espoused the cause of
death of his brother, were put to death without Cleopatra, and advanced as far as Pelusium to her
mercy, while the populace were given up without support, but was compelled, by the disaffection of
restraint to the cruelties of his mercenary troops, his own troops, to retire without effecting anything.
and the streets of the city were repeatedly deluged In order to revenge himself for this attempt, Pto.
with blood. Thousands of the inhabitants Aed lemy now set up against him a new pretender in the
from the scene of such horrors, and the population person of a youth named Zabinas or Zebina, who
of Alexandria was so greatly thinned that the king assumed the title of Alexander II. , and with the
found himself compelled to invite foreign settlers forces furnished him by the Egyptian king, was
from all quarters to re-people his deserted capital. able to establish himself for a time on the throne of
a
At the same time that he thus incurred the hatred Syria. But infiated with this success, the usurper
of his subjects by his cruelties, he rendered him- forgot his obligations to Ptolemy, and behaved
self an object of their aversion and contempt by with such haughtiness to his benefactor, that the
abandoning himself to the most degrading vices. latter suddenly changed his policy, became recon-
In consequence of these, he had become bloated ciled to his sister Cleopatra, whom he permitted
and deformed in person, and so enormously cor- to return to Egypt, and gave his danghter Trye
pulent, that he could scarcely walk. (Justin. l. c. ; phaena in marriage to Antiochus Grypus, the son
Diod. xxxiii. Exc. Vales. p. 594 ; Athen. iv. of Demetrius, whom he also supported with a
p. 184, c. , vi. p. 252, e. , xii. p. 549. d. )
large auxiliary force. Antiochus was thus enabled
His union with Cleopatra was not of long dura- to recover possession of the throne of his fore-
tion. At first, indeed, he appears to have lived on fathers, B. c. 125, and from this time the friendly
good terms with her, and she bore him a son, to relations between Syria and Egyp: continued
-
## p. 595 (#611) ############################################
PTOLEMAEUS.
695
PTOLEMAEUS.
aninterrupted until the death of Ptolemy. (Justin. death. To his natural son Ptolemy surnamed
xxxix. 1,2; Joseph. Ant. xiii. 9; Euseb. Arm. Apion, he bequeathed by his will the separate king-
pp. 167, 168. ) This took place in the year B. Co dom of Cyrene (PTOLEMAEUS APION). [E. H. B. )
117, ten years after his restoration to the throne, PTOLEMAEUS VIII. (Itonepaios), king of
and twenty-nine after the death of his brother Egypt, surnamed SOTER II. , and also PHILOME-
Philometor. But he himself reckoned the years TOR, both of which titles he bears on inscriptions,
of his reign from the date of bis first assumption but more often distinguished by historians by the
of the regal title at Alexandria, in B. c. 170, and appellation of LATHYRUS or LATHURUS (Aádou
according to this mode of computation, his death pos). He was the eldest son of Ptolemy Physcon,
took place in the fifty-fourth year of his reign. by his niece Cleopatra, and was already of full age
(Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 115 ; Clinton. F. H. at the time of bis father's death, B. c. 117. Cleo-
vol. iii. p. 386. )
patra, however, who had been appointed by the
The character of Ptolemy Physcon has suffi- will of her late husband to succeed him on the
ciently appeared from the foregoing narrative. But throne, was desirous to associnte with herself her
stained as he was at once by the most infamous younger son, Ptolemy Alexander, to the exclusion
and degrading vices, and by the most sanguinary of his brother. But the latter was popular with
and unsparing cruelty, he still retained in a great the Alexandrians, and the queen was obliged to
degree ihat love of letters which appears to have give way. , She accordingly sent Alexander to
been hereditary in the whole race of the Ptolemies. Cyprus, while she declared Lathyrus king, with
He had in his youth been a pupil of Aristarchus, the titles of Soter and Philometor. But, in order
and not only courted the society of learned men, to retain her influence over him undivided, she com-
but was himself the author of a work called 'T70-pelled him to repudiate his sister Cleopatra, to
urnuata, or memoirs, which extended to twenty- whom he had been previously married and was
four books. It is repeatedly cited by Athenaeus tenderly attached, and marry his younger sister
(ii. p. 43, e. , 71, b. , ix. p. 387, x. p. 438, xiv. p. Selene in her stead (Justin. xxxix. 3 ; Paus. i. 9.
654, &c. ), but the quotations refer to minute and $ 1). This arrangement seems to have in some
miscellaneous points from which it is impossible to degree produced its intended effect ; at least the
judge of the general character of the work. It mother and son were able to rule conjointly for
would seem, however, to have been a sort of general near ten years before they came to any open
natural history, rather than an historical narration rupture. But they were on many occasions opposed
of events. But even in his patronage of literature to one another, in their foreign as well as domestic
Ptolemy displayed his capricious and tyrannical policy, and we find Ptolemy sending assistance to
character: and during the first years of his sole Antiochus Cyzicenus in his wars against the Jews,
reign his cruelties appear to have produced a gene-in direct opposition to the will of his mother, who
ral consternation among the philosophers and men had uniformly favoured the latter, and had placed
of letters at Alexandria, many of whom fled from two officers of that nation at the head of her army.
Egypt and took refuge in other countries, where But Cleopatra could ill brook such resistance to
they opened schools, and thus introduced the her authority : and by accusing Ptolemy of a
learning and science of Alexandria (Athen. iv. p. design against her life, she excited such an insur-
184). "Ptolemy endeavoured in the later years of rection in Alexandria that the king was forced to
his reign to repair the mischief he had thus caused, seek safety in flight, B. c. 107. (Justin. xxxix. 4 ;
and again draw together an extensive literary Paus. i. 9. & 2; Joseph. Ant. xiii. 10. SS 2, 4 ;
society in his capital. To him also is ascribed, with Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 115. )
some probability, the prohibition of the export of His brother Alexander now assumed the sove.
papyrus, a measure which was dictated by jealousy reignty of Egypt, in conjunction with his mother-
of the growing literary riches of the kings of Per- while Lathyrus was able to establish himself in the
gamus, and led, as is well known, to the invention possession of Cyprus. Cleopatra indeed attempted
of parchment (Plin. H. N. xii. 11 (21)). Some to dispossess him of that island also, but without
writers, however, refer this statement to Euergetes success, and Ptolemy held it as an independent
1. (See Parthey, Das Aler. Museum, p. 48. ) kingdom for the eighteen years during which Cleo-
Euergetes II. left two sons ; Ptolemy, after patra and Alexander reigned in Egypt. His wars
wards known as Soter II. , and Alexander, both of in Syria are the only events which have been re-
whom subsequently ascended the throne of Egypt; corded to us of this period. In B. C. 103 he
and three daughters: I. Cleopatra, already mar- landed in Syria with a large army, in order to
ried to her brother Ptolemy ; 2. Tryphaena, the support the citizens of Ptolemaïs and Gaza against
wife of Antiochus Grypus, king of Syria ; and 3. Alexander Jannaeus, king of the Jews, defeated
Selene, who was still unmarried at her father's that monarch in a great battle on the banks of the
Jordan, and made himself master of Ptolemaïs,
Gaza, and other cities. Hereupon Cleopatra has-
tened with an army to oppose him, and reduced
Phoenicia and Ptolemaïs, while Lathyrus, after an
unsuccessful attempt to march upon Egypt itself,
HA retired to Gaza, and the following spring withdrew
to Cyprus, B. c. 101 (Joseph. Ant. xiii. 12, 13).
In the subsequent disputes of the Syrian princes
he and his mother, as was to be expected, took
opposite sides, Ptolemy being in close alliance with
Antiochus Cyzicenus, while Cleopatra supported
his brother Antiochus Grypus (Justin. xxxix. 4).
COIN OP PTOLEM A EUS VII. , KING OF EGYPT.
At a later period (in B. C. 94) we find Ptolemy
again taking part in the civil wars which followed
Alom
BA
००१
## p. 596 (#612) ############################################
696
PTOLEMAEUS.
PTOLEMAEUS.
c
the death of Antiochus Grypus, and setting up self, on the death of Euergetes, B. c. 117, in pre-
Demetrius Eucaerus, the youngest son of that ference to his elder brother. But the will of the
monarch, as a claimant to the throne. (Joseph. Alexandrians having compelled her to assume La-
Ant. xiii. 13. & 4. )
thyrus as her colleague, she sent Alexander to
After the death of Cleopatra and the expulsion of Cyprus with the title of general or governor of
Alexander in B. c. 89 [PTOLEMAEUS IX. ), Ptolemy that island. Three years later, however (R. c. 114),
Lathyrus was recalled by the Alexandrians and he assumed the title of king, on what pretext we
established anew on the throne of Egypt, which he know not, and reckoned the years of his reign
occupied thenceforth without interruption till his from this date (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 116).
death in B. c. 81 (Justin. xxxix. 5 ; Porphyr. l. c. But he appears to have remained content with the
p. 116). The most important event of this period possession of Cyprus till B. c. 107, when Cleopatra,
was the revolt of the once mighty city of Thebes, having expelled Ptolemy Lathyrus, recalled her
in Upper Egypt, which was still powerful enough favourite son to occupy the vacant throne of Egypt.
to hold out for nearly three years against the arms Alexander reigned conjointly with his mother from
of Ptolemy, but at the end of that time was taken this time till B. c. 90: but it is probable that her
and reduced to the state of ruin in which it has haughty and imperious character left him little real
ever since remained (Paus. i. 9. & 3).
With this part in the administration of affairs. The only oc-
exception the eight years of the second reign of casion on which we meet with his name in this
Ptolemy Lathyrus appear to have been a period of interval is in B. C. 102, when he commanded
internal tranquillity, while his prudent policy re- the Egyptian fleet which attacked Phoenicia by
gained for him in some degree that consideration sea, while Cleopatra with the army marched
abroad which Egypt had nearly lost. We find the against Palestine (Joseph. Ant. xiii. 13. 1).
Athenians, in return for some benefits which he But at length the violence and cruelties of his
bad conferred upon them, erecting statues to him mother terrified Alexander to such a degree that
and his daughter Berenice (Paus. l. c. ); and during he determined to free himself from her power, and
the Mithridatic war, B. c. 87, Lucullus was sent made his escape secretly from Alexandria. Here-
by Sulla to request from him the assistance of the upon Cleopatra, fearing lest her sons should make
Egyptian fleet. But Lathyrus was desirous to common cause against her, sent an embassy to
remain neuter during that contest, and, while he Alexander to entreat his return. With this re
received Lucullus with every demonstration of quest he was induced to comply ; but soon found
honour he declined to furnish the required assist- reason to suspect that she was forming designs
ance. (Plut. Lucull. 2, 3. )
against his life, and immediately determined to
The character of Lathyrus appears to have been anticipate them by causing her to be assassinated,
mild and amiable, even to a degree bordering upon B. c. 90. But he did not long enjoy the fruits of
weakness: but it shows in a favourable light when this crime. Cleopatra had been popular with the
contrasted with those of his mother and brother, army, and the soldiers in consequence hated Aler.
and he appears to have been free from the vices ander, who had not reigned alone a year, when he
which degraded so many of the Egyptian kings. was compelled by a general sedition of the popu-
He reigned in all thirty-five years and a half ; ten lace and military to quit Alexandria. He however
in conjunction with his mother (B. c. 117–107), raised fresh troops, and attempted to overcome the
eighteen in Cyprus (107—89), and seven and a insurgent soldiery, but was totally defeated in a
half as sole ruler of Egypt (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. sea-fight by the rebels under Tyrrhus, and fled for
Arm. p. 116). After his restoration in B. c. 89 he refuge to Myra in Lycia, B. C. 89. His brother
appears to have assumed the additional title of Lathyrus was now recalled by the Alexandrians to
Philadelphus, whence he is sometimes distinguished Egypt, a circumstance which led Alexander to
as PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS II. (Letronne, Rec. hope that he might make himself master of Cyprus,
des Inscr. pp. 64–66 ; Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. and he accordingly assembled some forces, and in-
393. ) He left only one daughter Berenice, called vaded that island, but was defeated in a naval
also Cleopatra, who succeeded him on the throne : action by Chaereas, and fell in the battle. (Justin.
and two sons, both named Ptolemy, who, though xxxix. 4, 5; Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 116. ).
illegitimate, became severally kings of Egypt and He left two children: a son, Alexander, who
Cyprus.
[E. H. B. ] afterwards ascended the throne of Egypt, and a
daughter, of whom nothing more is known. (Por-
phyr. I. c. )
[E. H. B. )
1
WA
ETVIS
EMAIO
COIN OF PTOLEMAEUS VIII. , KING OF EGYPT.
COIN OF PTOLEMAEUS IX. , KING OF EGYPT.
PTOLEMAEUS IX. (IIThema ios), king of
EGYPT, surnamed ALEXANDER, whence he is ge- PTOLEMAEUS X. (Itolemaios), king of
nerally distinguished as ALEXANDER I. , was the EGYPT, son of the preceding, bore his father's
youngest son of Ptolemy VII. by his niece Cleo- name of Alexander, whence he is styled PTOLE-
patra. His mother's partiality led her to desire to MAEUS ALEXANDER II. When a mere child, he was
place him on the throne in conjunction with her sent hy his grandmother Cleopatra for safety to the
## p. 597 (#613) ############################################
PTOLEMAEUS.
697
PTOLEMAEUS.
island of Cos, probably as early as B. c. 102 (see altogether passed over at his father's death: but
Joseph. Ant. xiii
. 13. & 1), where he remained till when the assassination of Berenice and the death
the year B. C. 88, when that island was taken by of Alexander II. had completed the extinction of
Mithridates the Great On this occasion Alex- the legitimate race of the Lagidae (B. C. 80), Pto-
ander fell into the hands of the conqueror, who lemy was proclaimed king by the Alexandrians
treated him with the utmost distinction, and re- (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 117). So imperfect
tained him at his own court. But the young is our history of this period that we know nothing
prince soon after found an opportunity to escape, concerning the first twenty years of his reign. But
and took refuge with Sulla, whom he accompanied of his character in general we are told that he was
on his return to Rome. Here he remained till B. c. given up to every kind of vice and debauchery,
81, when the death of Ptolemy Lathyrus without and his name is associated with those of Philopator
male issue having left the throne of Egypt vucant, and Physcon, as one of the worst rulers of the
Sulla, who was then dictator, nominated the young whole race of the Ptolemies (Strab. xvii. p. 796).
Alexander (who had obtained a high place in his He appears to have assumed the name of Dionysus
favour) king of Egypt, and sent him to take pos- as a sort of authority for his orgies, and is said to
session of the crown. It was, however, agreed, in have been on the point of putting to death the
deference to the claims of Cleopatra Berenice, the Platonic philosopher Demetrius, for refusing to join
daughter of Lathyrus, whom the Alexandrians in his drunken revels (Lucian, de Culumn. 16). His
had already placed on the throne, that Alexander passion for playing on the flute, to which he owed
should marry her, and admit her to share the bis popular appellation, led him to institute musical
Bovereign power. He complied with the letter of contests, in which he himself condescended to ap-
this treaty by marrying Cleopatra immediately on pear as a competitor. (Strab. l. c. ; Plut. de Adul.
his arrival in Egypt, but only nineteen days after- et Amic. 12. )
wards caused her to be assassinated : an act of But it was not his vices alone which served to
cruelty which aroused the indignation of the Alex- disgust and alienate the minds of his subjects. It
andrians, who in consequence rose against their had been a natural object of his desire to obtain
new monarch, dragged him to the gymnasium, and the countenance and protection of the Roman
there put him to death, B. C. 80. (Porphyr. ap. senate ; but, for some reason or other, it was long
Euseb. Arin. p. 117; Appian. Mithr. 23, B. C. i. 102; before he could obtain their ratification of his title
Cic. Frag. Or. de rege Alexandr. p. 352, ed. Orell. ; to the crown, and it was not till the consulship of
Trog. Pomp. Prolog xix. )
Caesar that he was able to purchase by vast bribes
Much difficulty and perplexity have arisen in the desired privileges (Suet. Cues. 54). But he
regard to an Alexander king of Egypt, who is had expended immense sums in the pursuit of this
alluded to in more than one passage by Cicero, as object, which he was compelled to raise by the im-
having bequeathed his dominions by will to the position of fresh taxes, and the discontent thus ex-
Roman people (Cic. de Leg. agrar. i. 1, ii. 16, 17; cited combining with the contempt entertained for
Fr. de reg. Alexandrino, p. 350). It appears that his character, led to his expulsion by the Alexan-
the fact of this bequest was by no means very drians, in B. C. 58. On this he determined to pro-
certain, and that it never was acted upon by the ceed in person to Rome to procure from the senate
Roman senate. But authors are not at all agreed his restoration. On his way thither he had an in-
which of the two Alexanders is here meant; and terview at Rhodes with Cato, who endeavoured,
some writers have even deemed it necessary to but in vain, to dissuade him from his purpose (Plut.
admit the existence of a third king of the name of Cat. Min. 35). His first reception was promising,
Alexander, who died about B. c. 65. The silence and by a lavish distribution of bribes, combined
of the chronographers seems, however, conclusive with the influential support of Cicero, who pro-
against this hypothesis. Niebuhr, on the contrary, nounced an oration in his favour (Pro Rege Alex-
conceives Ptolemy Alexander I. to have lived on andrino), he procured a decree from the senate,
in exile till the year 65, and to have been the commanding his restoration, and entrusting the
author of this testament: but this is opposed to charge of effecting it to P. Lentulus Spinther, then
the direct testimony of Porphyry as to his death. proconsul of Cilicia. Meanwhile, the Alexandrians
Other writers suppose Alexander II. to be the sent an embassy of a hundred of their leading
person designed, and adopt the statement of Trogus citizens to plead their cause with the Roman senate :
Pompeius that he was only expelled by the Alex- but Ptolemy had the audacity to cause the deputies,
andrians, in opposition to the authority of Por on their arrival in Italy, to be waylaid, and the
phyry and Appian, confirmed as they are by a greater part of them murdered, while the rest were
passage in Cicero, in regard to his death. (See on prevented, either by threats or bribes, from coming
this subject Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. 392; Cham- forward against him. The indignation excited at
pollion-Figeac, Annales des Lagides, vol. ii. p. 247; Rome by this proceeding, however, produced a re-
Visconti, Iconographie Grecque, vol. iii. p. 251 ; action: the tribunes took up the matter against the
Niebuhr, Kl. Schriften, p. 302 ; Orelli, Onomast. nobility, while a pnrty in the senate strove to get the
Tullian. p. 30. ) The fragmentary and imperfect commission transferred from Lentulus to Pompey,
nature of our authorities for this period of Egyptian and an oracle was produced from the Sibylline books,
history renders it scarcely possible to arrive at a forbidding the restoration of the king by an armed
satisfactory solution of this question. (E. H. B. ] force.
when he found himself established on the throne ing events of his reign, we do not find that it was
of Egypt, he gave free scope to his sanguinary again disturbed by any civil disorders. His
disposition. Many of the leading citizens of Alex- attention was principally directed to the affairs of
andria, who had taken part against him on the Syria, where Demetrius had espoused the cause of
death of his brother, were put to death without Cleopatra, and advanced as far as Pelusium to her
mercy, while the populace were given up without support, but was compelled, by the disaffection of
restraint to the cruelties of his mercenary troops, his own troops, to retire without effecting anything.
and the streets of the city were repeatedly deluged In order to revenge himself for this attempt, Pto.
with blood. Thousands of the inhabitants Aed lemy now set up against him a new pretender in the
from the scene of such horrors, and the population person of a youth named Zabinas or Zebina, who
of Alexandria was so greatly thinned that the king assumed the title of Alexander II. , and with the
found himself compelled to invite foreign settlers forces furnished him by the Egyptian king, was
from all quarters to re-people his deserted capital. able to establish himself for a time on the throne of
a
At the same time that he thus incurred the hatred Syria. But infiated with this success, the usurper
of his subjects by his cruelties, he rendered him- forgot his obligations to Ptolemy, and behaved
self an object of their aversion and contempt by with such haughtiness to his benefactor, that the
abandoning himself to the most degrading vices. latter suddenly changed his policy, became recon-
In consequence of these, he had become bloated ciled to his sister Cleopatra, whom he permitted
and deformed in person, and so enormously cor- to return to Egypt, and gave his danghter Trye
pulent, that he could scarcely walk. (Justin. l. c. ; phaena in marriage to Antiochus Grypus, the son
Diod. xxxiii. Exc. Vales. p. 594 ; Athen. iv. of Demetrius, whom he also supported with a
p. 184, c. , vi. p. 252, e. , xii. p. 549. d. )
large auxiliary force. Antiochus was thus enabled
His union with Cleopatra was not of long dura- to recover possession of the throne of his fore-
tion. At first, indeed, he appears to have lived on fathers, B. c. 125, and from this time the friendly
good terms with her, and she bore him a son, to relations between Syria and Egyp: continued
-
## p. 595 (#611) ############################################
PTOLEMAEUS.
695
PTOLEMAEUS.
aninterrupted until the death of Ptolemy. (Justin. death. To his natural son Ptolemy surnamed
xxxix. 1,2; Joseph. Ant. xiii. 9; Euseb. Arm. Apion, he bequeathed by his will the separate king-
pp. 167, 168. ) This took place in the year B. Co dom of Cyrene (PTOLEMAEUS APION). [E. H. B. )
117, ten years after his restoration to the throne, PTOLEMAEUS VIII. (Itonepaios), king of
and twenty-nine after the death of his brother Egypt, surnamed SOTER II. , and also PHILOME-
Philometor. But he himself reckoned the years TOR, both of which titles he bears on inscriptions,
of his reign from the date of bis first assumption but more often distinguished by historians by the
of the regal title at Alexandria, in B. c. 170, and appellation of LATHYRUS or LATHURUS (Aádou
according to this mode of computation, his death pos). He was the eldest son of Ptolemy Physcon,
took place in the fifty-fourth year of his reign. by his niece Cleopatra, and was already of full age
(Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 115 ; Clinton. F. H. at the time of bis father's death, B. c. 117. Cleo-
vol. iii. p. 386. )
patra, however, who had been appointed by the
The character of Ptolemy Physcon has suffi- will of her late husband to succeed him on the
ciently appeared from the foregoing narrative. But throne, was desirous to associnte with herself her
stained as he was at once by the most infamous younger son, Ptolemy Alexander, to the exclusion
and degrading vices, and by the most sanguinary of his brother. But the latter was popular with
and unsparing cruelty, he still retained in a great the Alexandrians, and the queen was obliged to
degree ihat love of letters which appears to have give way. , She accordingly sent Alexander to
been hereditary in the whole race of the Ptolemies. Cyprus, while she declared Lathyrus king, with
He had in his youth been a pupil of Aristarchus, the titles of Soter and Philometor. But, in order
and not only courted the society of learned men, to retain her influence over him undivided, she com-
but was himself the author of a work called 'T70-pelled him to repudiate his sister Cleopatra, to
urnuata, or memoirs, which extended to twenty- whom he had been previously married and was
four books. It is repeatedly cited by Athenaeus tenderly attached, and marry his younger sister
(ii. p. 43, e. , 71, b. , ix. p. 387, x. p. 438, xiv. p. Selene in her stead (Justin. xxxix. 3 ; Paus. i. 9.
654, &c. ), but the quotations refer to minute and $ 1). This arrangement seems to have in some
miscellaneous points from which it is impossible to degree produced its intended effect ; at least the
judge of the general character of the work. It mother and son were able to rule conjointly for
would seem, however, to have been a sort of general near ten years before they came to any open
natural history, rather than an historical narration rupture. But they were on many occasions opposed
of events. But even in his patronage of literature to one another, in their foreign as well as domestic
Ptolemy displayed his capricious and tyrannical policy, and we find Ptolemy sending assistance to
character: and during the first years of his sole Antiochus Cyzicenus in his wars against the Jews,
reign his cruelties appear to have produced a gene-in direct opposition to the will of his mother, who
ral consternation among the philosophers and men had uniformly favoured the latter, and had placed
of letters at Alexandria, many of whom fled from two officers of that nation at the head of her army.
Egypt and took refuge in other countries, where But Cleopatra could ill brook such resistance to
they opened schools, and thus introduced the her authority : and by accusing Ptolemy of a
learning and science of Alexandria (Athen. iv. p. design against her life, she excited such an insur-
184). "Ptolemy endeavoured in the later years of rection in Alexandria that the king was forced to
his reign to repair the mischief he had thus caused, seek safety in flight, B. c. 107. (Justin. xxxix. 4 ;
and again draw together an extensive literary Paus. i. 9. & 2; Joseph. Ant. xiii. 10. SS 2, 4 ;
society in his capital. To him also is ascribed, with Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 115. )
some probability, the prohibition of the export of His brother Alexander now assumed the sove.
papyrus, a measure which was dictated by jealousy reignty of Egypt, in conjunction with his mother-
of the growing literary riches of the kings of Per- while Lathyrus was able to establish himself in the
gamus, and led, as is well known, to the invention possession of Cyprus. Cleopatra indeed attempted
of parchment (Plin. H. N. xii. 11 (21)). Some to dispossess him of that island also, but without
writers, however, refer this statement to Euergetes success, and Ptolemy held it as an independent
1. (See Parthey, Das Aler. Museum, p. 48. ) kingdom for the eighteen years during which Cleo-
Euergetes II. left two sons ; Ptolemy, after patra and Alexander reigned in Egypt. His wars
wards known as Soter II. , and Alexander, both of in Syria are the only events which have been re-
whom subsequently ascended the throne of Egypt; corded to us of this period. In B. C. 103 he
and three daughters: I. Cleopatra, already mar- landed in Syria with a large army, in order to
ried to her brother Ptolemy ; 2. Tryphaena, the support the citizens of Ptolemaïs and Gaza against
wife of Antiochus Grypus, king of Syria ; and 3. Alexander Jannaeus, king of the Jews, defeated
Selene, who was still unmarried at her father's that monarch in a great battle on the banks of the
Jordan, and made himself master of Ptolemaïs,
Gaza, and other cities. Hereupon Cleopatra has-
tened with an army to oppose him, and reduced
Phoenicia and Ptolemaïs, while Lathyrus, after an
unsuccessful attempt to march upon Egypt itself,
HA retired to Gaza, and the following spring withdrew
to Cyprus, B. c. 101 (Joseph. Ant. xiii. 12, 13).
In the subsequent disputes of the Syrian princes
he and his mother, as was to be expected, took
opposite sides, Ptolemy being in close alliance with
Antiochus Cyzicenus, while Cleopatra supported
his brother Antiochus Grypus (Justin. xxxix. 4).
COIN OP PTOLEM A EUS VII. , KING OF EGYPT.
At a later period (in B. C. 94) we find Ptolemy
again taking part in the civil wars which followed
Alom
BA
००१
## p. 596 (#612) ############################################
696
PTOLEMAEUS.
PTOLEMAEUS.
c
the death of Antiochus Grypus, and setting up self, on the death of Euergetes, B. c. 117, in pre-
Demetrius Eucaerus, the youngest son of that ference to his elder brother. But the will of the
monarch, as a claimant to the throne. (Joseph. Alexandrians having compelled her to assume La-
Ant. xiii. 13. & 4. )
thyrus as her colleague, she sent Alexander to
After the death of Cleopatra and the expulsion of Cyprus with the title of general or governor of
Alexander in B. c. 89 [PTOLEMAEUS IX. ), Ptolemy that island. Three years later, however (R. c. 114),
Lathyrus was recalled by the Alexandrians and he assumed the title of king, on what pretext we
established anew on the throne of Egypt, which he know not, and reckoned the years of his reign
occupied thenceforth without interruption till his from this date (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 116).
death in B. c. 81 (Justin. xxxix. 5 ; Porphyr. l. c. But he appears to have remained content with the
p. 116). The most important event of this period possession of Cyprus till B. c. 107, when Cleopatra,
was the revolt of the once mighty city of Thebes, having expelled Ptolemy Lathyrus, recalled her
in Upper Egypt, which was still powerful enough favourite son to occupy the vacant throne of Egypt.
to hold out for nearly three years against the arms Alexander reigned conjointly with his mother from
of Ptolemy, but at the end of that time was taken this time till B. c. 90: but it is probable that her
and reduced to the state of ruin in which it has haughty and imperious character left him little real
ever since remained (Paus. i. 9. & 3).
With this part in the administration of affairs. The only oc-
exception the eight years of the second reign of casion on which we meet with his name in this
Ptolemy Lathyrus appear to have been a period of interval is in B. C. 102, when he commanded
internal tranquillity, while his prudent policy re- the Egyptian fleet which attacked Phoenicia by
gained for him in some degree that consideration sea, while Cleopatra with the army marched
abroad which Egypt had nearly lost. We find the against Palestine (Joseph. Ant. xiii. 13. 1).
Athenians, in return for some benefits which he But at length the violence and cruelties of his
bad conferred upon them, erecting statues to him mother terrified Alexander to such a degree that
and his daughter Berenice (Paus. l. c. ); and during he determined to free himself from her power, and
the Mithridatic war, B. c. 87, Lucullus was sent made his escape secretly from Alexandria. Here-
by Sulla to request from him the assistance of the upon Cleopatra, fearing lest her sons should make
Egyptian fleet. But Lathyrus was desirous to common cause against her, sent an embassy to
remain neuter during that contest, and, while he Alexander to entreat his return. With this re
received Lucullus with every demonstration of quest he was induced to comply ; but soon found
honour he declined to furnish the required assist- reason to suspect that she was forming designs
ance. (Plut. Lucull. 2, 3. )
against his life, and immediately determined to
The character of Lathyrus appears to have been anticipate them by causing her to be assassinated,
mild and amiable, even to a degree bordering upon B. c. 90. But he did not long enjoy the fruits of
weakness: but it shows in a favourable light when this crime. Cleopatra had been popular with the
contrasted with those of his mother and brother, army, and the soldiers in consequence hated Aler.
and he appears to have been free from the vices ander, who had not reigned alone a year, when he
which degraded so many of the Egyptian kings. was compelled by a general sedition of the popu-
He reigned in all thirty-five years and a half ; ten lace and military to quit Alexandria. He however
in conjunction with his mother (B. c. 117–107), raised fresh troops, and attempted to overcome the
eighteen in Cyprus (107—89), and seven and a insurgent soldiery, but was totally defeated in a
half as sole ruler of Egypt (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. sea-fight by the rebels under Tyrrhus, and fled for
Arm. p. 116). After his restoration in B. c. 89 he refuge to Myra in Lycia, B. C. 89. His brother
appears to have assumed the additional title of Lathyrus was now recalled by the Alexandrians to
Philadelphus, whence he is sometimes distinguished Egypt, a circumstance which led Alexander to
as PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS II. (Letronne, Rec. hope that he might make himself master of Cyprus,
des Inscr. pp. 64–66 ; Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. and he accordingly assembled some forces, and in-
393. ) He left only one daughter Berenice, called vaded that island, but was defeated in a naval
also Cleopatra, who succeeded him on the throne : action by Chaereas, and fell in the battle. (Justin.
and two sons, both named Ptolemy, who, though xxxix. 4, 5; Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 116. ).
illegitimate, became severally kings of Egypt and He left two children: a son, Alexander, who
Cyprus.
[E. H. B. ] afterwards ascended the throne of Egypt, and a
daughter, of whom nothing more is known. (Por-
phyr. I. c. )
[E. H. B. )
1
WA
ETVIS
EMAIO
COIN OF PTOLEMAEUS VIII. , KING OF EGYPT.
COIN OF PTOLEMAEUS IX. , KING OF EGYPT.
PTOLEMAEUS IX. (IIThema ios), king of
EGYPT, surnamed ALEXANDER, whence he is ge- PTOLEMAEUS X. (Itolemaios), king of
nerally distinguished as ALEXANDER I. , was the EGYPT, son of the preceding, bore his father's
youngest son of Ptolemy VII. by his niece Cleo- name of Alexander, whence he is styled PTOLE-
patra. His mother's partiality led her to desire to MAEUS ALEXANDER II. When a mere child, he was
place him on the throne in conjunction with her sent hy his grandmother Cleopatra for safety to the
## p. 597 (#613) ############################################
PTOLEMAEUS.
697
PTOLEMAEUS.
island of Cos, probably as early as B. c. 102 (see altogether passed over at his father's death: but
Joseph. Ant. xiii
. 13. & 1), where he remained till when the assassination of Berenice and the death
the year B. C. 88, when that island was taken by of Alexander II. had completed the extinction of
Mithridates the Great On this occasion Alex- the legitimate race of the Lagidae (B. C. 80), Pto-
ander fell into the hands of the conqueror, who lemy was proclaimed king by the Alexandrians
treated him with the utmost distinction, and re- (Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Arm. p. 117). So imperfect
tained him at his own court. But the young is our history of this period that we know nothing
prince soon after found an opportunity to escape, concerning the first twenty years of his reign. But
and took refuge with Sulla, whom he accompanied of his character in general we are told that he was
on his return to Rome. Here he remained till B. c. given up to every kind of vice and debauchery,
81, when the death of Ptolemy Lathyrus without and his name is associated with those of Philopator
male issue having left the throne of Egypt vucant, and Physcon, as one of the worst rulers of the
Sulla, who was then dictator, nominated the young whole race of the Ptolemies (Strab. xvii. p. 796).
Alexander (who had obtained a high place in his He appears to have assumed the name of Dionysus
favour) king of Egypt, and sent him to take pos- as a sort of authority for his orgies, and is said to
session of the crown. It was, however, agreed, in have been on the point of putting to death the
deference to the claims of Cleopatra Berenice, the Platonic philosopher Demetrius, for refusing to join
daughter of Lathyrus, whom the Alexandrians in his drunken revels (Lucian, de Culumn. 16). His
had already placed on the throne, that Alexander passion for playing on the flute, to which he owed
should marry her, and admit her to share the bis popular appellation, led him to institute musical
Bovereign power. He complied with the letter of contests, in which he himself condescended to ap-
this treaty by marrying Cleopatra immediately on pear as a competitor. (Strab. l. c. ; Plut. de Adul.
his arrival in Egypt, but only nineteen days after- et Amic. 12. )
wards caused her to be assassinated : an act of But it was not his vices alone which served to
cruelty which aroused the indignation of the Alex- disgust and alienate the minds of his subjects. It
andrians, who in consequence rose against their had been a natural object of his desire to obtain
new monarch, dragged him to the gymnasium, and the countenance and protection of the Roman
there put him to death, B. C. 80. (Porphyr. ap. senate ; but, for some reason or other, it was long
Euseb. Arin. p. 117; Appian. Mithr. 23, B. C. i. 102; before he could obtain their ratification of his title
Cic. Frag. Or. de rege Alexandr. p. 352, ed. Orell. ; to the crown, and it was not till the consulship of
Trog. Pomp. Prolog xix. )
Caesar that he was able to purchase by vast bribes
Much difficulty and perplexity have arisen in the desired privileges (Suet. Cues. 54). But he
regard to an Alexander king of Egypt, who is had expended immense sums in the pursuit of this
alluded to in more than one passage by Cicero, as object, which he was compelled to raise by the im-
having bequeathed his dominions by will to the position of fresh taxes, and the discontent thus ex-
Roman people (Cic. de Leg. agrar. i. 1, ii. 16, 17; cited combining with the contempt entertained for
Fr. de reg. Alexandrino, p. 350). It appears that his character, led to his expulsion by the Alexan-
the fact of this bequest was by no means very drians, in B. C. 58. On this he determined to pro-
certain, and that it never was acted upon by the ceed in person to Rome to procure from the senate
Roman senate. But authors are not at all agreed his restoration. On his way thither he had an in-
which of the two Alexanders is here meant; and terview at Rhodes with Cato, who endeavoured,
some writers have even deemed it necessary to but in vain, to dissuade him from his purpose (Plut.
admit the existence of a third king of the name of Cat. Min. 35). His first reception was promising,
Alexander, who died about B. c. 65. The silence and by a lavish distribution of bribes, combined
of the chronographers seems, however, conclusive with the influential support of Cicero, who pro-
against this hypothesis. Niebuhr, on the contrary, nounced an oration in his favour (Pro Rege Alex-
conceives Ptolemy Alexander I. to have lived on andrino), he procured a decree from the senate,
in exile till the year 65, and to have been the commanding his restoration, and entrusting the
author of this testament: but this is opposed to charge of effecting it to P. Lentulus Spinther, then
the direct testimony of Porphyry as to his death. proconsul of Cilicia. Meanwhile, the Alexandrians
Other writers suppose Alexander II. to be the sent an embassy of a hundred of their leading
person designed, and adopt the statement of Trogus citizens to plead their cause with the Roman senate :
Pompeius that he was only expelled by the Alex- but Ptolemy had the audacity to cause the deputies,
andrians, in opposition to the authority of Por on their arrival in Italy, to be waylaid, and the
phyry and Appian, confirmed as they are by a greater part of them murdered, while the rest were
passage in Cicero, in regard to his death. (See on prevented, either by threats or bribes, from coming
this subject Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. 392; Cham- forward against him. The indignation excited at
pollion-Figeac, Annales des Lagides, vol. ii. p. 247; Rome by this proceeding, however, produced a re-
Visconti, Iconographie Grecque, vol. iii. p. 251 ; action: the tribunes took up the matter against the
Niebuhr, Kl. Schriften, p. 302 ; Orelli, Onomast. nobility, while a pnrty in the senate strove to get the
Tullian. p. 30. ) The fragmentary and imperfect commission transferred from Lentulus to Pompey,
nature of our authorities for this period of Egyptian and an oracle was produced from the Sibylline books,
history renders it scarcely possible to arrive at a forbidding the restoration of the king by an armed
satisfactory solution of this question. (E. H. B. ] force.
