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.
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.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
Vales.
pp.
584.
588, himself to fall into weakness and indolence, but
Exc. Vat. p. 84, Exc. Legat. p. 626 ; Liv. Epit. his subsequent conduct in the wars of Cyprus and
xlvi. xlvii. ; Porphyrius, ap. Euseb. Arm. pp. 114, Syria shows that he was by no means deficient in
115. )
occasional energy. On the whole, if not one of
The attention of Philometor appears to have the greatest, he was at least one of the best of the
been, from this time, principally directed to the race of the Ptolemies. (Polyb. xl. 12; Diod. Exc.
side of Syria Demetrius Soter, who was then Vales. p. 594. )
established on the throne of that country, had He left three children: 1. A son, Ptolemy, who
sought during the dissensions between the two was proclaimed king after his father's death, under
brothers to make himself master of Cyprus ; and in the name of Ptolemy Eupator, but was put to death
return for this act of hostility Ptolemy now lent almost immediately after by his uncle Euergetes.
his support to the pretensions of Alexander Balas, 2. A daughter, Cleopatra, married first to Alexander
and when the latter had established himself on the Bala, then to Demetrius II. king of Syria; and
throne of Syria, bestowed on him his daughter
Cleopatra in marriage, B. C. 150. But the usurper
repaid this favour with the blackest ingratitude.
For Demetrius, the son of the dethroned monarch,
having landed in Syria to assert his claim to the
crown, Ptolemy immediately assembled a large
fleet and army, with which he advanced to the
support of his son-in-law; but on arriving at Ptole
maïs, he was near falling a victim to an attempt
on his life, made by Ammonius, the favourite and
minister of Alexander, and there is little doubt
that the king himself was a partner in the design.
At all events, by protecting his favourite, and re-
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3. Another daughter, also named Cleopatra, who whom he gave the name of Memphitis. But lie
was afterwards married to her uncle Ptolemy afterwards became enamoured of his piece Cleo
Euergetes.
[E. H. B. ] patra (the offspring of his wife by her former
PTOLEMAEUS VII. (Itoneualos) king of marriage with Philometor), and he did not hesitate
EGYPT, bore the surname of EVERGETES, whence to divorce the mother, and receive her daughter
he is styled EUERGETES II. , to distinguish him instead, as his wife and queen. By this proceeding
from Ptolemy 111. , but he is more commonly known he alienated still more the minds of his Greek sub-
by the name of Physcon (PÚOxwv), an appellation jects ; but the abilities and vigour of his general
bestowed on him by the Alexandrians on account Hierax enabled him for a time to defy the popular
of his bloated and unwieldy appearance. He was discontent. Meanwhile he was careful still to
the second son of Ptolemy Epiphanes, and conti- court the alliance of Rome, and received Scipio
nucd in a private station during the regency of his Africanus and his colleagues, when they visited
mother Cleopatra and the first years of the reign Egypt, with every demonstration of respect.
of his brother Philometor. But when the latter (Justin. xxxviii. 8 ; Diod. Exc. Vales. xxxiii. pp.
had fallen into the hands of Antiochus Epiphanes, 593-595, 598, xxxiv. 602, Exc. Leg. p. 630;
the Alexandrians declared the younger brother Liv. Epit. lix: ; Oros. v. 10 ; Athen. xii. p. 549, d. )
king, and he assumed the title of Energetes, toge- At length, however, his vices and cruelties be-
ther with the royal diadem, B. C. 170. The sub- came too much for his subjects to bear. llis
sequent events the repulse of Antiochus, the re- palace was burnt in a popular tumult, and he
conciliation of the two brothers, their joint reign, deemed it expedient to give way to the fury of
and their subsequent dissensions — have been al- the people, and make his escape secretly to Cyprus,
ready related in the preceding article. From the B. c. 130. On this the Alexandrians declared his
tine of his last defeat in Cyprus, B. c. 154, Ptolemy sister Cleopatra queen. Irritated at this, but
Physcon appears to have acquiesced in the arrange- unable to assail her by open force, Euergetes bad
ment then concluded, and remained quiet in the recourse to the barbarous expedient of putting to
government of Cyrene until the death of his brother death Memphitis, his son by Cleopatra, and send-
Philometor, B. c. 146. On that event Cleopatra, ing his head and hands to Alexandria, where they
the sister and widow of the late king, proclaimed were presented to his unhappy mother on her
her infant son king of Egypt, by the title of Ptolemy birthday. This atrocious act excited the most
Eupator, and assumed the reins of government in violent indignation among the Alexandrians, who
his name.
But her brother immediately assembled took up arms for Cleopatra ; but that princess had
an army, and marched against Alexandria. Hos- the indiscretion to apply for assistance to Deme-
tilities were, however, prevented by the interven- trius II. , king of Syria, and by so doing alienated
tion of Roman deputies, and it was agreed that the minds of her subjects to such a degree that
Euergetes should obtain the crown of Egypt, and she was soon after compelled in her turn to fly
marry his sister Cleopatra. Their nuptials were from Alexandria, and Ptolemy found himself unex.
solemnized accordingly, and on the very day of pectedly reinstated on the Egyptian throne, B. C.
their celebration the king caused his unfortunate 127. (Liv. Epit. lix. ; Justin. xxxviii. 8, 9;
nephew to be put to death. (Justin. xxxviii. 8. ) Diod. xxxiv. Exc. Vales. Pp. 602, 603 ; Val.
A reign thus commenced in blood was continued | Max. ix. 2, ext. & 5. )
in a similar spirit. Already during his former From this time he appears to have adopted a
brief rule at Alexandria, as well as in his separate milder and more moderate system of government.
kingdom of Cyrene, Euergetes had given abundant His first act of clemency was to pardon Marsyas,
proofs of his tyrannical and cruel disposition, which who had been the general of the revolted Alex-
had alienated the minds of his subjects, and led andrians (Diod. Exc. Vales. p. 603); and though
them to term him in derision Kakergetes. 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
-
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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
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PTOLEMAEUS.
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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.
Exc. Vat. p. 84, Exc. Legat. p. 626 ; Liv. Epit. his subsequent conduct in the wars of Cyprus and
xlvi. xlvii. ; Porphyrius, ap. Euseb. Arm. pp. 114, Syria shows that he was by no means deficient in
115. )
occasional energy. On the whole, if not one of
The attention of Philometor appears to have the greatest, he was at least one of the best of the
been, from this time, principally directed to the race of the Ptolemies. (Polyb. xl. 12; Diod. Exc.
side of Syria Demetrius Soter, who was then Vales. p. 594. )
established on the throne of that country, had He left three children: 1. A son, Ptolemy, who
sought during the dissensions between the two was proclaimed king after his father's death, under
brothers to make himself master of Cyprus ; and in the name of Ptolemy Eupator, but was put to death
return for this act of hostility Ptolemy now lent almost immediately after by his uncle Euergetes.
his support to the pretensions of Alexander Balas, 2. A daughter, Cleopatra, married first to Alexander
and when the latter had established himself on the Bala, then to Demetrius II. king of Syria; and
throne of Syria, bestowed on him his daughter
Cleopatra in marriage, B. C. 150. But the usurper
repaid this favour with the blackest ingratitude.
For Demetrius, the son of the dethroned monarch,
having landed in Syria to assert his claim to the
crown, Ptolemy immediately assembled a large
fleet and army, with which he advanced to the
support of his son-in-law; but on arriving at Ptole
maïs, he was near falling a victim to an attempt
on his life, made by Ammonius, the favourite and
minister of Alexander, and there is little doubt
that the king himself was a partner in the design.
At all events, by protecting his favourite, and re-
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3. Another daughter, also named Cleopatra, who whom he gave the name of Memphitis. But lie
was afterwards married to her uncle Ptolemy afterwards became enamoured of his piece Cleo
Euergetes.
[E. H. B. ] patra (the offspring of his wife by her former
PTOLEMAEUS VII. (Itoneualos) king of marriage with Philometor), and he did not hesitate
EGYPT, bore the surname of EVERGETES, whence to divorce the mother, and receive her daughter
he is styled EUERGETES II. , to distinguish him instead, as his wife and queen. By this proceeding
from Ptolemy 111. , but he is more commonly known he alienated still more the minds of his Greek sub-
by the name of Physcon (PÚOxwv), an appellation jects ; but the abilities and vigour of his general
bestowed on him by the Alexandrians on account Hierax enabled him for a time to defy the popular
of his bloated and unwieldy appearance. He was discontent. Meanwhile he was careful still to
the second son of Ptolemy Epiphanes, and conti- court the alliance of Rome, and received Scipio
nucd in a private station during the regency of his Africanus and his colleagues, when they visited
mother Cleopatra and the first years of the reign Egypt, with every demonstration of respect.
of his brother Philometor. But when the latter (Justin. xxxviii. 8 ; Diod. Exc. Vales. xxxiii. pp.
had fallen into the hands of Antiochus Epiphanes, 593-595, 598, xxxiv. 602, Exc. Leg. p. 630;
the Alexandrians declared the younger brother Liv. Epit. lix: ; Oros. v. 10 ; Athen. xii. p. 549, d. )
king, and he assumed the title of Energetes, toge- At length, however, his vices and cruelties be-
ther with the royal diadem, B. C. 170. The sub- came too much for his subjects to bear. llis
sequent events the repulse of Antiochus, the re- palace was burnt in a popular tumult, and he
conciliation of the two brothers, their joint reign, deemed it expedient to give way to the fury of
and their subsequent dissensions — have been al- the people, and make his escape secretly to Cyprus,
ready related in the preceding article. From the B. c. 130. On this the Alexandrians declared his
tine of his last defeat in Cyprus, B. c. 154, Ptolemy sister Cleopatra queen. Irritated at this, but
Physcon appears to have acquiesced in the arrange- unable to assail her by open force, Euergetes bad
ment then concluded, and remained quiet in the recourse to the barbarous expedient of putting to
government of Cyrene until the death of his brother death Memphitis, his son by Cleopatra, and send-
Philometor, B. c. 146. On that event Cleopatra, ing his head and hands to Alexandria, where they
the sister and widow of the late king, proclaimed were presented to his unhappy mother on her
her infant son king of Egypt, by the title of Ptolemy birthday. This atrocious act excited the most
Eupator, and assumed the reins of government in violent indignation among the Alexandrians, who
his name.
But her brother immediately assembled took up arms for Cleopatra ; but that princess had
an army, and marched against Alexandria. Hos- the indiscretion to apply for assistance to Deme-
tilities were, however, prevented by the interven- trius II. , king of Syria, and by so doing alienated
tion of Roman deputies, and it was agreed that the minds of her subjects to such a degree that
Euergetes should obtain the crown of Egypt, and she was soon after compelled in her turn to fly
marry his sister Cleopatra. Their nuptials were from Alexandria, and Ptolemy found himself unex.
solemnized accordingly, and on the very day of pectedly reinstated on the Egyptian throne, B. C.
their celebration the king caused his unfortunate 127. (Liv. Epit. lix. ; Justin. xxxviii. 8, 9;
nephew to be put to death. (Justin. xxxviii. 8. ) Diod. xxxiv. Exc. Vales. Pp. 602, 603 ; Val.
A reign thus commenced in blood was continued | Max. ix. 2, ext. & 5. )
in a similar spirit. Already during his former From this time he appears to have adopted a
brief rule at Alexandria, as well as in his separate milder and more moderate system of government.
kingdom of Cyrene, Euergetes had given abundant His first act of clemency was to pardon Marsyas,
proofs of his tyrannical and cruel disposition, which who had been the general of the revolted Alex-
had alienated the minds of his subjects, and led andrians (Diod. Exc. Vales. p. 603); and though
them to term him in derision Kakergetes. 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.
