Ptolemaic dynasty

 

 

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Ptolemy, one of Alexander the Great's generals, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC he declared himself King Ptolemy I, later known as "Soter" (saviour). The Egyptians soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaohs of independent Egypt. Ptolemy's family ruled Egypt until the Roman conquest of 30 BC.

The dynastic history of Ptolemaic Egypt is very confusing, because all the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, and because many of them married their sisters, who were often called Cleopatra. The most famous member of the line was the last Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra VII.

Ptolemaic rulers and consorts

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.

Ptolemy I Soter, Louvre Ma849

The Gonzaga Cameo

Ptolemy I Soter (305 BC-282 BC) married Eurydice, then Berenice I

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (284 BC-246 BC) married Arsinoe I, then Arsinoe II Philadelphos; ruled jointly with Ptolemy the Son (267 BC-259 BC)

Octadrachm Ptolemy III BM CMBMC103

Ptolemy III Euergetes I (246 BC-222 BC) married Berenice II

Octadrachm Ptolemy IV BM CMBMC33

Ptolemy IV Philopator (222 BC-204 BC) married Arsinoe III

Ptolemy V Epiphanes Tetradrach

Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204 BC-180 BC) married Cleopatra I

Dedication Ptolemy VI Louvre Ma4977

Ptolemy VI Philometor (180 BC-164 BC, 163 BC-145 BC) married Cleopatra II

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (never reigned)

Ptolemy VIII Stela