Ptolemaic dynasty

The Ptolemaic dynasty (/ˌtɒlɪˈmeɪɪk/; Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖοι, Ptolemaioi), sometimes also known as the Lagids (/ˈlædʒɪdz/) or Lagidae (/ˈlædʒɪdi/; Λαγίδαι, Lagidai, after Lagus, Ptolemy I's father), was a Macedonian Greek[1][2][3][4][5] royal family, which ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 to 30 BC.[6] They were the last dynasty of ancient Egypt.

Ptolemaic Dynasty
Ptolemaic Empire, circa 300 BC
Country	Ancient Egypt, Macedonia, Mauretania
Founded	305 BC
Founder	Ptolemy I Soter
Final ruler	Ptolemy XV (Egypt), Cleopatra VII (Egypt)
Titles	Pharaoh, King of Macedonia, King of Mauretania
Estate(s)	Egypt, Cyrenaica, Cyprus, Canaan

Ptolemy, one of the seven somatophylakes (bodyguards) of Macedon who served as Alexander the Great's generals and deputies, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC, he declared himself Ptolemy I, later known as Sōter "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.

Like the earlier dynasties of ancient Egypt, the Ptolemaic dynasty practiced inbreeding including sibling marriage, but this did not start in earnest until nearly a century into the dynasty's history.[7] All the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, while queens regnant were all 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 and Pompey, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony. Her apparent suicide at the conquest by Rome marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.

Ptolemaic rulers and consorts

Ptolemy I Soter was the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the first ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Posthumous portrait of Cleopatra VII, from Roman Herculaneum, mid-1st century AD.[8][9]

The Gonzaga Cameo of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Arsinoe II from Alexandria (Hermitage Museum)

Cameo of Ptolemaic rulers (Kunsthistorisches Museum)

The Cup of the Ptolemies: front (top) and back (bottom) of the cup (Cabinet des Médailles)

Dates in brackets represent the regnal dates of the Ptolemaic pharaohs. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters. Several queens exercised regal authority. Of these, one of the last and most famous was Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC), with her two brothers and her son serving as successive nominal co-rulers. Several systems exist for numbering the later rulers; the one used here is the one most widely employed by modern scholars.

• Ptolemy I Soter (303–282 BC)[10] married first Thaïs, then Artakama, then Eurydice, and finally Berenice I
• Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BC)[11] married Arsinoe I, then Arsinoe II; ruled jointly with Ptolemy Epigonos (267–259 BC)
• Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–221 BC) married Berenice II
• Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–203 BC) married Arsinoe III
• Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203–181 BC) married Cleopatra I Syra
• Ptolemy VI Philometor (181–164 BC, 163–145 BC) married Cleopatra II, briefly ruled jointly with Ptolemy Eupator in 152 BC
• Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (never reigned)
• Ptolemy VIII Physcon (170–163 BC, 145–116 BC) married Cleopatra II, then Cleopatra III; temporarily expelled from Alexandria by Cleopatra II from 131-127 BC, then reconciled with her in 124 BC.
• Cleopatra II Philometora Soteira (131–127 BC), in opposition to Ptolemy VIII Physcon
• Cleopatra III Philometor Soteira Dikaiosyne Nikephoros (Kokke) (116–101 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC) and Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–101 BC)
• Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC, 88–81 BC as Soter II) married Cleopatra IV, then Cleopatra Selene; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III in his first reign
• Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–88 BC) married Cleopatra Selene, then Berenice III; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III till 101 BC
• Berenice III Philopator (81–80 BC)
• Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III before murdering her; ruled alone for 19 days after that.
• Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes) (80–58 BC, 55–51 BC) married Cleopatra V Tryphaena
• Cleopatra V Tryphaena (58–57 BC) ruled jointly with Berenice IV Epiphaneia (58–55 BC) and Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (58 BC)
• Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (51–47 BC), Ptolemy XIV (47–44 BC) and Ptolemy XV Caesarion (44–30 BC).
• Arsinoe IV (48–47 BC), in opposition to Cleopatra

Ptolemaic family tree

Lagus of Eordea, Macedon

Arsinoe of Macedon

Ptolemy I Soter (Kg 303–282 BC)

Berenice I

Philip

Arsinoe II

Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Kg. 285–246 BC)

Arsinoe I

Magas of Cyrene

Apama II

Ptolemy III Euergetes (Kg. 246–221 BC)

Berenice II

Ptolemy IV Philopator (Kg. 221–203 BC)

Arsinoe III

Ptolemy V Epiphanes (Kg. 203–181 BC)

Cleopatra I Syra

Ptolemy VI Philometor (Kg. 181–164 BC, 163–145 BC)

Cleopatra II (Qn. 131–127 BC)

Ptolemy VIII Physcon (Kg. 170–163 BC, 145–116 BC)

Eirene

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

Cleopatra III (Qn, 116–101 BC)

Ptolemy Memphites

Ptolemy Apion

Cleopatra IV

Ptolemy IX Lathyros (Kg. 116–107 BC, as Soter II 88–81 BC)

Cleopatra Selene

Ptolemy X Alexander I (Kg. 107–88 BC)

Ptolemy XII Auletes (Kg. 80–58 BC, 55–51 BC)

Berenice III (Qn. 81–80 BC)

Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Kg. 80 BC, for 19 days)

Cleopatra V (Qn. 58–55 BC)

Cleopatra VI (Qn. 58 BC)

Berenice IV (Qn. 58–55 BC)

Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (Kg. 51–47 BC)

Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Qn. 51–30 BC)

Ptolemy XIV (Kg. 47–44 BC)

Arsinoe IV (Qn. 48–47 BC)

Julius Caesar

Mark Antony

Ptolemy XV Caesarion (Kg. 44–30 BC)

Alexander Helios

Ptolemy Philadelphus

Cleopatra Selene II

Ptolemy of Mauretania

Detailed Ptolemaic family tree

Antipater Lagus Arsinoe of Macedon Eurydice Ptolemy I Soter (Kg 303–282 BC) Berenice I (∞ Philip ↓ Magas of Cyrene ∞ Apama II ↓ See below: Berenice II) Lysimachus Lysandra Ptolemais Ptolemy Ceraunus Arsinoe II Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Kg. 285–246 BC) Arsinoe I Berenice II of Egypt (daughter of Magas of Cyrene, see above: Berenice I) Ptolemy III Euergetes (Kg. 246–221 BC) Berenice Syra Antiochus III the Great Arsinoe III Ptolemy IV Philopator (Kg. 221–203 BC) Cleopatra I Syra Ptolemy V Epiphanes (Kg. 203–181 BC) Ptolemy VI Philometor (Kg. 181–164 BC, 163-145 BC) Cleopatra II (Qn. 131–127 BC) Ptolemy VIII Physcon (Kg. 170–163 BC, 145–116 BC) Eirene ? Ptolemy Eupator Cleopatra Thea Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra III (Qn, 116–101 BC) Ptolemy Memphites Ptolemy Apion Cleopatra Tryphaena Cleopatra IV Ptolemy IX Lathyros (Kg. 116–107 BC, as Soter II 88–81 BC) Cleopatra V Selene ? Ptolemy X Alexander I (Kg. 107–88 BC) ? Berenice III (Qn. 81–80 BC) Ptolemy XI Alexander II (Kg. 80 BC, for 19 days) Ptolemy of Cyprus Ptolemy XII Auletes (Kg. 80–58 BC, 55–51 BC) Cleopatra VI (Qn. 58 BC) Berenice IV (Qn. 58–55 BC) Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (Kg. 51–47 BC) Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (Qn. 51–30 BC) Ptolemy XIV (Kg. 47–44 BC) Arsinoe IV (Qn. 48–47 BC) Julius Caesar Mark Antony Ptolemy XV Caesarion (Kg. 44–30 BC) Alexander Helios Cleopatra Selene II Juba II of Mauretania Ptolemy Philadelphus Ptolemy of Mauretania

Other notable members of the Ptolemaic dynasty

A seated woman in a fresco from the Roman Villa Boscoreale, dated mid-1st century BC. It likely represents Berenice II of Ptolemaic Egypt wearing a stephane (i.e. royal diadem) on her head.[12]

• Ptolemy Keraunos (died 279 BC) – eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter. Eventually became king of Macedonia.
• Ptolemy Apion (died 96 BC) – son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Made king of Cyrenaica. Bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
• Ptolemy Philadelphus (born 36 BC) – son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
• Ptolemy of Mauretania (died 40 AD) – son of King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania and Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. King of Mauretania.
• Ptolemy II of Telmessos, grandson of Ptolemy Epigonos, flourished second half of 3rd century BC and first half of 2nd century BC
• Ptolemy of Cyprus, king of Cyprus c. 80–58 BC, younger brother of Ptolemy XII Auletes

Inbreeding and health

In continuation of the tradition established by previous Egyptian dynasties, the Ptolemies engaged in inbreeding including sibling marriage, with many of the pharaohs being married to their siblings and often co-ruling with them. Ptolemy I and other early rulers of the dynasty were not married to their relatives, the childless marriage of siblings Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II[13] being an exception. The first child-producing incestuous marriage in the Ptolemaic dynasty was that of Ptolemy IV and Arsinoe III, who were succeeded as co-pharaohs by their son Ptolemy V, born 210 BC. The most famous Ptolemaic pharaoh, Cleopatra VII, was at different times married to and reigning with two of her brothers (Ptolemy XIII until 47 BC and then Ptolemy XIV until 44 BC), and their parents were likely siblings or possibly cousins as well.[7]

Contemporaries describe a number of the Ptolemaic dynasty members as extremely obese,[14] 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. This is all likely due to inbreeding within the Ptolemaic dynasty. 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.[15]

Gallery of images

• 
  Ptolemy of Macedon founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
• 
  Ptolemy II
• 
  Ptolemy III
• 
  Ptolemy IV
• 
  Ptolemy V
• 
  Ptolemy VI
• 
  Cleopatra II (right)
• 
  Ptolemy VIII
• 
  Ptolemy IX
• 
  Ptolemy X
• 
  Ptolemy XI
• 
  Ptolemy XII
• 
  Ptolemy XIII and Isis
• 
  Ptolemy XIV
• 
  Cleopatra VII
• 
  Ptolemy XV, commonly called Caesarion.
• 
  Sardonyx cameo of a Ptolemaic prince as the Greek god Hermes, Cabinet des médailles, Paris.

See also

• Argead dynasty, another Greek dynasty in Egypt
• Donations of Alexandria
• Hellenistic period
• History of ancient Egypt
• List of pharaohs#Ptolemaic Dynasty
• List of Seleucid rulers
• On Weights and Measures, which contains a chronology of the Ptolemies
• Ptolemaic Decrees
• Roman pharaohs

References

1. Jones, Prudence J. (2006). Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 14. They were members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Macedonians, who ruled Egypt after the death of its conqueror, Alexander the Great.
2. Pomeroy, Sarah B. (1990). Women in Hellenistic Egypt. Wayne State University Press. p. 16. while Ptolemaic Egypt was a monarchy with a Greek ruling class.
3. Redford, Donald B., ed. (2000). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. Cleopatra VII was born to Ptolemy XII Auletes (80–57 BCE, ruled 55–51 BCE) and Cleopatra, both parents being Macedonian Greeks.
4. Bard, Kathryn A., ed. (1999). Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Routledge. p. 488. Ptolemaic kings were still crowned at Memphis and the city was popularly regarded as the Egyptian rival to Alexandria, founded by the Macedonians.
5. Bard, Kathryn A., ed. (1999). Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Routledge. p. 687. During the Ptolemaic period, when Egypt was governed by rulers of Greek descent...
6. Epiphanius of Salamis, however, puts the total number of years of the Ptolemy dynasty at 306. See: Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures - The Syriac Version (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 28 (note 104), or what was from 306/5 BCE to 1 CE.
7. Move over, Lannisters: No one did incest and murder like the last pharaohs on The A.V. Club
8. Walker, Susan; Higgs, Peter (2001), "Painting with a portrait of a woman in profile", in Walker, Susan; Higgs, Peter (eds.), Cleopatra of Egypt: from History to Myth, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press (British Museum Press), pp. 314–315, ISBN 9780691088358.
9. Fletcher, Joann (2008). Cleopatra the Great: The Woman Behind the Legend. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0-06-058558-7, image plates and captions between pp. 246-247.
10. Wasson, Donald (February 3, 2012). "Ptolemy I". Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
11. Tunny, Jennifer(2001)The Health of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists/ Vol.38(1/4), pp.119-134
12. Pfrommer, Michael; Towne-Markus, Elana (2001). Greek Gold from Hellenistic Egypt. Los Angeles: Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Trust). ISBN 0-89236-633-8, pp. 22–23.
13. Ptolemy II "Philadelphus" on Encyclopædia Britannica
14. "Morbid obesity and hypersomnolence in several members of an ancient royal family"
15. Ashrafian, Hutan (2005). "Familial proptosis and obesity in the Ptolemies". J. R. Soc. Med. 98 (2): 85–86. doi:10.1258/jrsm.98.2.85-a. PMC 1079400. PMID 15684370.

Further reading

• A. Lampela, Rome and the Ptolemies of Egypt: The development of their political relations 273–80 B.C. (Helsinki, 1998).
• J. G. Manning, The Last Pharaohs: Egypt Under the Ptolemies, 305–30 BC (Princeton, 2009).
• Susan Stephens, Seeing Double: Intercultural Poetics in Ptolemaic Alexandria (Berkeley, 2002).

External links

• Livius.org: "Ptolemies"—by Jona Lendering