Ptolemy I Soter, son of Lagus (367 BC - 283 BC),
ruler of Egypt from 323 BC, king
Ptolemy I Soter (ancient Greek Πτολεμαίος Σωτήρ - “Ptolemy the Savior”)
http://www.world-history.ru/persons_about/2136.html
Son of Lagus, a Greek aristocrat from Eordea. He was one of the closest friends of Alexander the Great,
one of the military leaders of his army and personal bodyguard. Played an important role in Alexander's campaigns in Afghanistan and India.
Under him, the Ptolemaic dynasty and the royal cult began. Married several times. The friend of Ptolemy Lagas, who accompanied him on Alexander’s campaigns, was the famous hetaera Faida (Taida). In 324 BC. During the “wedding of friends,” Alexandra married Artakam, the daughter of the Persian nobleman Artabazus. His first wife on the Egyptian throne was Eurydice, the second was Berenice, his sister. There is also information that the wife or girlfriend of Ptolemy Soter was the famous hetaera Lamia.
He had numerous descendants: the son Meleager from Faida; from Eurydice - Ptolemy Keraun, Ptolemyad, Lysander and the rebel (name not preserved) on about. Cyprus; from Berenice - Ptolemy Philadelphus and Arsinoe II; children from other marriages and connections - Leonisk, Lag, Irene (wife of Eunost from Sol), Argedei, Philotera.
Already at the age of 80, Ptolemy I Soter, contrary to the existing right of succession to the throne, appointed as his co-ruler (in 285 BC) not his first-born Keraunus, but Ptolemy Philadelphus, the son of his beloved wife Berenice. This gave rise to (or exacerbated) a conflict between Ptolemy Keraunus and Berenice's children Philadelphus and Arsinoe II, which only ended with the death of Keraunus in 279 BC. The remaining two years before his death in 283/2 BC. Ptolemy I Soter shared the Egyptian throne with his son, which facilitated a gradual transition of power without the large-scale bloody strife that followed the death of Alexander. According to other sources, after the transfer of power to his son in 285 BC. Ptolemy I Soter continued to serve as a private person, in the ranks of the royal entourage, saying that being the father of a king was better than owning any kingdom himself.
Daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenice...
Généalogie de la dynastie des Lagides
http://www.antikforever.com/Egypte/Genealogie/Lagide%20a.htm
Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Arsinoe (Gonzaga cameo)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (“loving sister”), son of Ptolemy I (308 - 246 BC), king from 285. Strengthened, despite the loss of Cyrene, the political and economic position of Egypt in the Hellenistic world. He married, according to Egyptian tradition, his own sister Arsinoe II and acted, like his father, as a champion of science, art and cult (the development of syncretic Greco-Egyptian culture).
Ptolemy II and Arsinoe I
Ptolemy III Euergetes ("benefactor"),
son of Ptolemy II (about 284 - 221 BC), from 246 - king. Under his rule, the Ptolemaic state reached its greatest size and had the highest authority among the Hellenistic states (re-conquest of Cyrene, campaign against Syria to the Euphrates).
PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATTER
King of Egypt from the Ptolemaic family, who reigned in 221-205. BC Son of Ptolemy III.
http://slovari.yandex.ru/~books/Monarchs.%20Antiquity/Ptolemy%20IV%20Philopater/
Ptolemy IV Philopator (“father-lover”), son of Ptolemy III (240? - 204 BC), from 221 - king; successfully ended the war with Syria in 217. However, the country was weakened by the growth of the national movement and socio-political unrest, as well as palace turmoil. Under his less fortunate followers, Egypt fell into the sphere of Roman influence from 168 BC, with Rome being involved in internal political conflicts as an “organizing force”
Ptolemy V Epiphanes Eucharist (204-181 BC)/ Πτολεμαιοσ Επιφανησ Ευχαριστοσ.
Queen Cleopatra I, wife of Ptolemy V.
Kings of Egypt:
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemies
Ptolemy I Soter (305 - 282 BC)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (282 - 246 BC)
Ptolemy III Euergetes (246 - 222 BC)
Ptolemy IV Philopator (222 - 205 BC)
Ptolemy V Epiphanes (205 - 180 BC)
Ptolemy VI Philometor (180 - 145 BC)
Ptolemy VII (170 - 164 BC)
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (170 - 116 BC)
Ptolemy IX Soter II (116 - 80 BC)
Ptolemy X Alexander I (101 - 88 BC)
Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80 BC)
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus (80 - 51 BC)
Ptolemy XIII (51 - 47 BC)
Ptolemy XIV (47 - 44 BC)
Ptolemy XV Caesarion (44 - 31 BC)
Dynastic history of ancient Egypt
After the Late Kingdom (1069-332 BC), a new state entity arose in the lands of Ancient Egypt. It was headed by the Ptolemaic dynasty, and its founder was Ptolemy I Soter. At first, this man was the commander (diadokh) of Alexander the Great, and after the death of the great conqueror in 323 BC. e. began to lay claim to sole rule of one part of a huge empire.
Alexander the Great had heirs, so the diadochi initially took on the functions of satraps. Formally, they expressed their readiness to obey the brother of the deceased commander, Philip III Arrhidaeus. But each of them understood that strong central power ended with the death of the great commander. Therefore, outwardly maintaining humility and friendliness, the diadochi divided the empire. Ptolemy settled in Egypt and began to consider these lands to be his by right.
Ptolemy I Soter - founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty
In the struggle with other associates of Alexander the Great, he survived and retained power in Egypt. But formally he continued to be considered a satrap until 311 BC. e., when Alexander IV (son of Alexander the Great) died. Only after this, in 306 BC. e. Ptolemy Soter proclaimed himself king of Egypt, founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and became Ptolemy I.
In 283 BC. e. after the death of the founder of the dynasty ascended the throne Ptolemy II Philadelphus. He was a highly educated, but at the same time cruel man. From 285 BC. e. he was a co-ruler of his father, and after his death he became the sole ruler of the Egyptian kingdom of the Ptolemies. Ptolemy II died in 245 BC. e.
He was married 2 times to his sisters: Arsinoe I and Arsinoe II. However, it is assumed that Arsinoe I was not the daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenice, but the daughter of the diadochos Lysimachus, ruler of Thrace. It was this woman who gave birth to Ptolemy III Euergetes, who replaced his father on the throne. She was accused of conspiracy against her husband and deported to one of the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Arsinoe I died in 248 BC. e.
The second wife was Arsinoe II. There is no doubt that she was the sister of Ptolemy II. From an early age, Arsinoe was a very powerful and confident girl. She got married three times. The first time for old Lysimachus, becoming his 3rd wife. But Lysimachus died on the battlefield in 281 BC. e., and then the young widow married Ptolemy Keravnos, king of Macedonia. He was the son of Ptolemy I and his second wife Eurydice.
This marriage turned out to be extremely unsuccessful. Keraunus killed Arsinoe's 2 young children from her marriage to Lysimachus, and the woman fled to Ptolemy II, seeking his protection. He not only protected his sister, but also made her his second wife. True, the crowned couple had no children, but the king declared his second wife the legal mother of his children from his first marriage. It should be noted that the husband loved his betrothed. He renamed the city of Crocodilopolis Arsinoe in her honor.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus sought to expand the borders of his state. He actively intervened in the affairs of Macedonia, hindering its rise. He attracted many prominent scientists of antiquity to the Library of Alexandria. He was involved in the construction of new cities, luxurious buildings, and the restoration of ancient Egyptian temples. The king was a sophisticated and highly educated man who cared about the development of science.
At the end of his life he unleashed the Third Syrian War (247-238 BC). The formal cause of this military conflict was the murder of the daughter of Berenice, who was given in marriage to Antiochus II (Theos), the Seleucid king. This war continued after the death of the Egyptian ruler and ended with the victory of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Third king Ptolemy III Euergetes from the marriage of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe I, he became co-ruler with his father in 247 BC. e., and ascended the throne after the death of his parent in 245 BC. e. He died in 221 BC. BC, and many historians consider him the most powerful and successful ruler of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty. The very nickname Everget means Benefactor.
In the first half of his reign, Ptolemy III annexed such lands in Asia Minor as Cilicia and Ionia to Egypt. He captured most of Syria, and only a rebellion within the country prevented him from continuing his successful conquests. Under this king, Egyptian ships began to dominate the sea, and the country itself largely overtook Macedonia in its power. By the way, the king put a lot of effort into weakening this state, from which the Ptolemies themselves came.
Ptolemy III Euergetes - under him the Ptolemaic dynasty reached its greatest power
The king was married to Berenice II, daughter of Magas. He was the king of Cyrene, a state in North Africa bordering Egypt. Magas's mother was Berenice, the second wife of Ptolemy I. Thus, the spouses were close relatives to each other. Berenice initially had her first husband, Demetrius, whom she killed because he became her mother’s lover. After this, the woman married Ptolemy III.
She bore her second husband 4 children: Ptolemy IV, Magas, Arsinoe III, Berenice. And when her beloved husband went to conquer Syria, she shaved her head bald and donated her hair to Aphrodite, placing it in one of the temples of the goddess. Subsequently, a legend arose that they disappeared as they ascended into the sky and turned into the constellation Coma of Berenice.
But today the wife of Ptolemy III would be called a woman with a tragic fate. After the death of her husband, the son ordered the death of his mother, since she was extremely power-hungry, and the new king was burdened by her care. However, most crowned women at that time had a tragic fate.
Ptolemy III Euergetes devoted a lot of attention and effort to science. Under him, the bins of the Library of Alexandria were constantly replenished. Ancient manuscripts from all over the Mediterranean were brought to it. A year-round calendar with constant seasons was also created. The temple of Osiris was built in Canopus, and the temple of Isis was completed on the island of Philae. But the most impressive was the temple to the god Horus in Edfu. The Greeks living in Egypt identified this god with Apollo.
Thus, the Ptolemaic dynasty under the third ruler reached its greatest power. Successful military campaigns, the annexation of new territories, and a loyal policy towards the indigenous population of Egypt made the country powerful and prosperous. This wise king died in 221 BC. e. (according to some sources in 222 BC). The cause of the sad end was some kind of illness. And immediately after the death of the outstanding ruler, the slow decline of the Ptolemaic kingdom began.
Under the fourth ruler Ptolemy IV Philopator, who reigned from 221-204 BC. e., nothing remained of the former state greatness. The new king was extremely cruel, capricious, and delicate. With amazing composure, he ordered the murder of his own mother, brother Magas, uncle Lysimachus and some other close relatives. He married his sister Arsinoe III. She, unlike her husband, enjoyed universal respect and people's love.
The husband was almost not involved in state affairs. He spent his time on entertainment and writing tragedies. He even ordered the construction of a temple in honor of the ancient Greek Homer. And he entrusted the administration of the kingdom to unscrupulous people. A certain Sosibius concentrated the main power in his hands. Thanks to the intrigues of this man, many people disliked by him personally from the king’s entourage were destroyed.
Together with Sosibius, a trio of real crooks found themselves near the king. It was a woman named Enantha and her children: the son Agatholk and the daughter Agathoclea. The young man and the girl were distinguished by their extraordinary beauty, and this couple turned the head of Ptolemy IV. He began to indulge in love affairs with them, and at this time Enanfa and Sosibius completely seized state power. They began to distribute positions to the right people and appear in public places surrounded by retinues.
All these outrages reigning at the Ptolemaic court very quickly became known throughout the Mediterranean. The rulers of many states turned their backs on Egypt, considering it an unreliable power. So, for example, the inhabitants of the Cyclades islands, suffering from pirate raids, began to seek protection not from the Egyptian king, but from the Rhodians. Crete also stopped considering Egypt as its ally. But Lycia, Caria, Thrace, Lesbos, Samos, Thera, and Ephesus continued to regularly pay tribute.
What was laid down by the first three Macedonian kings was not so easy to destroy. Therefore, the Ptolemaic dynasty continued to hold its position in the Mediterranean, another thing is that they were no longer as strong as before. And therefore, the ruler of the Seleucid state, Antiochus III, took several cities in Syria from Egypt. But in 217 BC. e. In the Battle of Rafia, the army of Antiochus III was defeated by the Egyptian army and the captured cities were returned.
In the same year, Ptolemy IV married his sister Arsinoe. She, in contrast to her brother, was a reasonable woman, and therefore fulfilled her duty by giving birth to the heir to the throne, Ptolemy V, and distanced herself from the public that surrounded the king. And the latter spent the remaining years of his life absolutely incompetently. The death of the ruler in 204 BC. e. (according to other sources in 203 BC) is shrouded in complete darkness.
The king's entourage kept his death a secret for a long time, plundering the treasury. The wife of the deceased was left with her 5-year-old son in her arms. Sosibius and Agathoclea entered into a criminal conspiracy and killed Arsinoe III, and declared themselves the guardians of the young Ptolemy V. They began to rule the country, but soon Sosibius died and Agathoclea, his sister Agathoclea and their close relatives were in power.
But there were many noble people dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs. An uprising began, led by the military leader Pelusius. The population of Alexandria and the army stationed there supported the rebels. The people seized the palace, brought Ptolemy V out into the street, and the young king was asked whether he would hand over his mother’s murderers to the people for judgment?
The frightened child nodded in agreement. After this, the crowd tore apart Agatholkos, Agathoklea, their mother Enantha and other close relatives. And Tlepolem became regent under the young king. Thus began the reign Ptolemy V Epiphanes. He ruled in 204-181 BC. e. and all his life he remained an obedient instrument in the hands of his entourage.
The wife of this king was Cleopatra I. She was the daughter of King Antiochus III and his wife Laodice III. She gave birth to 3 children: Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II. She left her mark in history as the regent of her eldest son, who was 11 years old at the time of his father’s death. She died in 176 BC. e.
As for Egypt, Coelesyria, Phenicia and Thrace were lost. After this, the Ptolemaic dynasty became even weaker, but the king managed to enlist the support of the Egyptian priests, since he paid special attention to their cult and exempted them from taxes. In 194 BC. e. Ptolemy V in Memphis underwent the rite of accession to the throne of the pharaohs of Egypt. This ruler maintained good relations with the Romans and even gave them money and helped with the army.
At the age of 28, Ptolemy V Epiphanes was poisoned by those close to him as a result of a conspiracy. The motives for the murder are unclear; apparently the reason was the struggle of different groups for influence at court. Power passed to the eldest son Ptolemy VI Philometor. He reigned from 181-146 BC. e. At first, the rule was carried out under the leadership of the mother due to the ruler’s early age, and when she died in 176 BC. e., then she was replaced by Evlei and Lenya. These were people of low birth, former slaves.
They were proteges of certain forces at court and tried to regain lost lands in Syria. But this provoked aggression from the Syrian king from the Seleucid dynasty, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He and his army invaded Egypt, plundered cities and temples, occupied Memphis and proclaimed himself co-ruler of Ptolemy VI Philometor.
However, this act of Antiochus caused a storm of indignation in Alexandria. The people rebelled, overthrew Evleus and Lenaeus and promoted the younger brother of the reigning ruler to the kingdom Ptolemy VIII Euergetes. As a result, two governments were formed. One was in Memphis, and the second in Alexandria. Both brothers were inexperienced and young and fell into the hands of different political forces.
The period of dual power began in 170 BC. e., and the brothers had to rule together. In 164 BC. e. the conflict between the rulers intensified. Constant strife began between them, and Rome intervened. The ambassadors of the republic suggested that the brothers divide the Egyptian lands completely and irrevocably. Egypt and Cyprus were to go to Ptolemy VI, and Cyrenaica to Ptolemy VIII.
But the latter was not satisfied with this proposal. He wished to annex Cyprus to his half of the kingdom. Peace negotiations began between the brothers, and the Roman ambassadors were their mediators. They ended to no avail, and in 154 BC. e. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes invaded Cyprus with a large army. Ptolemy VI Philometor also hurried there with his army.
This military clash ended in victory for the elder brother. Euergetes was captured, but Philometor forgave him and even gave him control of the city of Cyrene. After this, Ptolemy VIII left the political arena and no longer intrigued his older brother. And the latter began a war with the Seleucids in Syria. It went well for Egypt, but in 146 BC. e., when Ptolemy VI was returning from Syria to his native lands, a military skirmish occurred. In it, the king was mortally wounded and died 5 days later.
Cleopatra II - she stayed with Euergetes after he killed her son
Ptolemy VI had a wife, Cleopatra II. She gave birth to 3 children: Ptolemy VII, Cleopatra Thea and Cleopatra III. Exactly Ptolemy VII Philopator and became king of Egypt. But he was still a boy, so his mother Cleopatra II took over the regency. At the same time, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, who had been sitting quietly in Cyrene, again entered the political arena.
Certain political forces took his side, and Cleopatra II agreed to become Euergetes’ wife on the condition that her son Ptolemy VII remain co-ruler. But during the wedding of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II, Philopator was killed, and Euergetes became the rightful ruler of Egypt. A year later he was crowned king as Pharaoh.
Cleopatra II was survived by two daughters. The elder Cleopatra Thea became queen of Syria, and the younger Cleopatra III lived at court with her mother and stepfather. Everget raped this girl and then declared her his wife. And Cleopatra II officially remained the queen, but now she began to be called “Queen Cleopatra the Sister,” and Cleopatra III received the status of “Queen Cleopatra the Spouse.” It must also be said that Cleopatra II gave birth to a son, Ptolemy of Memphis, from Ptolemy VIII.
Euergetes' behavior towards Cleopatra caused outrage in Alexandria. In 130 BC. e. the uprising began. The people set fire to the palace, and the king, saving his life, fled to Cyprus. There he killed his son and sent his chopped body to his mother. This caused a new storm of indignation, but gradually passions calmed down, and it all ended in reconciliation in 124 BC. e. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes died in 116 BC. e. He bequeathed the throne to Cleopatra III and one of his sons of her choice. Soon after this, Cleopatra II also died.
Having ascended the throne, Cleopatra III chose her youngest son as co-ruler Ptolemy X Alexander I. And his eldest son Ptolemy IX Soter II removed from the palace and sent to Cyprus. However, the citizens of Alexandria demanded his return. Then Cleopatra III changed everything. She brought her eldest son closer to her, and the youngest was sent to Cyprus.
After this there was temporary stability, which ended in 107 BC. e. Disagreements arose between mother and eldest son. As a result of this, Ptolemy IX again went to Cyprus, and the youngest son returned to his mother. She ruled with him until 89 BC. e. In the indicated year, Ptolemy X rebelled against his mother, killed her and fled from Alexandria to Cyprus, but died on the way. However, it is not clear whether the woman was actually killed on the orders of her son. According to some sources, she died in 101 BC. e., and after that Ptolemy X ruled for many more years.
After this, Ptolemy IX Soter II came to power. He remained on the throne until his death in 81 BC. e. He was married twice to his sisters: Cleopatra IV and Cleopatra Selene. He had children Berenice III and Ptolemy XII, but the boy was born from a concubine. He bowed to the Roman Republic, considering it the most advanced and powerful power in the Mediterranean.
After the death of the king, his daughter ascended the throne Berenice III. Ruled independently for six months, and in 80 BC. e. married Ptolemy XI Alexander II, who was the son of Ptolemy X. An interesting fact is that Berenice III was the wife of Ptolemy X and the stepmother of Ptolemy XI. And it so happened that the stepmother married her stepson. However, he killed his wife 19 days after the marriage ceremony. This provoked a powerful popular uprising in Alexandria, as a result of which Ptolemy XI was killed. With this assassination, the Ptolemaic dynasty underwent a transformation, as the direct line of the Lagides, the first representative of which was Ptolemy I Soter or Lagus, ended.
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus - the mother of this king was a concubine
After all these events, the Alexandrians found themselves in a difficult situation, since there were no direct heirs to the throne. But the late Ptolemy IX had two sons by a concubine. One was made king of Cyprus, and proclaimed king of Egypt Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus. This sovereign ruled in 80-51 BC. e. He had two wives: Cleopatra V and Cleopatra VI. He had five children: Berenice IV, Arsinoe IV, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV.
Ancient historians spoke very negatively about this ruler of Egypt. In particular, Cicero wrote that this man, neither in his spirit, nor in his origin, nor in his behavior, corresponded to the king. Under him, the Romans in 58 BC. e. captured Cyprus and made it their province. This caused popular rage in Alexandria, and Ptolemy XII went to Rome to help him maintain power in Egypt with military forces.
And while the father was in Rome, power in Alexandria passed into the hands of the young Berenice IV. The queen's entourage began to look for a husband for her in order to prevent her father's return. This turned out to be the Greek Archelaus. In 55 BC. he married Berenice IV and sat on the Egyptian throne. But in the same year, the Romans under the command of Mark Antony invaded Egypt and again transferred power to Ptolemy XII.
Queen of Egypt Cleopatra VII - the most famous representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty
He ordered the execution of his daughter who had usurped power, and he was left with four children: Cleopatra, Arsinoe and two Ptolemaic boys. Cleopatra VII was 14 years old at the time, and she first saw Mark Antony, who many years later became her lover. But the king, who returned from a foreign land, did not live long. He died in 51 BC. e., leaving the most unpleasant memories of myself. He left the edit Cleopatra VII and her younger brother Ptolemy XIII.
The last 2 decades of the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty remain. In 30 BC. e. Egypt became one of the Roman provinces. And before that, Cleopatra VII reigned with Ptolemy XIII, Ptolemy XIV, and her son from Caesar, Ptolemy XV Caesarion. This extraordinary woman committed suicide in 30 BC. e., becoming the last Macedonian ruler of Egypt. Thus, with Queen Cleopatra, the Ptolemaic dynasty ended, and the history of Egypt continued, but with different rulers and in a different capacity.
Page 18 of 19
Ptolemaic Dynasty
“The lists of the all-knowing Egyptian priest Manetho... end with the 31st dynasty of “Egyptian” kings, and after them historians, without permission, without priests, begin the kingdom of Alexander the Great and his successors - the Ptolemies” (, p. 1190).
All representatives of this dynasty had the same name Ptolemy (meaning “competed with God”, i.e. “God-fighter”; see, p. 1191) and differed from each other by numbers (from I to XII or XVI) and nicknames : Savior (Soter), Brother-lover (Philadelphus), Benefactor (Evergetes), Father-lover (Philopater), Revealer (Epiphanes), etc.
The history of the Ptolemies is quite sharply divided into two periods.
The first Ptolemies were smart, energetic rulers who created a prosperous state. Although they were Greeks and conductors of Greek culture, the Egyptians recognized them as gods and for “the first Ptolemies, the Egyptian priests compiled throne names modeled on those in use under Ramesses II and his successors... ...images (of the first Ptolemies. - Author)... in the form of pharaohs are found on the walls of temples and on steles in huge numbers... In the text found in Python, it is narrated, after asserting the divine origin of Philadelphus and long doxologies in his honor, that in the 5th year of his reign he went to Python , where the temple of Atum was completed at that time, took care of its decoration, then visited another temple of Atum located nearby, and made rich donations to it. Then he went to “Persia” (?!.- Author)... It is then said that the king and his wife bowed to three sacred bulls, and a long list of royal donations to the temples is given. If not for the Greek names, and not for the late spelling, we could take this text for the work of Thutmose or Ramses...” (vol. 2, pp. 212-215).
Rice. 6
In Fig. Figure 6 compares the five first Ptolemies (and Alexander the Great) with the six first “Roman” emperors. Although the number of points of comparison is small for reliable statistical conclusions, in the light of everything said earlier, one can hardly doubt that this dynasty was copied from the same source. In addition, in the event history of both dynastic flows, multiple coincidences and analogies are found. For example, we are told that the first Ptolemy Soter (the God-fighting Savior) in the early years had co-rulers Alexander II (son of Alexander the Great) and Philip Arideus, whom he eventually killed. In Roman history, these murders are already attributed to Constantine, and the son of Alexander corresponds here to Maximin (i.e., the son of the Great), and Arideus to Galerius. Under Soter, just as under Julius Caesar and Diocletian, Alexandria rises and in it “the learning of the whole world is concentrated.” The third Ptolemy Euergetes (God-fighter Benefactor) wages, like his counterpart Constantius II, stubborn wars in the East (with the “Persians”), etc. and so on.
It is also curious that Diocletian ruled from 284 to 305, and his counterpart Ptolemy I from -305 to -284. The same years, but only the pros were changed to cons!
The fact that Alexander the Great leans on the figure. 6 on Chlorus does not mean, of course, that it is entirely copied from Chlorine. The very complex and multi-component legend about Alexander simply borrowed a number of details from Chlorus (including the duration of his reign).
We are told that the God-fighters - the Ptolemies - restored ancient temples, keeping ancient inscriptions on them, as the Romans did after them. “All this is stated, of course, to explain how the walls of the temples, on which there are small hieroglyphic indications of their construction under the Ptolemies, are all written not with their own adventures, but mainly praise the kings of dynasties alien to them “5000 years before them” . But such an explanation can only satisfy a childishly naive person. Everything that we know from world history about the actions of the servants of earthly kings (because they, and not the kings themselves, painted the walls) stands in complete contradiction with this assumption. The servants always flattered the living kings, from whom they received mercy and rewards, and not the long-dead ones, with the exception of those whom they considered in heaven in the retinue of God the Father and his son and therefore capable of interceding for their sins no less than a living king. .
There can be only one explanation here: it was not the servants of “Those Who Competed with God” who resumed with the greatest accuracy the laudatory inscriptions to the ancient kings, forgetting about their own kings..., but there was something completely different... "(, pp. 1199-1200).
There is no doubt that the painters of the inscriptions meant their kings, the Ptolemies, in them, and the Ptolemies themselves understood this well. Thus, these inscriptions provide documentary evidence of the identity of the Ptolemies with the supposedly more ancient Egyptian Kings.
As one would expect, after the first Ptolemies in Egypt, a time of decline began, about which historians have very vague and confusing information. Documents have even been found claiming that at this time power in Egypt passed into the hands of another (!) “native” (?!) dynasty (see, vol. 2, p. 216). Trying to give a rational explanation, historians invent the concept of uprisings that allegedly shook the Ptolemaic power at that time. Here we are faced for the fifth time with the same gap between two apocryphal periods, arising due to the difficulty of connecting them.
We are told that already under Ptolemy VI (or VII) Philomator (Loving Mother) the Romans appeared in Egypt, whose influence was rapidly growing. The next Ptolemies should already seek recognition of Rome. Their dynastic history is very complex and confusing.
They either co-rule with each other, then go into exile, then return, then are again expelled or killed. One of the Ptolemies marries two Cleopatras at once, one mother, the other daughter, etc. and so on. It all ends with the dramatic story of Cleopatra, after which the Romans exercise direct rule over Egypt. The victory over Cleopatra (and her lover Antony) ended Octavian's struggle to establish the Roman Empire.
This connection between the last Ptolemies and the history of Rome makes us think that their history actually reflects the time before the creation of the Roman Empire, but, of course, not the fantastic Empire II, but more real. Empires III. Thus, for the first time we have a real chance to penetrate deeper beyond the “enchanted” 4th century.
However, a corresponding revision of the entire vast archaeological and narrative material is beyond our capabilities.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that with the shift of the entire Ptolemaic dynasty forward by 350 years, induced by the identification of Empire II with Empire III, Ptolemy III will fall precisely at the time of Ptolemy the astronomer. In this coincidence one should see the corrective hand of one of the early apocryphists, when the chronologies of Empires II and III were still confused, and in the legend of Ptolemy the astronomer there was an idea of his royal origin (a stable medieval tradition, preserved in the first centuries of printing, constantly depicts Ptolemy as astronomer with a royal wreath on his head). Who gave whom the name, astronomer to the king, or king to the astronomer, one can only guess for now.
The name "Egypt" comes from ancient Greek. Αἴγυπτος and lat. Aegyptus, probably going back to one of the local names of the city of Memphis “Hetkaptah” “House of the Soul of Ptah”, apparently pronounced “Hi-Ku-Ptah”, which in Greek was pronounced as Aigyptos. The Egyptians themselves called their country “Kemet” - “Black”, thus contrasting it with the “Red” desert.
Hellenistic Egypt, otherwise Ptolemaic Egypt (332 BC - 30 BC) is a Hellenistic state formed on the territory of Egypt after the collapse of the state. The capital of Hellenistic Egypt was the founded city of Alexandria (Egyptian) in the Nile Delta, which became one of the main centers of Greek Hellenistic culture. The state's first ruler, the Diadochus Ptolemy I, used local traditions from the dynastic period to consolidate his power and founded the Ptolemaic dynasty. Hellenistic Egypt lasted until the Roman conquest in 30 BC. e., after which it became a province within the Roman Empire.
During the division of Alexander's empire, Egypt went to (“Savior”, 305-282 BC), the son of a Macedonian aristocrat and ally of the king. The cautious and far-sighted Ptolemy managed to bring the body of Alexander to Egypt, which was buried in the sanctuary of Ammon in the oasis of Siwa, which placed Egypt in a special place compared to the kingdoms of the other diadochi. The monarchical form of government, characteristic of the East since ancient times and adopted by the crowned pharaoh, was continued by the Ptolemies.
Throughout the 3rd century, the throne was inherited from father to son. Having ensured the dominance of the Greek stratum, Ptolemy I pursued a policy of bringing the two cultures closer together, establishing the cult of the syncretic god Serapis. Having planned to turn Egypt into a center of culture and the arts, Ptolemy founded the famous Museion with a famous library in Alexandria. The son of Ptolemy I - Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) - continued the domestic and foreign policies of his father. Married to his own sister Arsinoe II (the de facto ruler of Egypt), in keeping with the ancient Egyptian tradition of consanguineous marriages within the royal family, Ptolemy II established a cult in temples built in her honor.
The cult of Arsinoe took place in Mendes, Sais, Memphis, Fayum (city of Arsinoe) and Thebes. In Alexandria, on Cape Zephyria, the temple of Aphrodite Arsinoe was also built. On the island of Philae, the cult of the queen merged with the cult of Isis. Ptolemy II ordered the ashes of Alexander the Great to be transported from the oasis of Siwa to Alexandria, where he was buried in a tomb in a section of the royal palace of Sema. The first two Ptolemies carried out monetary reforms, introducing a monetary system that was absent from traditional ancient Egyptian culture during the New Kingdom. Under Ptolemy Philadelphus (reigned 285-246), the patron saint of scientists and poets, Musaeus and the Library of Alexandria reached their greatest prosperity. The Faros lighthouse was also built.
Being capable organizers, Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II created a centralized system of government with strong administrative power. The growth and consolidation of the kingdom led to the rapid transformation of Alexandria into the largest commercial and cultural city of the East. The main support of the new dynasty were the Greeks and Macedonians, who were the holders of the royal land (cleruchia). Among the Egyptians, the Ptolemies relied mainly on the priesthood, granting them privileges and endowing newly built temples in honor of Egyptian deities. Wanting to strengthen their influence and enlist the support of the Egyptian priesthood, the kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty built temples, the layout and architecture of which went back to the type of temple developed in the era of the New Kingdom.
Under Ptolemy III Evergetes (246-222 BC), who, like his father, patronized scientists, the Ptolemaic state was still at the zenith of its power, but under subsequent rulers a decline began, accompanied by popular unrest and damage to coins. The Egyptians protested not only against a specific dynasty, but against the Greeks who were placed in a privileged position and the priests who supported them. In the 2nd-1st centuries. BC e. Egypt, torn apart by political intrigues at court, bureaucratic arbitrariness at the local level and social uprisings of the Egyptian population, is entering an economic crisis. The last outstanding representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty was Cleopatra VII (69-30 BC). In reality, Cleopatra was not as beautiful as was later believed, but this queen had charm and determination that helped her win over Julius Caesar and then Mark Antony. From 51 Cleopatra ruled the country jointly with her brother and husband Ptolemy XIII, but after his death a sharp struggle for power broke out between her and her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. In the struggle for the throne, Cleopatra resorted to the help of Caesar, whose mistress she became. In a fire that broke out in Alexandria during the uprising of the city's inhabitants against Caesar's garrison (48 BC), most of the famous Library was destroyed. Caesar managed to gain the upper hand and place Cleopatra on the Egyptian throne, but Egypt retained its independence from Rome.
The son of Ptolemy XV Caesarion, born in 47 from Caesar (at least, this was announced by the queen) and Cleopatra, declared the son of Isis, strengthened the position of the queen, although he was only a nominal co-ruler. After the death of Ptolemy XIV and the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44, Cleopatra ruled Egypt alone. In the conflict that flared up between Mark Antony and Caesar's great-nephew Octavian, Cleopatra, who dreamed of creating a Hellenistic eastern empire, took the side of Caesar's associate, concluding an alliance with him. Anthony and Cleopatra declared themselves a divine couple - Osiris (Dionysus) and Isis. However, the short-sighted policy of Antony, who married Cleopatra and gave her Crete and Cilicia, caused outrage in Rome and led to a war between Antony and Octavian.
The war that began between the recent allies led to the defeat of the combined forces of Cleopatra and Antony in the naval battle off Cape Actium on September 2, 31. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Alexandria, where the commander, who considered the war lost, fell into despair and committed suicide. Cleopatra, who had vainly relied on her charms to avoid participating in Octavian's triumph, was forced to follow the example of her husband. Octavian ordered the children of Antony and Cleopatra (and Caesarion as a particularly dangerous contender for the throne) to be killed. The entry of Octavian's legions into Alexandria in August 30 put an end to the independence of Egypt, which was included in the Roman possessions as a special province governed by an imperial prefect.
Kings of Egypt (305 - 31 BC)
Capital Alexandria:
|
331 |
|
|
Ptolemies (Lagids) |
|
| 282 - 246 | |
| 246 - 222 | |
| 222 - 205 | |
| 205 - 180 | |
| 180 - 170 | |
| 163 - 145 | |
| 145 - 144 | |
| 144 - 131 | |
| 81 - 80 | |
|
| 80 |
last queen of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty
Alternative descriptionsThe ancient Egyptian queen was ugly from birth, but knew how to “strengthen the facade” and please men, which is why she entered world history as the “ideal lover”
Female name: (Greek) glory of the father, glorious by the father
Mistress of Julius Caesar and Queen of Egypt
The last queen of Egypt who won the heart of Julius Caesar
Haggard novel
Poem by A. Blok
Poem by A. Pushkin
Queen of Egypt, whose image was widely reflected in literature and art
She received Crete and Cilicia from Mark Antony as a wedding gift.
Opera by Ukrainian composer Yu. S. Meitus “Antony and...”
Opera by Italian composer J. F. Malpiero “Antony and...”
The heroine of Alisa Freindlich in the film “My Life”
The name of this queen translated means “glorious by her father”
Not wanting to become a captive of her enemy, this queen ordered poisonous snakes to be brought in a basket and died from their bites
What was the name of the woman who, together with her lover, commanded a squadron and lost the Battle of Acium?
This famous woman was nicknamed Meriophane, which in Greek means “she who opens her mouth wide for ten thousand men.”
Character from the work of English playwright B. Shaw
Character from the work of W. Shakespeare
Female name
Ballet by Russian composer R. Gliere
A character from the opera “Julius Caesar” by the German composer G. Handel
Opera by Italian composer D. Cimarosa
Poem by V. Bryusov
Poem by A. Akhmatova
Queen killed by a snake
The last queen of Egypt
Queen of Egypt
The last Egyptian queen
This famous woman in history sometimes wore a fake beard
Klepochka's adult namesake
Ruler of ancient Egypt
Mistress of Julius Caesar
The last queen of Egypt
Queen of Egypt, whose image was widely reflected in literature and art
In Greek mythology, daughter of Boreas, wife of Phineas
Poem by A. Pushkin
