The Ptolemaic
Dynasty:
Ptolemy I Soter (323-283) and Berenice I
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283-246) and Arsinoe I and II (277-270)
Ptolemy III Euergetes I (246-222/1) and Berenice II (222/1?)
Ptolemy IV Philopator (222/1-204) and Arsinoe III (220-204)
Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180) and Cleopatra I (187-176)
Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145) and Cleopatra II (171-164)
direct Ptolemaic conflict with Rome
occurs after 146
nb: dates after the names of queens indicate that they were queens
regnant
Deep Background: The Land of Egypt
geographical features and political divisions
settlement trends and populations
history (including relations with Greeks)
Ptolemaic rule: how much is Egyptian,
and how much is Ptolemaic?
political and religious inheritance
racial homogeneity (cp. Seleucid Empire)
isolationism
Ptolemy I Soter (323-283)
"Keeper of the Flame"
progression of power and confidence, as seen in coinage: Alexander obverse, eagle obverse,
Ptolemaic obverse
and reverse
goals: isolationism in wars of Successors, Cyrene (Austin 264/(29)),
Syria, Cyprus (vs. Demetrius Poliorcetes), Aegean
trade domination
moves capital from Memphis to Alexandria
Greek and Macedonian administration
founds Museum ("temple of the Muses"), cult of Serapis (Austin 261/300)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283-246)
co-regent with Soter, 288-283
family troubles: half-brother Ptolemy Keraunos
establishes system of taxation
divorces Arsinoe I (Lysimachus's daughter) and marries sister Arsinoe II
(Lysimachus's widow): joint rule, as seen in coinage (portrait obverse, cornucopia obverse)
First and Second Syrian Wars, anti-Macedonian policy
builds Library as extension of the Museum; cf. course packet #6, Idyll
17
posthumous deification of parents and wife
Edicts of Ashoka: recipient of Buddhist proselytism? and
relations with India?
Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222/1)
son of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe I
Third Syrian War/Laodicean War (Austin 220-221/266-268)
Callimachus: Coma Berenices
first native Egyptian uprising
founds Serapeum in Alexandria
did not issue coins with own image, but either Zeus/eagle issues or
parents' issues
relevant digression: apex of Egyptian power:
note how important foreign policy is to Ptolemies
Ptolemy IV Philopator, not so much
Philometor (221/1-204)
beginning of Ptolemaic decline (Austin 223/274)
murder of Berenice II, sway of favorites
Fourth Syrian War (219-217): defeats Antiochus III the Great at Raphia
in 217 (cf. the Apocrypha: 3rd Maccabees), Austin 224-225/275, 277
enrols native Egyptians in the army >> native revolts, secession
of Upper Egypt/Nubia (206-185) under own pharaohs
contraction of overseas empire
Second Punic War (218-202), Carthage v. Rome, disrupts Mediterranean
trade
Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180)
boy-pharaoh: Egypt paralyzed
struggle for control of Epiphanes: Arsinoe III (mother) murdered,
Austin 226/282
Fifth Syrian War: 202-200
Battle of Panium (198): Antiochus III the Great victorious, splits
Ptolemaic overseas possessions with Philip V of Macedon; Antiochus gets
Judaea and Coele-Syria
Antiochus's daughter Cleopatra I marries Ptolemy V
Rome v. Antiochus III: Ptolemies side with Rome
Nubian revolt continues and concludes, 185
Rosetta Stone: thanks
Egyptian priesthood for assistance during revolt
Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145)
another boy-pharaoh
serious succession crisis: joint rule at various stages with
mother Cleopatra I (180-176), wife Cleopatra II (171-164), brother
Ptolemy VIII Physcon (169-164), son Ptolemy Eupator (152)
Sixth Syrian War (170-168) v. Antiochus IV; loses; Roman intervention
164, Physcon drives out Philometor (Austin 229-230/288-289), Rome
restores him
frequent native rebellions (Austin 228/286), cruelly suppressed
killed in Syria fighting with Alexander Balas, pretender to Seleucid
throne (150-146), at Battle of Antioch
Keys to Ptolemaic Success:
wealth and access to native labor (Austin 251/313)
adoption of Egyptian iconography (crowning of Ptolemy VIII, Arsinoe II as Pharaoh)
Hellenization (cp. Seleucid Empire): language, politics
Egyptification: religion
what to do with racial relations? social customs?
Being a Successor in Egypt: the
problems
native unrest: what caused it?
population imbalance
dynastic struggles
key to success: foreign policy
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Updated 3-29-08,
bolmarcich[at]mail.utexas.edu