B. c.e.) Eighth ruler of the Ptolemaic Period He reigned from 170 to 163 b. c.e., and from 145 b. c.e. until his death. The son of ptolemy v epiphanes and probably Queen Cleopatra (1), he was called “Physcon,” or Fatty The Roman Scipio Africanus gave him that nickname. He ruled for a time with ptolemy vi philometor and Cleopatra (2) and then tried to take control, expelling his brother. Rome settled the situation, and Ptolemy VIII was given Cyrenaica. At the death of Ptolemy VI, he put his nephew, Ptolemy VII, to death and married Cleopatra (2). He then married a niece, Cleopatra (3) and plotted against his first wife, who was popular.
As a result of court intrigue, Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra (3) fled to Cyprus. There they sent for Memphites, a young son of Cleopatra (2), and murdered him. They cut up the body and delivered it to Cleopatra (2) as a birthday present. The couple returned to Egypt c. 118 B. C.E. and sent Cleopatra (2) into exile. She died soon after, but Cleopatra (3) outlived her husband, who died in 116 B. C.E.
In 118 B. C.E., Ptolemy VIII issued the Amnesty Decree, an effort to put an end to the conflicts between the native Egyptians and the Greeks. He was considered a somewhat impetuous but magnanimous benefactor of Egyptian temples. At edfu, he was depicted in the company of Egypt’s protectors, the goddess buto and nekhe-BET, and his coronation festival was staged there. He is also depicted on a wall of Kom ombo, and he erected a temple at Tod (Djerty), near erment. Ptolemy VIII built two MAMMISI structures, one at Philae and a second temple of HORUS at Edfu.
Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros) (d. 81 b. c.e.) Ninth ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 116 to 107 b. c.e., and then from 88 B. C.E. until his death. The son of ptolemy viii euergetes II and Cleopatra (3), he inherited the throne at a young age. His mother served as his regent, as he was called “Lathyros,” or “Chickpea,” at the start of his reign.
Ptolemy Ix was accused of attempting to murder his mother, Queen Cleopatra (3), and was exiled to Cyprus while she was forced by the Roman Sulla to marry a younger son of ptolemy vii neos philopator, ptolemy x Alexander i, and continued to dominate Egypt. When Ptolemy X died in 88 b. c.e., Ptolemy IX returned to Egypt and remained on the throne to the age of 80. He received the name Soter, “the Savior,” for his services. Ptolemy IX was depicted in kom ombo as sharing a boat with two gods amid plants, birds, and other deities.
Ptolemy X Alexander I (d. 88 b. c.e.) Tenth ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 107 b. c.e. until his death. Ptolemy X was the son of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra (3). He was made the consort of Cleopatra (3) when his brother, Ptolemy IX, fled to CYPRUS. a degenerate, however, and normally ill, Ptolemy X bequeathed Egypt to Rome in his will before fleeing Alexandria. He died at sea and was replaced by Ptolemy XI.
Ptolemy XI Alexander II (d. 80 b. c.e.) Eleventh ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He married Cleopatra Berenice, who had followed her father, ptolemy ix soter ii to the throne. Ptolemy XI ruled only one year in 80 b. c.e. Sulla, the ruler of Rome, had demanded that Ptolemy XI marry Cleopatra Berenice.
He killed her within a year and was slain by an irate Alexandrian mob.
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysius (Auletes) (d. 51 b. c.e.) Twelfth ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 88 to 58 b. c.e. and from 55 b. c.e. until his death. The son of ptolemy ix soter ii by a concubine, he was called Neos Dionysius, “the New Dionysius” or Nothos, “the Bastard.” His lasting nickname was Auletes, “the Flute Player.” He was the father of cleopatra vii.
Ptolemy XII built at dendereh and edfu and refurbished PHILAE. Much of his life had been spent in the court of Mithridates VI of Pontus at Sinope. When PTOLEMY XI ALEXANDER II died, he was recalled to Egypt. In 58 B. C.E., Ptolemy XII had to leave Egypt because of his unpopular rule. He was restored by the Roman general Gabinus through the intercession of pompey the Great in 55 b. c.e. rabirius postumous subsequently handled Ptolemy Xll’s affairs as a safeguard for Rome’s interests. Ptolemy Xll’s will was deposited in Rome’s public treasury and as a result, Pompey became the guardian of Egypt in 49 b. c.e. Ptolemy XII married his sister, cleopatra (6) TRYPHAINA. More than 100 leading Alexandrian scholars went to Rome to protest Ptolemy Xll’s reinstatement and his reign. He was listed in the temple of kom OMBO.
Ptolemy XIII (d. 47 b. c.e.) Coruler with Cleopatra VII and a victim of the war with Julius Caesar The son of ptolemy xii neos dionysus and possibly CLEOPATRA (6) TRYPHAINA, Ptolemy XIII had to share royal powers with his sister, starting their joint reign in 51 B. C.E. His court advisers, however, fostered his ambitions, and he forced cleopatra vii to flee from Alexandria. POMPEY was named his guardian as a result. The war between Pompey and Julius caesar, however, interrupted this guardianship. When Pompey, fleeing from caesar, landed in Egypt, he was slain by Ptolemy Xlll’s agents, hoping to have the victorious caesar as an ally.
He was forced to join his army in the desert near Alexandria, however, when caesar ruled in favor of Cleopatra Vll’s claims, joined in time by arsinoe (4), his sister. Arsinoe complicated matters by murdering ACHILLAS, the military general who might have directed Egypt’s forces with skill. Ptolemy XIII also faced additional armies when an ally of caesar arrived with fresh troops. He died by drowning after an attempt to ambush Caesar failed. A shrine at kom ombo depicts him in various acts of worship. He also built in philae.
Ptolemy XIV (d. 44 b. c.e.) Ruler of the Ptolemaic Period, sharing the throne with Cleopatra VII He was a coruler starting in 47 b. c.e. When ptolemy xiii died fighting the Romans, Ptolemy XIV, a younger brother of cleopatra vii, was elevated to consort and
Coregent status, a nominal position only, as Cleopatra VII was carrying Caesar’s child. The assassination of Julius CAESAR alarmed Cleopatra VII, and she had Ptolemy XIV slain. No monuments from his brief reign survived.
World History
