The House of Ptolemy:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

[ Ptolemaic Kings List ] [ Ptolemaic Royal Titles] [ Genealogy List ] [ Writings on the Rulers ] [ Bibliographic Notes ]
[ Ceasar, Cleopatra, Marcus Antonius] [ Numismatic Notes ]
[ Work in Process ] [ Back to Index Page ] [ Comments ]

The Ptolemaic King List*

* date information in red taken from: PTOLEMAIC CHRONOLOGY - by Alan Edouard Samuel.
Muenchener Beitraege zur Papyrusforschung und Antiken Rechtsgeschichte. 43 heft. C.H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Muenchen 1962

Ruler	Dates (All Dates BCE)	Comments
Cleomenes of Naucratis Satrap of Egypt for Alexander the Great	331 - 323 BCE	Appointed by Alexander the Great in the spring of 331, originally as Alexander's collector of revenues in Egypt. Not a Ptolemaic ruler, Cleomenes appears here as the antecedent of the House of Ptolemy
	323, June 10/11	Death of Alexander the Great
Ptolemy, Son of Lagos SATRAP of EGYPT * under Philip Arrhideus: 323 - 317 * --- with Cleomenes as assistant (hyparchos): 323 * under Alexander IV: 317 - 311 * given epithet SOTER: 305	323 - 305 BCE	Short biographical sketch (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Another short biographical sketch of Ptolemy I Contemporary coin images of Ptolemy I Wife: Eurydice
	305, November 7	Soter takes title of king
Ptolemy I (Soter I) * Elevation and joint rule with Philadelphos: 284-282	305 - 282 BCE	Contemporary coin images of Ptolemy I & Berenice I Wives: Eurydice, Berenice I
	284, January	beginning of joint regency of Soter and Philadelphus
	282, between January 7 and summer	death of Soter
Ptolemy II (Philadelphus)	282 - 246 BCE	Contemporary coin images of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy II (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wives: Arsinoe I, Arsinoe II
Ptolemy II (Philadelphus)	246, January 29	death of Philadelphus, accession of Euergetes I
Ptolemy III (Euergetes I)	246 - 222 BCE	Contemporary coin images of Ptolemy III & Berenice II Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy III (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Berenice II
Ptolemy III (Euergetes I)	222, between October 18 and December 31	death of Euergetes I, accession of Philopator I
Ptolemy IV (Philopator I)	222 - 205/4 BCE	Contemporary coin image of Ptolemy IV Youthfull and idealized contemporary portrait head Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy IV (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site)
	210, 9 October	Birth of Ptolemy V Epiphanes
	210, November 30	Elevation of Epiphanes as coregent with his father Philometor
	205, after October18, possibly November 28	death of Philopator
	204, between summer and September 8	accession of Epiphanes
Ptolemy V (Epiphanes)	205/4 - 180 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy V (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Cleopatra I
	197, November 26	Anakleiteria of Epiphanes
	196, March 27	Rosetta Stone inscribed
	180, between February 20 and October 6	death of Epiphanes and accession of Philometor
Ptolemy VI (Philometor) * regency under Cleopatra I: 180-176; * 1st Sole reign: 176 - 170; * Joint reign with Ptolemy VIII 169-164; * Invasion of Antiochus IV of Syria: 169 & 168; * 2nd Sole reign with Cleopatra II: 164/3-145	180 - 145 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy VI (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Cleopatra II
	176, between April 8 and October 14	death of Cleopatra I, Philometor ruling, married to his sister
	170, October 5	beginning of joint regency of Philometor, Euergetes II, and Cleopatra II
	164, October	expulsion of Philometor
	163, before May 29	return of Philometor
	145, spring	association of Neos Philopator on the throne
	145, before September 19	death of Philometor, accession of Euergetes II
Ptolemy VII (Neos Philopator) * associated ruler with his father Philometor: 145/144 * regent under his uncle Euergetes II and mother Cleopatra II (who married): 145/144	145 - 144 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy VII (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site)
Ptolemy VIII (Euergetes II) "Physkon" restored King of Cyrenaica, Libya 163-145	145 - 116	Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy VIII (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Contemporary image of Ptolemy VIII in Pharaonic headdress (Mistakenly labled as 'Ptolemy VII'. This statue, now in Belgium, is an image of Ptolemy Euergetes II showing us why he was nicknamed 'Physkon'). Wives: Cleopatra II, Cleopatra III
	131-130	revolution of Cleopatra II
	116, June 28	death of Euergetes II
	116, after October 29	116, death of Cleopatra II
Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX (Soter II) "Lathyrus" Ruler in Cyrenaica, Libya: 115 - 104/1; Ruler in Cyprus: 105 - 88 BCE	117 - 108 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros) (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Cleopatra III
	115, before April 6	establishment of Cleopatra III with Soter II
	110, before October 31	expulsion of Soter II, Alexander I on the throne
	109, before February 2	return of Soter II
	108, between March 10 and May 28	second interruption of Soter’s reign by Alexander I
Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X (Alexander I) Ruler in Cyprus: 114/3 - 105/4 Ptolemy X (Alexander I) and Cleopatra Berenice	107 - 88 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Cleopatra Berenice
	107, before November 15, probably before September 19	expulsion of Soter
	101, before October 26	death of Cleopatra III
	88, soon before September 14	death of Alexander I, return of Soter II
Ptolemy IX (Philometor Soter II) "Lathyrus", restored (2nd Reign)	88 - 80 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros) (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Wife: Cleopatra III
	80, March	death of Soter II
Cleopatra Berenice and Ptolemy XI (Alexander II)	80 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Cleopatra Berenice Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy XI (Alexander II) (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site)
	80	Cleopatra Berenice ruled for 6 months; succeeded by Alexander II, who ruled for 19 days
	80, before September 11	accession of Auletes
Ptolemy XII (Neos Dionysus) "Auletes"	80 - 58 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Ptolemy XII (Neos Dionysos) (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Idealized portrait head of Ptolemy XII Wife: Cleopatra Berenice
Ptolemy XII (Neos Dionysus) "Auletes"	58, after September 7	departure of Auletes from Egypt
Berenice IV at first with Cleopatra Tryphaena afterwards with Archelaus	58 - 55 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Berenice IV (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site)
	57, before July 11	Berenice IV and Cleopatra Tryphaena on the throne
	56, between February 1 and April 16	Archelaus married to Berenice IV
	55, before April 22	return of Auletes
Ptolemy XII (Neos Dionysus) "Auletes", restored	55 - 52/1 BCE
	52, September 5	association of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII with Auletes on the throne
	51, between ca. February 1 and March 22	death of Auletes
Cleopatra VII (Philopator Nea Thea) with Ptolemy XIII (Philopator): 52/1-47; with Ptolemy XIV (Philopator): 47-44; sole reign: 44-36; coregency with Ptolemy XV (Caesar Philopator Philometor "Caesarion"): 36-30 involvement with Julius Caesar: 48 to 44; involvement with Marc Antony: 41-30;	52/1 - 30 BCE	Short biographical sketch of Cleopatra VII (from Egyptian Tourism Ministry site) Contemporary statue head of Cleopatra VII (London: British Museum) Contemporary coin image of Cleopatra VII (and Mark Anthony)
	47, before January 15	death of Ptolemy XIII
	44, between July and 2 September	death of Ptolemy XIV
	41	Caesarion temporarily on the throne
	36	beginning of joint regency of Cleopatra & Caesarion
	30, August 3	capture of Alexandria by Octavian
	30, August 12	death of Cleopatra
	30, August 31	beginning of Augustus’ reign

Genealogy
List

--- Titulature Of The Pharaohs: Ptolemaic Dynasty (305-30 BCE)

A marvelous aid! The complete titulature in transliterated hieroglyphics for the Ptolemaic dynasty including the cartouches of the rulers and their spouses. For the period of Macedonian rule (Alexander III, IV, & Satrapy of Ptolemy 332-305 BCE) see http://members.xoom.com/dloeillet/KL/KLS/Alex.html (but sadly no cartouches). The information at this site is in English and French.

It is best to start at http://members.xoom.com/dloeillet/KL/KLS/ETitul1.html for a discussion of how the rulers of Egypt set up their titles, the royal Egyptian naming conventions, a discussion of the manner of rendering the linguistic information see http://members.xoom.com/dloeillet/KL/KLS/ECONVENTION.html, and the source books from which this site's information is derived.

--- Arsinoë before she was Philadelphus

by: E. D. Carney (Clemson University)
from Ancient History Bulletin vol. 8.4 (1994) pages 123-131 [online version 34 Kb]
--- Arsinoe II, Queen of Egypt and Libya (316 - 271 BCE)

This is a half page biography contributed by Rebecca Bartholomew and derived from Who Was Who in the Greek World: 776 BC-30 BC, by Diana Bowder (Editor); Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Oct 1982 (Hardcover).
Order This book from Amazon.com
The main site at http://www.netsrq.com/~dbois/ has biographies of women who contributed to our culture.
--- Arsinoe II, Dynasty XXXII, 316-271 BCE

by: Chris Carpenter
--- Arsinoe II

Scroll down to view three images (from different angles) of a head of Arsinoe II Philadelphus. Greek Sculpture from the David M. Robinson Collection (click on image to view full size).
--- Arsinoe II Egyptian style sculpture

Queen Arsinoe II (Ptolemaic Period, 300-100 BCE) Limestone
This relief represents one of the great queens of the Ptolemaic Period, Arsinoe II, who was a strong-minded and influential ruler with her brother/husband Ptolemy II. She wears a unique vulture headdress and is shown shaking a sistrum, or rattle, with the cow's head of the goddess Hathor. This relief was probably made after her death when she had been made a goddess and was called the "daughter of the god Amun."
--- Perseus Encyclopedia: Berenice (1-2)
--- Coma Berenices - Star Map

Coma Berenices (Bernice's Hair), is the 'hair of Queen Berenice' of Egypt, which became a constellation around 230 BCE. This page discusses the astronomical constellation, not Ptolemaic Egypt other than to explain the origin of the name. From the Peoria Astronomical Society
--- Ptolemy III, Euergetes I

A one paragraph biography from the Encyclopedia of the Orient. Entries exist for the Ptolemies and Ptolemaic history.
--- L'Eredità di Tolemeo e le Monete di Silla

By Luigi Pedroni (Napoli). From Pomerium vol. 3/1998 (ISSN 0945-2354). Investigates when and which Ptolemy left his inheritance to Rome. Available as a PDF file.
CLEOPATRA VII -- All information has been moved to a new page on:

Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marcus Antonius: The Transition to a Greco-Roman (Roman Imperial) Egypt
--- The Ptolemaic Rulers of Egypt (332-30 BC)

From the limited FREE trial version Britannica Online, contains over 500 relavent items.
Government and conditions under the Ptolemies; Religion; The Rulers of Ptolemaic dynasty; Administration; Economy; Dynastic strife and decline (145-30 BC); Culture; and The Ptolemies (305-145 BC).
While visiting this site you can look up individually "PTOLEMY" (312 references), "CLEOPATRA" (153 references), "ARSINOE" (24 references), etc. This is a great resource especially for those just starting out.
--- Das Opfer der Arsinoë Kleopatras Schwester wurde ermordet

By GERHARD BECKMAN (from Die Welt Online: 16 Mai 1998 - Welt des Buches). Bis ins zehnte vorchristliche Jahrhundert reicht die Geschichte der reichen Hafen- und Handelsstadt Ephesos, die dann von den lydischen und persischen Königen, von Athen und Sparta beherrscht wurde, bevor sie ab 133 v. Chr. als Verwaltungszentrum der römischen Provinz Asien eine neue Blütezeit erlebte.

Bibliographic Notes:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

The Rulers

--- (BMCR 4.5.8), Gundlach, R and H Weber. Legitimation und Funktion des Herrschers.
Vom Pharao zum neuzeitlichen Diktator
Gundlach, R and H Weber. Legitimation und Funktion des Herrschers. Vom Pharao zum neuzeitlichen Diktator
Stuttgart: F Steiner, 1992. , Pp. 358 (pb) ISBN 3-515-06178-9
Reviewed by David Potter -- University of Michigan
[Bryn Mawr Classical Review provides reviews of books of interest to classisists]
--- Ptolemy of Egypt

Author: Ellis, Walter M
Publisher: Routledge
Publication date: March 1994
Dimensions (in inches): 0.56 x 8.83 x 5.70. Hardcover, 104 pp. ISBN: 0415100208
Order this book from Amazon.com

Numismatic Notes:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

Some coin images link to the web site created in conjunction with an exhibition entitled
Bearers of Meaning: The Ottilia Buerger Collection of Ancient and Byzantine Coins at http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/art/buerger/intro/titlepag.html. Otherwise,
THIS SECTION HAS BEEN MOVED TO A NEW, SEPARATE PAGE AT

http://www.houseofptolemy.org/housenum.htm

+++ Misc. Links To Be Updated/Evaluated+++

--- Biographisch-Bibliographischen Kirchenlexikon: PTOLEMAIOS XII

The Biographisch-Bibliographischen Kirchenlexikon base page is at http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/

--- Ptolemies

A thumbnail sketch for each in the house of Ptolemy. Seems unfinished and not all pages are properly linked.

--- Hellenistic History, Images, and Related Topics

By David Penso. A subpage of David's Web Site on the Ancient World. This site houses a collection of short articles on various aspects of Hellenism and Hellenistic History. For images of some Ptolemaic Rulers see his page on Photos of Statues of Ptolemaic Rulers. No mention is made of where the (copyrighted?) images originated.

Les Derniers Pharaons. Les turbulents Ptolémées d'Alexandre le Grand à Cléopâtre la Grande
(Madeleine Della Monica)
ISBN 2706812729, © 1997, Maisonneuve et Larose

“Ce livre couvre l’histoire de l’Égypte d’Alexandre le Grand à Cléopatre VII, tout en décrivant la période ptolémaique et ses chefs d’état.”

Home

Index on Daniel

[ Back to Index Page ]

The House of Ptolemy: Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

The Ptolemaic King List*

Bibliographic Notes:Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

Numismatic Notes:Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

The House of Ptolemy:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

Bibliographic Notes:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies

Numismatic Notes:
Kings, Queens, and the Rest of the Royal Ptolemies