The Ptolemaic dynasty

Alexander the Great

The Ptolemaic dynasty was founded by Ptolemy son of Lagus, a general of Alexander the Great. On Alexander's death in 323 he was appointed satrap of Egypt, and eventually declared himself king in 304. The dynasty lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30, an episode which is still one of the best-known chapters of ancient history.

The intervening period is one which is, by comparison to most of pharaonic Egypt, very well, if not fully coherently, documented. While Ptolemy I and Cleopatra VII are perhaps the best-known rulers, most of the Ptolemaic kings and queens emerge as distinctive and interesting (if not necessarily attractive) individuals. Ptolemaic Egypt was one of the two great powers of the Hellenistic East for most of its existence. During this period Egyptian armies ranged further east and further north than at any other time in Egyptian history. Alexandria was the center of the Hellenistic intellectual world. The period also saw the final flowering of pharaonic Egyptian art and architecture. Many of the great temples we see today, at Edfu, Esna, Kom Ombo, Dendera, Philae and elsewhere, are basically Ptolemaic monuments.
The Ptolemaic era is unjustly neglected. Both Egyptophiles and Hellenists have traditionally seen it as decadent, a judgement that in my opinion has no basis. The last major general survey written in English appeared in 1927. The number of Ptolemaic scholars is small, and very few universities have specialist departments. However, in recent years significant surveys have appeared, particularly in German, and one of these has been translated into English. Additionally, the exciting discoveries of sunken cities in the waters off Alexandria have attracted world-wide attention

Kinglist
Ptolemy son of Lagus      
Ptolemy Philadelphus                      
Ptolemy Euergetes                        
Ptolemy Philopator                        
Ptolemy Yanara                        
Ptolemy Philometor                        
Ptolemy the younger, Euergetes
Ptolemy Physcon called Soter
Ptolemy Alexander
Ptolemy Philadelphus, who is Soter restored                              
Ptolemy Neos Dionysus, Philadelphus                  
Cleopatra                          

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