The Eagle of Zeus was the traditional symbol of Ptolemaic Egypt
Country
Ancient Egypt, Ancient Macedonia, Ancient Rome
Founded
305 BC
Founder
Ptolemy I Soter
Final ruler
Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV (Egypt) Ptolemy XVI (Syria) Ptolemy of Mauretania (Mauretania Caesariensis)
Final head
Drusilla
Titles
Pharaoh Basileus of Egypt King of Macedonia King of Mauretania Caesariensis King of Syria King of Cyrene
Dissolution
AD 79
Deposition
279 BC (Macedon) 30 BC (Egypt) AD 40 (Mauretania)
Periods and dynasties of ancient Egypt
All years are BC
Early
Pre-dynastic period
First Dynasty
I
c. 3150–2890
Second Dynasty
II
2890–2686
Old Kingdom
Third Dynasty
III
2686–2613
Fourth Dynasty
IV
2613–2498
Fifth Dynasty
V
2498–2345
Sixth Dynasty
VI
2345–2181
First Intermediate
Seventh Dynasty
VII
spurious
Eighth Dynasty
VIII
2181–2160
Ninth Dynasty
IX
2160–2130
Tenth Dynasty
X
2130–2040
Early Eleventh Dynasty
XI
2134–2061
Middle Kingdom
Late Eleventh Dynasty
XI
2061–1991
Twelfth Dynasty
XII
1991–1803
Thirteenth Dynasty
XIII
1803–1649
Second Intermediate
Fourteenth Dynasty
XIV
1705–1690
Fifteenth Dynasty (Hyksos)
XV
1674–1535
Sixteenth Dynasty
XVI
1660–1600
Abydos Dynasty
1650–1600
Seventeenth Dynasty
XVII
1580–1549
New Kingdom
Eighteenth Dynasty
XVIII
1549–1292
Nineteenth Dynasty
XIX
1292–1189
Twentieth Dynasty
XX
1189–1077
Third Intermediate
Twenty-first Dynasty
XXI
1069–945
Twenty-second Dynasty
XXII
945–720
Twenty-third Dynasty
XXIII
837–728
Twenty-fourth Dynasty
XXIV
732–720
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (Nubian)
XXV
732–653
Late Period
Twenty-sixth Dynasty
XXVI
672–525
Twenty-seventh Dynasty (1st Persian Period)
XXVII
525–404
Twenty-eighth Dynasty
XXVIII
404–398
Twenty-ninth Dynasty
XXIX
398–380
Thirtieth Dynasty
XXX
380–343
Thirty-first Dynasty (2nd Persian Period)
XXXI
343–332
Hellenistic Egypt
Thirty-second Dynasty
XXXII
332–305
Thirty-third Dynasty
XXXIII
305–30
Roman Egypt
Thirty-fourth Dynasty (Roman Pharaohs)
XXXIV
30 BC – 313 AD
See also: List of pharaohs by period and dynasty Periodization of ancient Egypt
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The Ptolemaic dynasty (/ˌtɒlɪˈmeɪ.ɪk/; Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖοι, Ptolemaioi) was a Macedonian Greek[1][2][3][4][5] royal house which ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Ancient Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Reigning for 275 years, the Ptolemaic was the longest and last dynasty of ancient Egypt from 305 BC until its incorporation into the Roman Republic in 30 BC.[6][7]
Ptolemy, a general and one of the somatophylakes (bodyguard companions) of Alexander the Great, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC he declared himself Pharaoh Ptolemy I, later known as Sōter "Saviour". The Egyptians soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaohs of independent Egypt. The new dynasty adopted the Egyptian titles and iconography, and respected local traditions, while also preserving their own Greek language and culture.[8][6] The Ptolemaic period was marked by the intense interactions and blending of the Greek and Egyptian cultures.[9] Under the Ptolemies, Hellenistic religion was largely influenced by religious syncretism and imperial cult.[10][11] Elements of Greek education became widespread in urban spaces, culminating in the foundation of the Mouseion (including the Library of Alexandria) and the Serapeum.[12] During the Hellenistic period, the city of Alexandria founded by Alexander the Great would gradually surpass Athens taking its place as the intellectual centre of the Mediterranean world.[13]
Following the earlier dynasties of Egypt, the Ptolemaic dynasty adopted the practice of inbreeding including sibling marriage,[14] but this did not start in earnest until nearly a century into the dynasty's history.[15] All the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, while queens regnant were all called Cleopatra, Arsinoe, or Berenice. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, Cleopatra VII, known for her role in the Roman political battles between Julius Caesar and Pompey, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony. Her apparent suicide after the Roman conquest of Egypt marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.
^Jones 2006, p. xiii: "They were members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Macedonian Greeks, who ruled Egypt after the death of its conqueror, Alexander the Great".
^Jeffreys 2005, p. 488: "Ptolemaic kings were still crowned at Memphis and the city was popularly regarded as the Egyptian rival to Alexandria, founded by the Macedonian Greeks".
^Robins 2001, p. 108: "...Cleopatra VII, the last member of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty to govern Egypt. Although the Ptolemies were not only Greek by origin but also by culture, they adopted from the Egyptians the custom of royal brother-sister marriage".
^Southern 2009, p. 43: "The Ptolemaic dynasty, of which Cleopatra was the last representative (...) stemmed from Ptolemy Soter, a Macedonian Greek in the entourage of Alexander the Great".
^Depuydt 2005, p. 687: "during the Ptolemaic period, when Egypt was governed by rulers of Greek descent..."; Pomeroy 1990, p. xvi: "...while Ptolemaic Egypt was a monarchy with a Greek ruling class"
^ abJones 2006, p. 3.
^Epiphanius of Salamis, however, puts the total number of years of the Ptolemaic dynasty at 306, presumably calculated from 306/5 BC to 1 AD. See: Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures – The Syriac Version (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 28 (note 104). Compare On Weights and Measures.
^Southern 2009, pp. 43–44.
^Rutherford 2016, p. 4: "The second (phase of relationship between Greek and Egyptian culture) begins when Egypt is taken over by a Greek-speaking elite in the last decades of the fourth century. From then on, the two cultures coexisted, which inevitably resulted in interactions and mutual influence between them".
^Potter 2009, p. 419.
^Carney 2013, pp. 95–100, "Cults".
^Holbl 2001, p. 84.
^Jones 2006, p. 10.
^Robins, p. 108: "...they adopted from the Egyptians the custom of royal brother-sister marriage". sfn error: no target: CITEREFRobins (help)
^Move over, Lannisters: No one did incest and murder like the last pharaohs on The A.V. Club
The Ptolemaicdynasty (/ˌtɒlɪˈmeɪ.ɪk/; Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖοι, Ptolemaioi) was a Macedonian Greek royal house which ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Ancient...
the Ptolemaicdynasty until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. Reigning for nearly three centuries, the Ptolemies were the longest and final dynasty of...
longer-lasting PtolemaicDynasty, are later coinings. While widely used and useful, the system does have its shortcomings. Some dynasties only ruled part...
the latter is unlikely and may be a myth fabricated to glorify the PtolemaicDynasty. Ptolemy was one of Alexander's most trusted companions and military...
30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. A member of the Ptolemaicdynasty, she was a descendant...
Twenty-first–Twenty-fifth Dynasties) Late Period (Twenty-sixth–Thirty-first Dynasties) Ptolemaic Egypt (305–30 BC) The Nile has been the lifeline for Egyptian culture...
Ptolemaic is the adjective formed from the name Ptolemy, and may refer to: Ptolemaicdynasty, the Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt founded in...
than government, politics, and foreign relations. The decline of the Ptolemaicdynasty is usually traced to his reign. Ptolemy IV was the second child and...
Great in 332 BC, after which it was ruled by Hellenic Pharaohs of the PtolemaicDynasty. Their rule, and the independence of Egypt, came to an end when Egypt...
The Ptolemaic cult of Alexander the Great was an imperial cult in ancient Egypt during the Hellenistic period (323–31 BC), promoted by the Ptolemaic dynasty...
found on Seleucid coinage. The Ptolemaicdynasty introduced standard coinage to Egypt, where pre-existing native dynasties made only very limited use of...
Hathor dates back to July 54 BC, at the time of Ptolemy XII of the Ptolemaicdynasty, and was completed by the Roman emperor Tiberius, but it rests on...
the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great and establishment of the Ptolemaicdynasty by his general Ptolemy I Soter, one of the Hellenistic diadochi from...
ISBN 9780500051009. Mahaffy, John Pentland (1899). A History of Egypt Under the PtolemaicDynasty. Methuen & Co. p. 251. GABER, AMR (2015). "The Ten Dead Deities of...
after whom he was named. He was the last sovereign member of the Ptolemaicdynasty of Egypt. Ptolemy Caesar was born in Egypt on 23 June 47 BC. His mother...
included Coele-Syria. The Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great defeated the Ptolemaic Kingdom in the Battle of Panium (200 BC); he annexed the Syrian lands...
fact that her Macedonian Greek family (the Ptolemaicdynasty) had intermarried with the Seleucid dynasty. Cleopatra's official coinage (which she would...
possibly between 29 and 25 BC) was a Ptolemaic prince and son of Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of the Ptolemaicdynasty and Roman triumvir Mark Antony. Alexander's...
South Asia by the Greco-Roman world flourished since the time of the Ptolemaicdynasty a few decades before the start of the Common Era and remained long...
love of playing the flute in Dionysian festivals. A member of the Ptolemaicdynasty, he was a descendant of its founder Ptolemy I, a Macedonian Greek...
Ptolemy I Soter. She became the second queen, after Eurydice, of the Ptolemaicdynasty of Egypt. Berenice was originally from Eordaea. She was the daughter...
body of source material Cleopatra V is a very obscure member of the Ptolemaicdynasty. Only a few ascertained facts about her are known. Many aspects of...
member of the Berber Massyles tribe, as well as a descendant of the Ptolemaicdynasty via his mother Cleopatra Selene II. Ptolemy was the son of King Juba...
November/December 222 BC) was the third pharaoh of the Ptolemaicdynasty in Egypt from 246 to 222 BC. The Ptolemaic Kingdom reached the height of its military and...
Pharaoh at the end of the Sixth Dynasty, but no archeological evidence supports her existence. The PtolemaicDynasty implemented a policy of co-rule between...
participated in Egyptian religious life. The last ruler from the Ptolemaicdynasty was Cleopatra, who committed suicide following the burial of her lover...
rule during the early phase of classical antiquity, passing to the Ptolemaicdynasty in the Hellenistic era. Libya was inhabited by Berber tribes, while...
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