A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

,PTOLEMIAEUS. PTOLEMAEUS. 569
Arsino', the sister of Ptolemy Philadelphus, was out effect, against the Macedonian king. (Trog.
the wife of Lysimachus himself, and exercised Pomp. Prol. xxiv.)
great influence over the mind of the old king. But Ptolemy, however, was not destined long to
instead of this being employed against her half- enjoy the throne which he had obtained by so many
brother Ceraunus, she appears soon to have made crimes. Before the close of the year which had
common cause with him; and he not only assisted witnessed the death of Seleucus, he was alarmed
her in her intrigues against Agathocles, but is by the approach of a new and formidable enemy,
even said to have assassinated that unhappy prince the' Gauls, who now, for the first time, appeared
with his own hand. (Memnon. c. 8; Justin. xvii. on the frontiers of Macedonia. Their chief, Belgius,
1.) The conduct of Ptolemy in the war that fol- sent overtures for a treaty to Ptolemy, but the
lowed between Lysimachus and Seleucus is differ- Macedonian king haughtily refused them, and reently reported: Pausanias (i. 16. ~ 2) represents jecting the proffered assistance of Monunius, hashim as quitting the court of Lysimachus, and tened to meet and give battle to the barbarian
taking refuge with his rival, while Memnon (c. 12) host. The result was most disastrous:; the Macestates, with more probability, that he adhered to donian army was totally routed, and the king,
Lysimachus to the last, but after his death made having been thrown from the elephant on which
his peace with Seleucus. It is certain, however, he was riding, fell alive into the hands of the
that he was received by the latter ill the most enemy, by whom he was put to death in the most
friendly manner, and treated with all the distinc- barbarous manner, and his head carried about on
tion due to his royal birth. Seleucus. we are told, the point of a spear, in token of victory. (Justin.
even held out hopes to him of establishing him on xxiv. 3-5; Paus. x. 19. ~ 7; Memnon. c. 14;
the throne of Egypt, when Ptolemy, probably Diod. xxii. Exc. Hoeschel. p. 495, Exc. Vales.
deeming the crown of Macedonia to be more easily p. 592; Dexippus ap. Syncell. p. 266; Polyb. ix.
within his grasp, basely assassinated his new patron 35. ~ 4.)
at Lysimachia, B. c. 280, and immediately assumed Concerning the chronology of these events, see
the diadem himself. (Appian. Syr. 62; Memnon. Clinton (F. H. vol. ii. pp. 237, 238). It seems
c. 12; Justin. xvii. 2; Paus. i. 16. ~ 2; Euseb. certain that the death of Ptolemy must have taken
Arm. p. 157.) place before the end of B.c. 280, and that the
His authority appears to,have been acknow- period of seventeen months assigned to his reign
ledged without opposition by the army, and this by Dexippus (I. c.) must be reckoned from the
enabled him to make himself master, with little death of Lysimlachus, and not from that of Sedifficulty, of the European dominions of Lysi- leucus. [E. H. B.]
machus. Autiochus, the son of Seleucus, was suf- PTOLEMAEUS (rIroXAheytos), tetrarch of
ficiently occupied with maintaining his Asiatic CHALCIS in Syria, the son of Mennaeus. He apand hereditary possessions, and Ptolemy Phila- pears to have held the cities of Heliopolis and
delphus was well contented to see his half-brother Chalcis as well as the mountain district of Ituraea,
established on another throne, which led him to from whence he was in the habit of infesting
abandon all projects concerning that of Egypt. Damascus and, the more wealthy parts of CoeleThe usurper had the address to gain over Pyrrhus Syria with predatory incursions. These Alexan.
king of Epeirus, who might have proved his most dra, queen of Judaea, endeavoured to repress by
dangerous rival, by a promise of assisting him sending pgainst him her son Aristobulus with an
with an auxiliary force in his expedition to Italy. army, but without much success. Subsequently,
Thus his onlv remaining opponent was Antigonus, when Pompey came into Syria, B. C. 64, Ptolemy
the son of Demetrius, who now attempted to re- was summoned to answer for his misdeeds, but
cover the throne of his father, and for him Ptolemy was able to purchase impunity from the conqueror
was more than a match. His fleet, supported by with a sum of a thousand talents. In B. C. 49, when
an auxiliary squadron of the Heracleans, totally Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, was put to
defeated that of Antigonus, and compelled the death at Antioch by the partisans of Pompey,
latter to withdraw into Boeotia, while Ptolemy Ptolemy afforded shelter and protection to the
established himself, without farther opposition, on brothers and sisters of the deceased prince, and
the throne of Macedonia. (Memnon. c. 13; Justin. his son Philippion at first married orle of the fugixvii. 2, xxiv. 1.) tive princesses, Alexandra: but, afterwards, PtoHe was now able to fortify himself in his new lemly becoming enainoured of her himself, put
position by a treaty with Antiochus, who acknow- Phlilippion to death, and marde Alexandra his own
ledged him as sovereign of Macedonia. But his wife.
jealousy and apprehensions were still excited by After the battle of Pharsalia Ptolemy was conArsinoe, the widow of Lysimachus, who had taken firmed by Caesar in the possession of his dominions,
refuge at Cassandreia with her two sons, Lysimachus over which he continued to rule till his death in
and Philip; and he endeavoured to decoy them B. C. 40, when he was succeeded by his son Lysainto his power by offering to marry Arsinod, and nias. The only occasion on which we meet with
share the kingdom with her children. The queen, his name during this interval is in B.-c. 42, when
notwithstanding her previous experience of his he united with Marion, prince of Tyre, in an atcharacter, gave credit to his oaths and protestations tempt to restore Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus,
and received him at Cassandreia, but Ptolemy took to the throne of Judaea. They were, however,
the opportunity, during the nuptial festivities, to both defeated by Herod. (Strab. xvi. p. 753;
seize on the fortress, and immediately caused the Joseph. A.4nt. xiii. 16. ~ 3, xiv. 3. ~ 2, 7. ~ 4, B. J.
trio young princes to be assassinated. (Justin. i. 9. ~ 2, 13. ~ 1.) We learn from his coins that
xxiv. 1-3.) Their elder brother Ptolemy had, he assumed the title of tetrarch. (Eckhel, vol. iii.
it appears, made his escape, and taken refuge with p. 264.) [E. H. B.]
Mlonunius, king of the Dardanians, who for a time PTOLEMAEUS, CLAU/DIUS rItoAqea7os
espoused his cause, and waged war, though with- KXaudios). A few words will be necessary on