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

PTOLEMAEUS. PTOLEMAEUS. 591
s. v.'Aptao-apXos.) He even carried his admiration receive back the Syrian provinces as her dower.
for Homer so far as to dedicate a temple to him 4s (Polyb. iii. 2, xv. 20, xvi. 39, xviii. 33, 34, xxviii.
a divinity. (Ael. V. H. xiii. 22.) [E. H. B.] 17; Justin, xxx. 2, 3, xxxi. I; Liv. xxxi. 2, 9
PTOLEMAEUS V. (nTroAeta7&os), king of Appian, Syr. 1-3, Mac. 3; Hieronym. ad Daniel.
EGYPT, surnamed EPSPHANES, was the son and xi. 14 —17; Joseph. Ant. xii. 4. ~ 1.)
successor of Ptolemy IV. He was a child of be- This treaty took place in B. C. 199, but the martween four and five years old at the death of his riage was not actually solemnised until six years
filther, B.c. 205; and the reins of government after. During this interval the peace between
were immediately assumed in his name by the Egypt and Syria continued unbroken, while the
favourite and minister of the late monarch, Aga- administration of the former kingdom was placed
thocles. The death of Philopator was even kept in the hands of Aristomenes, a man who was every
a secret for some time by the favourite, in order way worthy of the charge. We are told that,
that he and his sister Agathocleamight possess them- under his wise and vigorous government, the taxes
selves of the treasures in the palace, and concert were reduced, order restored, and the country remeasures for defending their power. Tlepolemus, covered, in great measure, from the disorders of the
their chief adversary, was absent from Alexandria, reign of Philopator. Yet the period of his admibut notwithstanding this advantage, they were nistration was not unmarked by civil troubles: a
unable to face the indignation of the populace, and formidable revolt broke out in Lower Egypt, and
a violent sedition arose, in which Agathocles, his it was not till after a long and arduous siege that
maother and sister, and all their chief supporters, Lycopolis, where the rebels had established their
were put to death [AGATHOCLEA]. After this head-quarters, was taken, and the insurrection
Sosibius (son of the late minister of that name) suppressed (Inscr. Rosett. pp. 3, 23, ed. Letronne;
obtained possession of the young king's person and Polyb. xv. 31; Diod. Exc. Vales. p. 574). At a
the custody of his signet ring: but he was soon subsequent period Scopas, the general who had
after compelled to yield them both to Tlepolemus, opposed Antiochus, appears to have attempted to
who assumed the chief administration of affairs. follow the example of Cleomenes, and excite a revolt
The new minister, however, though popular with in Alexandria itself, but his designs were disthe Alexandrians, and having the qualities of a covered, and he was immediately put to death
brave soldier, was wholly incompetent for the posi- (Polyb. xviii. 36, 37). It was in consequence of
tion in which he was thus placed, and the affairs this last attempt that the guardians or ministers of
of the kingdom fell into the utmost disorder (Polyb. the young king determined to declare him of full
xv. 25-33, xvi. 21, 22; Justin. xxx. 2). Mean. age, and the ceremony of his Anacleteria, or corowhile the two monarchs, Philip king of Macedonia nation, was solemnised with great magnificence,
and Antiochus III. of Syria, had determined to B. C. 196. It was on this occasion that the decree
take advantage of the minority of Ptolemy, and was issued which has been preserved to us in the
entered into a league to dispossess him of the celebrated inscription known as the Rosetta stone,
crown, and divide his dominions between them. a monument of great interest in regard to the inIn pursuance of this arrangement Antiochus in- ternal history of Egypt under the Ptolemies, indevaded Coele-Syria, while Philip reduced the Cy- pendent of its importance as having afforded the
clades and the cities in Thrace which had still key to the discovery of hieroglyphics. (Polyb.
remained subject to Egypt. In this emergency xviii. 38; Inscr. Rosett. ed. Letronne, Paris, 1841,
the Egyptian ministers had recourse to the power- published with the Fragmenta Historicoraum Graefill intervention of Rome, and sent an embassy to corum, by Didot.)
place the young king and his dominions under the Three years afterwards (in the winter of B. C.
protection of the republic. The senate readily 193-192) the marriage of Ptolemy with the Syaccepted the overture, and sent ambassadors to rian princess Cleopatra was solemnised at Raphia.
Egypt, one of whom, M. Lepidus, appears to have (Hieronym. ad Daniel. xi. 17; Liv. xxxv. 13.)
even assumed the title of guardian of Ptolemy The war between Antiochus and the Romans was
[LEPIIDS, No. 7], while they commanded both at this time on the eve of breaking out, and the
Philip and Antiochus to desist from aggression, and former had doubtless hoped to attach the Egyptian
restore the cities they had already conquered. The king to his cause. But Cleopatra regarded the insuccesses of the Syrian king had, in the meantime, terests of her husband more than those of her
been rapid and important. He defeated Scopas, father; and Ptolemy continued steadfast in his
the general of Ptolemy, in a decisive action at alliance with Rome. On the outbreak of the war
Panium, and shut him up within the walls of Sidon, he sent an embassy to the senate, with a large
where he was at length compelled by famine to sur- present of money and offers of assistance, both of
render; and this advantage was followed up by which were, however, declined: and again in the
the reduction of Jerusalem and the conquest of all following year (B. c. 190) we find him sending a
Coele-Syria, Phoenicia, and Judea. While An- fresh embassy to congratulate the Romans on their
tiochus himself was thus wresting from the crown victory over Antiochus (Liv. xxxvi. 4, xxxvii. 3).
of Egypt the possessions it had so long held in But though the encroachments of the Syrian king
Syria, his generals reduced all the cities in Cilicia upon his Egyptian neighbour had been one of the
and Lycia which had hitherto been subject to the pretexts of the war, Ptolemy derived no advantage
Egyptian monarchy. But his career of conquest from the treaty which concluded it, and Antiochus,
was now checked by the Roman embassy, which in defiance of his promise, still retained possession
commanded him to refrain from further hostilities, of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.
and restore all the conquered cities. In order to We know very little of the reign of Ptolemy
evade this demand without openly opposing the Epiphanes from the time that he himself assumed
power of Rome, he concluded a treaty with Egypt, the government: but we are told that as long as
by which it was agreed that the young king should he continued under the guidance and influence of
marry Cleopatra, the daughter of Antiochus, and Aristomenes, his administration was equitable and