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

592 PTOLEMAEUS. PTOLEMAEUS.
popular. Gradually, however, he became estranged had the rashness to engage in war with Antiofrom his able and virtuous minister, and threw cius Epiphanes, king of Syria, in the vain hope
himself more and more into the power of flatterers of recovering the provinces of Coele-Syria and
and vicious companions, until at length he was in- Phoenicia, which had been wrested by his father
duced to rid himself of Aristomenes, who was com- from the Egyptian monarchy. But their prepelled to take poison. Polycrates, who appears to sumption met with a speedy punishment; their
have enjoyed great influence with the king after army was totally defeated by Antiochus, near Pethis period, shared in his vices and encouraged him lusium, and this victory laid open to him the whole
in his effeminacy, studiously keeping him aloof from of Lower Egypt, so that he was able to advance
all part in military affairs. The only event which is without opposition as far as Memphis, B. c. 170.
recorded to us of this period is a second revolt in The young king himself fell into his hands, but
Lower Egypt, which was successfully put down by was treated with kindness and distinction, as AnPolycrates, and the lepders of the insurrection (who tiochus hoped by his means to make himself master
from their names must have been native Egyptians) of Egypt. To this design Philometor appears to
were barbarously put to death by Ptolemy himself, have lent himself a willing instrument; but on
B.C. 185. (Diod. Exc. Vales. p. 574; Polyb. learning the captivity of his brother, the younger
xxiii. 16; and see Letronne, ad Inser. Rosett. p. Ptolemy, who was then at Alexandria with his
23.) sister Cleopatra, immediately assumed the title of
Towards the close of his reign Ptolemy appears king, under the name of Euergetes IL., and preto have conceived the project of recovering Coele- pared to defend the capital to the utmost. AnSyria from Seleucus, the successor of Antiochus, and tiochus hereupon advanced to Alexandria, to which
had assembled a large mercenary force for that pur- he laid vigorous siege; but was unable to make
pose: but having,byanunguarded expressionexcited much progress, and the intervention of deputies
the apprehensions of solie of his friends, he was cut from the Roman senate soon after induced him to
off by poison in the 24th year of his reign and the retire from before the walls. He established the
29th of his age, B. c. 181. (Ilieronym. ad Daniel. young Philometor as king at Memphis, while he
xi. 20; Diod. Exc. Vat. p. 71; Porphyr. ap. Eu- himself withdrew into Syria, retaining, however, in
seb. Arm. p. 114; Joseph. A.4nt. xii. 4. ~ 11.) his hands the frontier fortress of Pelusium. This
IHe left two sons, both named Ptolemy, who last circumstance, together with the ravages comsubsequently ascended the throne, under the nanles mitted by the Syrian troops, awakened Philometor,:
of Ptolemy Philometor and Euergetes II., and a who had hitherto been a mlere puppet in the hands
daughter, who bore her mother's name of Cleopatra. of the Syrian king, to a sense of his true position,
The auspicious beginning of his rule and his and he hastened to make overtures of peace to his
subsequent degeneracy have been already noticed. brother and sister at Alexandria. It was agreed
His reign was marked by the rapid decline of the that the two brothers should reign together, and
Egyptian monarchy, for the provinces and cities that Philometor should marry his sister Cleopatra.
wrested from it during his minority by Antiochus But this arrangement did not suit the views of
and Philip were never recovered, and at his death Antiochus, who immediately renewed hostilities,
Cyprus and the Cyrenaica were almost the only and while he sent a large fleet to reduce Cyprus,
foreign possessions still attached to the crown of advanced in person against Egypt. The two broEgypt. But he had not yet abandoned the part thers were unable to offer any effectual opposition,
assumed by his predecessors in the affairs of Greece, and ire had advanced a second time to the wails of
and we find him still maintaining a close alliance Alexandria, when he was met by a Roman embassy,
with the Achaeans, and sending just before his headed by M. Popillius Laenas, who haughtily
death, to offer them the assistance of an Egyptian commanded him instantly to desist from hossquadron. (Polyb. xxiii. 1, 7, xxv. 7.) [E. H. B.] tilities. The arrogance of the Roman deputy
produced its effect; the capital of Egypt was
C,:7~2~~ saved, and Antiochus withdrew to his own do/jo';, /o~.~h /6s~ minions, B. C. 168. (Porphyr. op.. Euseb. Arsm.
p. 114; Hieronym. ad Daniel. xi. 21-30; Polyb.
t m00~~ 8A | Y~~~xxvii. 17, xxviii. 1, 16, 17, 19, xxix. 8, 11; Died.
Exc. Vales. p. 579, 580, Exc. Legat. p. 624, Exc.
Vat. pp. 75, 76; Liv. xlii. 29, xliv. 19, xlv. 11o g 5ggW 13; Justin. xxxiv. 2, 3; Appian. Syr. 66; Clinton,
KF. 1H. vol. iii. p. 318-320, 386.)
2;:i 0%97 o ~Shortly after these events we find the two brothers sending a joint embassy to Rome to express
their gratitude to the senate for their deliverance
COIN OF PTOLEMAEUS V., KING OF EGYPT. (Liv. xlv. 13; Polyb. xxx. 11). But this concord
did not last long: dissensions broke out between
PTOLEMAEUS VI. (TI'rokAeaos), king of them, arid Euergetes, who at first obtained the
EiGYPr, surnamed PHILOMETOR, was the eldest advantage, expelled his brother from Alexandria.
son and successor of Ptolemy V. Hle was a mere Hereupon Philometor repaired in person to Ronle,
child at the death of his father in B. C. 181, and B. C. 164, where he was received by the senate with
the regency was assumed during his minority by the utmost honour, and deputies were appointed to
his mother Cleopatra, who, by her able administra- accompany him to Egypt, and reinstate him in the
tion, maintained the kingdom in a state of tran- sovereign power. This they appear to have effected
quillity, and preserved the peace with Antiochus. with little opposition; and Euergetes, whose tyBut after her death, in B. C. 173, the chief power rannical government had already alienated the
fell into the hands of Eulaeus and Lenaeus, mi- minds of the Alexandrians, was dethroned, and fell
nisters as corrupt as they were incapable; who i into the power of his elder brother. Philometor,