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

b98 PTOLEMAEUS. PTOLEMAEUS.
Some years afterwards, however, he obtained the young king (Caes. B. C. iii. 108; Eutrop. vi.
from private individuals what he had failed in in- 21). But the approach of the civil war prevented
ducing the senate to accomplish: and in B. C. 55 them from taking any active part, and the admiA. Gabinius, who was proconsul in Syria, was in- nistration of affairs fell into the hands of an
duced, by the influence of Pompey, aided by the eunuch named Pothinus. It was not long before
enormous bribe of ten thousand talents from Pto- dissensions broke oust between the latter and
lemy himself, to undertake his restoration. The Cleopatra, which ended in the expulsion of the
Alexandrians had in the meantime placed on the princess, after she had reigned in conjunction with
throne of Egypt, Berenice, the eldest daughter of her brother about three years, B. C. 48. Hereupon
Ptolemy, who had married Archelaus, the son of she took refuge in Syria, and assembled an army
the general of Mithridates [ARCHELAUS, No. 2]; with which she invaded Egypt. The young king,
and they opposed Gabinius with an army on the accompanied by his guardians, met her at Peluconfines of the kingdom. They were, however, sium, and it was while the two armies were here
defeated in three successive battles, Archelaus encamped opposite to one another, that Pompey
slain, and Ptolemy once more established on the landed in Egypt, to throw himself as a suppliant
throne, B. C. 55. One of his first acts was to put on the protection of Ptolemy; but was assassinated
to death his daughter Berenice, and many of the by the orders of Pothinus and Achillas before he
leading citizens of Alexandria. (Dion Cass. xxxix. could obtain an interview with the king himself.
55-58; Liv. Epit. cv.; Plut. Ant. 3; Strab. xvii. (Caes. B. C. iii. 103, 104; Dion Cass. xlii. 3, 4;
p. 796; Cic. in Pison. 21, pro Rabir. lost. 8; Plut. Pomp. 77 —79; Appian, B. C. ii. 84, 85
Porphyr. 1. c.) Strab. xvii. p. 797.) Shortly after, Caesar arrived
He survived his restoration only three years and in Egypt, and took upon himself to regulate the
a half (Porphyr. ib.); of the events of which period affairs of that kingdom, and settle the dispute bewe have no information; but as Ptolemy was now tween Ptolemy and his sister. But Cleopatra, who
supported by a large body of Roman soldiers who now hastened to return to Alexandria, soon obhhad been left behind by Gabinius for his protection, tained so powerful a hold over the conqueror by
he was safe from any outbreak of popular discontent. the influence of her personal attractions, that it
On the other hand seditions and tumults of the was evident the latter would decide the controsoldiery themselves became frequent, and the king versy in her favour. Hereupon Pothinus deterwas repeatedly compelled to give way to their de- mined to excite an insurrection against Caesar, and
mands (Caes. B. C. iii. 103, 110; Dion Cass. secretly summoned the army from Pelusium under
xlii. 5). The immense sum exacted from him by Achillas. Caesar was taken by surprise, and had
Gabinius had also involved him in pecuniary em- to maintain his ground with very inadequate forces
barrassments, and he was compelled to surrender in a part of the city where he was vehemently
the whole finances of his kingdom into the hands assailed both by the army and the populace.
of Rabirius Postumus. (Cic. pro Rabir. 10.) Ptolemy himself was at this time in the power of
His death took place in May B. c. 51 (see Cic. the conqueror, but after the contest had continued
ad Faro. viii. 4), after a reign of twenty-nine for some time, he obtained permission to repair to
years from the date of his first accession. He left the camp of the insurgents, under pretence of
two sons, both named Ptolemy, and two daughters, exercising his authority to reduce them to submisCleopatra and Arsino'. Two other daughters, sion; instead of which he immediately put himTryphaena and Berenice, had died before him self at their head. Caesar, however, still defied
(Porphyr. 1. c. p. 118). Besides the titles already all their efforts; and, meanwhile, Mithridates of
mentioned, Ptolemy Auletes bears, in inscriptions, Pergamus had assembled an army in Syria, witl
both Greek and hieroglyphic, those of Philopator which he advanced to the relief of the dictator.
and Philadelphus. None of these, however, appear Ptolemy now turned his arms against this new
on his coins. [E. H. B.] enemy, and took up a strong position on the banks
of the Nile to prevent Mithridates from crossing
VD0 ogosoad that river. Caesar himself, however, quickly ar~go <" " f rived from Alexandria, landed near the mouth of the:iS t$i Nile, attacked and defated the forces of the young
a king, and followed up his advantage by storming his
a { D; G l c _o e scamp. Ptolemy hinmself endeavoured to escape by
-\\ A ct A _ D g t W 0 %4 tthe river, but was drownedin the attempt. His death
occurred either before the close of B. C. 48, or early
in the following year. (Caes. B.C. iii. 106 —112;
Hirt. B. Alex. 1-31; Dion Cass. xlii. 7-9, 34
COIN OF PTOLEMAEJS XI., ICING: OF EGYPT. — 43; Plut. Caes. 48, 49; Liv. Epit. cxii.; Appian, B. C. ii. 89, 90; Porphyr. ap. Euseb. Aren.
PTOLEMAEUS XTI. (IIToAsa76os), king of p. 118.) [E. H. B.]
EGYPT, was the eldest son of Ptolemy XI. Auletes. He is commonly said to have borne the surname of Dionysus, in imitation of his father, but
there appears to be no authority for this assertion.
By his father's will the sovereign power was left to
himself and his sister Cleopatra jointly, and this A
arrangement was carried into effect without opposition, B. C. 51. Auletes had also referred the
execution of his will to the Roman senate, and the a so
latter accepted the office, confirmed its provisions
and bestowed on Pompey the title of guardian of (oIN OF PTOLEMiAEUS XII., ICING OF EGYPT.