circumcision The surgical removal of part of the male
prepuce, practiced by the Egyptians as part of their meth-
ods of hygiene and called sebi,male circumcision was not
performed at birth but during adolescence. ’AHMOSE(r.
1550–1525 B.C.E.) wasnot circumcised, as his mummi-
fied remains demonstrate. He was frail as a youngster,
and the procedure may have been considered too rigor-
ous for him. Scenes of a circumcision were discovered in
aSAQQARAtomb and in a relief in the temple of MUTin
KARNAK. These depictions show that circumcision was
performed on young Egyptian males, usually in their
teens. A First Intermediate Period (2134–2040 B.C.E.)
stela shows 120 young boys enduring circumcision. A
curved flint knife was used for the operation.
See also MEDICINE;PRIESTS.
clapper AMUSICAL INSTRUMENTof Egypt, also used as a
warning or signal in religious rituals, the clapper was
normally fashioned out of bone, metal, or wood. It was
held in both hands and was fastened together. One part
was struck against the other to produce a sharp sound.
Some clappers were carved as elaborate hands and were
highly decorated.
Claudius Ptolemy(fl. second century B.C.E.)Greek
geographer and astronomer of Alexandria
He achieved his status as a scientist in the reign of
PTOLEMY VI PHILOMETOR(180–164, 163–145 B.C.E.) and
became famous for his Geography,an atlas in eight vol-
umes. Claudius Ptolemy also wrote on mathematics,
astronomy, and music. His Geography,erroneous because
of his miscalculations of the earth’s circumference and
lack of astronomical calculation, was the standard work
until the 16th centuryC.E.
Cleomenes of Naukratis(fl. third century B.C.E.)
Counselor of Alexander III the Great (332–323 B.C.E.)
He was instrumental in building the city of ALEXANDRIA.
Cleomenes was a Greek merchant who lived in
NAUKRATIS, the Hellenic site founded in the Nile Delta by
AMASIS(r. 570–526 B.C.E.) to serve as a center for Egyp-
tian Greek trade. Cleomenes had knowledge of the NILE,
Egypt’s markets, and trade routes. He became a finance
minister under ALEXANDER III THE GREATand supervised
aspects of Alexandria’s growth. He also conducted an
international TRADE monopoly and reportedly started
extorting funds from Egyptian temples. Cleomenes was
made assistant satrap of Egypt as well, aided by Pete’ese
and Dolopsis. He was, however, executed by PTOLEMY I
SOTER(304–284 B.C.E.) for his crimes.
Cleopatra (1)(d. 176 B.C.E.)Royal woman of the Ptole-
maic Period
She was the consort of PTOLEMY V EPIPHANES(205–180
B.C.E.) and the daughter of the Seleucid king ANTIOCHUS
III THE GREAT, who had defeated Ptolemy at the battle of
Panion, stripping Egypt of its Asiatic holdings. Cleopatra
married Ptolemy V in 195 B.C.E. and bore him two sons,
including PTOLEMY VI PHILOMETOR, and a daughter,
CLEOPATRA(2). When Ptolemy V died in 180 B.C.E., she
became regent for the heir, Ptolemy VI Philometor. As a
result she received the right to display her name as a CAR-
TOUCHEand the use of a Horus name in her title. Cleopa-
tra proved an able regent until her death.Cleopatra (2)(fl. second century B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Ptolemaic Period
She was the daughter of PTOLEMY V EPIPHANESand Queen
CLEOPATRA(1) and became the consort of her brother,
PTOLEMY VI PHILOMETOR(r. 180–164, 163–145 B.C.E.).
They ruled Egypt and CYPRUS. Their reign was marred by
an invasion by ANTIOCHUS IVof Syria and interventions
by Rome. Ptolemy VI’s younger brother, Ptolemy VIII,
also rebelled against the couple and was given Cyprus as
a placating gesture.
Ptolemy VI Philometor died in 145 B.C.E. after a fall
from his horse. PTOLEMY VIIIPhyskon returned to Egypt
and married CLEOPATRA(2),assuming the name Euer-
getes II. She was the mother of PTOLEMY VII NEOS
PHILOPATOR(Memphites), who was born during the coro-
nation rites at MEMPHISin 144 B.C.E. Three years later,
Ptolemy VIII married his niece and stepdaughter, CLEOPA-
TRA(3),which led to his expulsion from ALEXANDRIA.
Cleopatra served as regent for Ptolemy VII, but he was
lured to Cyprus, where Ptolemy VIII killed him and sent
his dismembered body back to his mother as an anniver-
sary present. Cleopatra is remembered for her benevo-
lence to the Jewish community of Egypt. She authorized
the building of a temple at Tell el-Yahudiya Leratopolis in
the eastern Delta. She was deposed by Ptolemy VIII in
124 B.C.E. but remained on the scene until PTOLEMY IX
SOTER IIwas crowned.Cleopatra (3)(fl. second century B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Ptolemaic Period
The daughter of PTOLEMY VI PHILOMETOR and Queen
CLEOPATRA(2),Cleopatra married her uncle and stepfa-
ther,PTOLEMY VIII EUERGETES II(r. 170–163, 140–116
B.C.E.). She bore him several children, including two
sons, and began to work against her mother, Cleopatra
(2), who was Ptolemy VIII’s ranking wife. In 132 B.C.E.,
Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra (3) were exiled and took
refuge on CYPRUS. There her brother was slain, dismem-
bered, and sent to Cleopatra (2) in 124 B.C.E.
When Ptolemy VIII died at the age of 68 in 116
B.C.E., Cleopatra (3) became regent for her son PTOLEMY
IX SOTER II(r. 116–107, 88–81 B.C.E.), granting him
Cyprus when he reached his majority. However, she pre-
ferred her son PTOLEMY X ALEXANDER I, and in 107 B.C.E.
she named him pharaoh, deposing Ptolemy IX Soter II.Cleopatra 83