In 164 B.C.E., Ptolemy VI was expelled by his brother
and fled to Rome, where he pleaded for aid. Ptolemy VIII
was sent to Cyrenaica as a result but placed his case
before the Roman Senate and received approval. He
planned to return to Egypt but came face to face with his
brother in a battle over Cyprus and lost. Ptolemy VIII was
given Cyrenaica as part of the peace terms and the hand
of one of Ptolemy VI’s daughters in marriage.
In 155 B.C.E., the Seleucid Syrians tried to take
Cyprus, but a rebel pretender arose to threaten the
Seleucid throne. ALEXANDER BALAS, the rebel, was aided
by Egypt and given the hand of CLEOPATRA THEA,
Ptolemy VI’s sister, in marriage. Cleopatra Thea appealed
to Ptolemy VI to visit her because she was unhappy, and
he went to Syria. Alexander Balas tried to assassinate
him in order to take the Egyptian throne, and Ptolemy
VI gave Cleopatra Thea to a new pretender to the Syrian
throne, Demetrius II. The Syrians offered Ptolemy VI the
throne, but he declined the honor. Alexander Balas was
killed in a subsequent battle. During that confrontation
Ptolemy VI also fell off his horse, fracturing his skull,
and died.
He built the gate of the temple of PTAHat KARNAK,as
well as figures at the entrance to the main temple of
HATHORin PHILAE. He was also in the temple of KOM
OMBO. His contemporaries described Ptolemy VI as pious
and generous.
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator(d. 145 B.C.E.)Seventh
ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned only during 145 B.C.E. The son of PTOLEMY VI
PHILOMETOR, and Queen CLEOPATRA(2), he was called
“the New Father Loving.” Ptolemy VII served as a core-
gent with his father as early as 147 B.C.E., and there is an
indication that yet another brother shared the throne
briefly. When Ptolemy VI died in Syria, the Egyptians
asked PTOLEMY VIII EUERGETES II, Ptolemy VII’s uncle, to
take the throne. He married Cleopatra (3), Ptolemy VI’s
widow, and put Ptolemy VII aside. The young ruler was
then executed.
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physkon)(d. 116
B.C.E.) Eighth ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 170 to 163 B.C.E., and from 145 B.C.E.
until his death. The son of PTOLEMY V EPIPHANESand
probably Queen CLEOPATRA(1), he was called “Physcon,”
or Fatty. The Roman Scipio Africanus gave him that nick-
name. He ruled for a time with PTOLEMY VI PHILOMETOR
and CLEOPATRA (2) and then tried to take control,
expelling his brother. Rome settled the situation, and
Ptolemy VIII was given Cyrenaica. At the death of
Ptolemy VI, he put his nephew, Ptolemy VII, to death
and married CLEOPATRA(2). He then married a niece,
CLEOPATRA(3) and plotted against his first wife, who was
popular.
As a result of court intrigue, Ptolemy VIII and
Cleopatra (3) fled to Cyprus. There they sent for Mem-
phites, a young son of Cleopatra (2), and murdered him.
They cut up the body and delivered it to Cleopatra (2) as
a birthday present. The couple returned to Egypt c. 118
B.C.E. and sent Cleopatra (2) into exile. She died soon
after, but Cleopatra (3) outlived her husband, who died
in 116 B.C.E.
In 118 B.C.E., Ptolemy VIII issued the Amnesty
Decree, an effort to put an end to the conflicts between
the native Egyptians and the Greeks. He was considered a
somewhat impetuous but magnanimous benefactor of
Egyptian temples. At EDFU, he was depicted in the com-
pany of Egypt’s protectors, the goddess BUTOand NEKHE-
BET, and his coronation festival was staged there. He is
also depicted on a wall of Kom Ombo, and he erected a
temple at Tod (Djerty), near ERMENT. Ptolemy VIII built
two MAMMISIstructures, one at Philae and a second tem-
ple of HORUSat Edfu.Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros)(d. 81 B.C.E.) Ninth
ruler of the Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 116 to 107 B.C.E., and then from 88
B.C.E. until his death. The son of PTOLEMY VIII EUERGETES
IIand CLEOPATRA(3), he inherited the throne at a young
age. His mother served as his regent, as he was called
“Lathyros,” or “Chickpea,” at the start of his reign.
Ptolemy IX was accused of attempting to murder his
mother, Queen Cleopatra (3), and was exiled to Cyprus
while she was forced by the Roman Sulla to marry a
younger son of PTOLEMY VII NEOS PHILOPATOR, PTOLEMY X
ALEXANDER I, and continued to dominate Egypt. When
Ptolemy X died in 88 B.C.E., Ptolemy IX returned to
Egypt and remained on the throne to the age of 80. He
received the name Soter, “the Savior,” for his services.
Ptolemy IX was depicted in KOM OMBOas sharing a boat
with two gods amid plants, birds, and other deities.Ptolemy X Alexander I(d. 88 B.C.E.) Tenth ruler of the
Ptolemaic Period
He reigned from 107 B.C.E. until his death. Ptolemy X was
the son of Ptolemy VIII and CLEOPATRA(3). He was made
the consort of Cleopatra (3) when his brother, Ptolemy
IX, fled to CYPRUS. A degenerate, however, and normally
ill, Ptolemy X bequeathed Egypt to Rome in his will
before fleeing ALEXANDRIA. He died at sea and was
replaced by Ptolemy XI.Ptolemy XI Alexander II(d. 80 B.C.E.)Eleventh ruler
of the Ptolemaic Period
He married Cleopatra Berenice, who had followed her
father, PTOLEMY IX SOTER IIto the throne. Ptolemy XI
ruled only one year in 80 B.C.E. Sulla, the ruler of Rome,
had demanded that Ptolemy XI marry Cleopatra Berenice.Ptolemy XI Alexander II 317