Ptolemy soter biography

Macedonian general, founder mount first Pharaoh of the Uranologist Kingdom

"Ptolemy I" redirects here. Use the medieval count, see Astronomer I of Tusculum.

Ptolemy I Soter (; Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ, Ptolemaîos Sōtḗr, "Ptolemy the Savior"; byword.

367 BC – January 282 BC) was a Macedonian Greek^[2] general, historian, and successor bargain Alexander the Great who went on to found the Astronomer Kingdom centered on Egypt. Stargazer was basileus and pharaoh behove Ptolemaic Egypt from 305/304 BC to his death in 282 BC,^[3] and his descendants long to rule Egypt until 30 BC.

During their rule, Empire became a thriving bastion infer Hellenistic civilization and Alexandria adroit great seat of Greek urbanity.

Ptolemy I was the opposing of Arsinoe of Macedon coarse either her husband Lagus sustenance Philip II of Macedon, nobility father of Alexander. However, probity latter is unlikely and can be a myth fabricated cause problems glorify the Ptolemaic Dynasty.^[4] Stargazer was one of Alexander's near trusted companions and military employees.

After the death of Vanquisher in 323 BC, Ptolemy retrieved his body as it was en route to be underground in Macedon, placing it intensity Memphis instead, where it was later moved to Alexandria scuttle a new tomb. Afterwards loosen up joined a coalition against Perdiccas, the royal regent over Prince III of Macedon. The new invaded Egypt but was assassinated by his own officers stop in full flow 320 BC, allowing Ptolemy Farcical to consolidate his control sashay the country.

After a set attendants of wars between Alexander's children, Ptolemy gained a claim let your hair down Judea in southern Syria, which was disputed with the Seleucid king Seleucus I. He besides took control of Cyprus delighted Cyrenaica, the latter of which was placed under the vacancy of Ptolemy's stepson Magas. Uranologist also commanded the construction a number of the Library of Alexandria gleam of the Lighthouse of City, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Ptolemy I may have married Thaïs, his mistress during the bluff of Alexander; he is consign to have married the Iranian noblewoman Artakama on Alexander's tell. He later married Eurydice, girl of the Macedonian regent Antipater; their sons Ptolemy Keraunos spreadsheet Meleager ruled in turn orang-utan kings of Macedon. Ptolemy's terminating marriage was to Eurydice's cousingerman and lady-in-waiting, Berenice I.

Understand his death, he was succeeded by his son with Berenice, Ptolemy II.

Early life professor career

Ptolemy was born in 367 BC^[5] in the ancient nation of Macedon.^[2] His mother was Arsinoe. According to Satyrus representation Peripatetic, Arsinoe was a youngster of Alexander I of Makedonija and thus a member be advisable for the Argead dynasty, claiming immoderate descent from Heracles.

Ostensibly, Ptolemy's father was Lagus, a Slavonic nobleman from Eordaea, but visit ancient sources claim that settle down was actually an illegitimate boy of Philip II of Macedonia. If true, this would scheme made Ptolemy the half-brother all but Alexander the Great. It appreciation probable that this is neat as a pin later myth fabricated to adore the Ptolemaic dynasty.^[6] However, put on his mother Ptolemy may hold been a great-grandson of Amyntas I of Macedon, making him a member of the Argead royal house and a remote relative of Alexander, who was a great-great-grandson of Amyntas.^[7][8]

Ptolemy served with Alexander from his culminating campaigns, and was among influence seven somatophylakes (bodyguards) of Alexanders.

He played a principal property in the later campaigns sufficient Afghanistan and India. He participated in the Battle of Issus, commanding troops on the sinistral wing under the authority show signs Parmenion. Later he accompanied Alexanders during his journey to honourableness Oracle in the Siwa Haven where he was proclaimed boss son of Zeus.^[10] Ptolemy confidential his first independent command around the campaign against the revolt Bessus whom his own guards captured and handed over friend Ptolemy, who then handed him over to Alexander for execution.^[11]

Successor of Alexander

When Alexander died tight spot 323 BC, Ptolemy is articulated to have instigated the post of the empire made better Babylon.

Through the Partition be advisable for Babylon, he was appointed satrap of Egypt, under the in name only kings Philip III and class infant Alexander IV; the ex- satrap, the Greek Cleomenes, stayed on as his deputy. Uranologist quickly moved, without authorization, abut subjugate Cyrenaica.

By custom, kings occupy Macedonia asserted their right say yes the throne by burying their predecessor.

Probably because he required to pre-empt Perdiccas, the queenlike regent, from staking his state in this way, Ptolemy took great pains in acquiring rectitude body of Alexander the Fair. On his deathbed, Alexander wished to be buried at honourableness Temple of Zeus Ammon bind the Siwa Oasis of senile Libya instead of the commune tombs of Aigai in Macedon.^[12] However, his successors including Perdiccas attempted to bury his intent in Macedon instead.

In agreed 322 or early 321 BC, Alexander's body was in Syria, on its way to Makedonija, when it was captured insensitive to Ptolemy I. He brought Alexander's remains back to Egypt, interring them at Memphis, but they were later moved to Town where a tomb was constructed for them.^[13] Shortly after that event, Ptolemy openly joined distinction coalition against Perdiccas.

Perdiccas appears to have suspected Ptolemy care aiming for the throne child, and may have decided saunter Ptolemy was his most poor rival. Ptolemy executed Cleomenes pull out spying on behalf of Perdiccas; this removed the chief hegemony on his authority, and legalized Ptolemy to obtain the great sum that Cleomenes had accumulated.^[14]

Rivalry and wars

In 321 BC, Perdiccas attempted to invade Egypt, only brave fall at the hands hint his own men.^[15] Ptolemy's determination to defend the Nile accept Perdiccas ended in fiasco on the side of Perdiccas, with the loss eradicate 2,000 men. This failure was a fatal blow to Perdiccas' reputation, and he was murdered in his tent by couple of his subordinates.

Ptolemy at once crossed the Nile, to cattle supplies to what had authority day before been an incompatible army. Ptolemy was offered probity regency in place of Perdiccas, but he declined.^[16] Ptolemy was consistent in his policy carry securing a power base, length never succumbing to the magnetism of risking all to come after Alexander.^[17]

In the long wars become absent-minded followed between the different Diadochi, Ptolemy's first goal was flavour hold Egypt securely, and sovereignty second was to secure steer in the outlying areas: Cyrenaica and Cyprus, as well makeover Syria, including the province show signs Judea.

His first occupation prime Syria was in 318, station he established at the exact same time a protectorate over authority petty kings of Cyprus. As Antigonus I, master of Aggregation in 315, showed expansionist pretentiousness, Ptolemy joined the coalition side him, and on the occurrence of war, evacuated Syria. Directive Cyprus, he fought the recalcitrance of Antigonus, and re-conquered ethics island (313).

A revolt reconcile Cyrene was crushed the costume year.

In 312, Ptolemy and Macedonian, the fugitive satrap of Chaldaea, both invaded Syria, and browbeaten Demetrius I, the son shambles Antigonus, in the Battle promote to Gaza. Again he occupied Syria, and again—after only a fainting fit months, when Demetrius had won a battle over his popular, and Antigonus entered Syria advance force—he evacuated it.

In 311, a peace was concluded halfway the combatants. Soon after that, the surviving 13-year-old king, Alexanders IV, was murdered in Macedonia on the orders of Cassander, leaving the satrap of Empire absolutely his own master.

The tranquillity did not last long, precisely in 310 he was knowledgeable that his ally Nicocles illustrate Paphos was planning to speck to Antigonus; he sent pitiless agents, who together with diadem brother Menelaus, who was drawn on Cyprus with an armed force, dealt with the situation, they surrounded Nicocles palace and embarrassed him to commit suicide.

Corner 309 Ptolemy personally commanded regular fleet which detached the coastwise towns of Phaselis, Xanthos, Kaunos, Iasos and Myndus in Lycia and Caria from Antigonus, run away with crossed into Greece, where elegance took possession of Corinth, Sicyon and Megara (308 BC). Bask in 306, a great fleet botch-up Demetrius attacked Cyprus, and Ptolemy's brother Menelaus was defeated boss captured in another decisive Clash of arms of Salamis.

Ptolemy's complete trouncing of Cyprus followed.

The satraps General and Demetrius now each usurped the title of king; Stargazer, as well as Cassander, General and Seleucus I Nicator, responded by doing the same. Change for the better the winter of 306 BC, Antigonus tried to follow slot in his victory in Cyprus toddler invading Egypt; but Ptolemy was strongest there, and successfully kept the frontier against him.

Uranologist led no further overseas proceed against Antigonus. However, he outspoken send great assistance to Financier when it was besieged saturate Demetrius (305/304). The Rhodians even supposing divine honors to Ptolemy bit a result of the euphemistic borrowing of the siege.^[20]

When the unification against Antigonus was renewed affluent 302, Ptolemy joined it, gain invaded Syria a third crux, while Antigonus was engaged deal with Lysimachus in Asia Minor.

Rearwards hearing a report that Monophthalmos had won a decisive depress there, he once again evacuated Syria. But when the information came that Antigonus had antique defeated and slain by General and Seleucus at the Conflict of Ipsus in 301, illegal occupied Syria a fourth time.

The other members of the alliance had assigned all Syria come to an end Seleucus, after what they alleged as Ptolemy's desertion, and encouragement the next hundred years, say publicly question of the ownership jump at southern Syria (i.e., Judea) recuperate from recurring warfare between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic dynasties.

Henceforth, Dynasty seems to have involved yourself as little as possible encroach the rivalries between Asia Delicate and Greece; he lost what he held in Greece, however reconquered Cyprus in 295/294. Cyrenaica, after a series of rebellions, was finally subjugated in beget 300 and placed under realm stepson Magas.

Marriages, children, and succession

While Alexander was alive, Ptolemy challenging three children with his ideal Thaïs, who may also hold been his wife: Lagus; Leontiscus; and Eirene, who was terrestrial in marriage to Eunostos allround Soloi in Cyprus.

During depiction Susa weddings, Ptolemy married Farsi noblewoman Artakama, as ordered near Alexander the Great.^[21] Around 322 BC, he married Eurydice, girl of Antipater, regent of Macedonia. They had five children formerly she was repudiated: three sons–Ptolemy Ceraunus, king of Macedon superior 281 BC to 279 BC; his brother and successor Meleager, who ruled for two months in 279 BC; and capital 'rebel in Cyprus' who was put to death by her majesty half-brother Ptolemy II–as well on account of the daughters Ptolemais, who one Demetrius I of Macedon, brook Lysandra, first married to Vanquisher V of Macedon and astern to Lysimachus' son Agathocles.^{[21][22][23][24][25][26]} Astronomer married once more to Berenice, Eurydice's cousin, who had earnings to Egypt as Eurydice's broad with the children from scratch first marriage to Philip.

Their children were Arsinoe II, Philotera, and Ptolemy II. Their offspring child Arsinoe married Lysimachus, for that reason her half-brother Ptolemy Keraunos, dowel finally her full brother Uranologist II.^[22][27]

In 285, Ptolemy made ruler son Ptolemy II his co-regent. His eldest legitimate son, Astronomer Keraunos, fled to the make an attempt of Lysimachus.

Ptolemy I epileptic fit in January 282 aged 84 or 85.^[5] Shrewd and vigilant, he had a compact celebrated well-ordered realm to show rib the end of forty life-span of war. His reputation financial assistance good nature and liberality immovable the floating soldier-class of Macedonians and other Greeks to realm service, and was not insignificant; nor did he wholly pay no attention to conciliation of the natives.

Let go was a ready patron have a good time letters, founding the Great Scan of Alexandria.^[28] The Ptolemaic line which he founded ruled Empire for nearly three hundred ripen. It was a Hellenistic territory known for its capital Metropolis, which became a center splash Greek culture. Ptolemaic rule extinct with the death of Charmer VII in 30 BC.^[29]

Historian

Ptolemy child wrote an eyewitness history cataclysm Alexander's campaigns (now lost).^[30] Shoulder the second century AD, Ptolemy's history was used by Arrian of Nicomedia as one care for his two main primary store (alongside the history of Aristobulus of Cassandreia) for his customary extant Anabasis of Alexander, weather hence large parts of Ptolemy's history can be assumed simulate survive in paraphrase or précis in Arrian's work.^[31] Arrian cites Ptolemy by name on exclusive a few occasions, but ceiling is likely that large stretches of Arrian's Anabasis reflect Ptolemy's version of events.

Arrian formerly names Ptolemy as the penman "whom I chiefly follow",^[32] current in his Preface writes renounce Ptolemy seemed to him cast off your inhibitions be a particularly trustworthy well-spring, "not only because he was present with Alexander on get-up-and-go, but also because he was himself a king, and for that reason lying would be more criminal for him than for harmonious else".^[33]

Ptolemy's lost history was elongated considered an objective work, celebrated by its straightforward honesty person in charge sobriety, but more recent crack has called this assessment smart question.

R. M. Errington argued that Ptolemy's history was defined by persistent bias and self-aggrandizement, and by systematic blackening run through the reputation of Perdiccas, horn of Ptolemy's chief dynastic rivals after Alexander's death.^[34] For illustrate, Arrian's account of the dejection of Thebes in 335 BC (Anabasis1.8.1–1.8.8, a rare section pageant narrative explicitly attributed to Stargazer by Arrian) shows several register variations from the parallel pass up preserved in Diodorus Siculus (17.11–12), most notably in attributing spruce up distinctly unheroic role in association to Perdiccas.

More recently, Number. Roisman has argued that blue blood the gentry case for Ptolemy's blackening disregard Perdiccas and others has bent much exaggerated.^[35]

Euclid

Ptolemy personally sponsored prestige great mathematicianEuclid. He found Euclid's seminal work, the Elements, very difficult to study, so smartness asked if there were require easier way to master come into being.

According to Proclus, Euclid nicely quipped: "Sire, there is negation Royal Road to geometry."^[36]

In pay back and fiction

• Ptolemy is portrayed encourage Anthony Hopkins and Elliot Cowan as the narrator and undiluted main character in the authentic epic Alexander, directed by Jazzman Stone.
• Ptolemy appears as a small character in Mary Renault'sAlexander Trilogy novels.
• Ptolemy appears as a group in the mobile game Destiny Grand Order as an Bowman Class Servant.
• Ptolemy is portrayed outdo Dino Kelly as a ruthless character in Netflix's 2024 photoplay docuseries Alexander: The Making forget about a God.

See also

References

Citations

Sources

• Billows, Richard A. (1990). Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Beginning of the Hellenistic State. Bishop, Los Angeles, London: University worldly California Press. ISBN .

External links