View source for Ptolemaic dynasty

{{short description|Macedonian Greek royal family which ruled Egypt}}
{{Royal house
| surname = Ptolemies
| native_name = Πτολεμαῖοι
| image = Ptolemaic eagle.png{{!}}class=skin-invert
| coat of arms = {{center|<hiero><-p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-></hiero>}}
| image_caption = The [[Eagle of Zeus]] was the traditional symbol of Ptolemaic Egypt
| type = [[Royal house]]
| country = [[Ancient Egypt]], [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Ancient Macedonia]], [[Roman Empire|Ancient Rome]]
| titles = [[Pharaoh]]<br/> Basileus of Egypt<br/>King of Macedonia <br/> King of Mauretania Caesariensis<br/> King of Syria <br/> King of Cyrene
| founder = [[Ptolemy I Soter]]
| dissolution = AD 79
| final ruler = [[Cleopatra VII]] and [[Ptolemy XV]]<br/><small>(Egypt)</small><br/>[[Ptolemy Philadelphus (son of Cleopatra)|Ptolemy XVI]]<br/><small>(Syria)</small><br/>[[Ptolemy of Mauretania]]<br/><small>([[Mauretania Caesariensis]])</small>
| final_head = [[Drusilla (daughter of Ptolemy of Mauretania)|Drusilla]]
| founding year = 305 BC
| ethnicity = 
| deposition = 279 BC <small>(Macedon)</small><br/>30 BC <small>(Egypt)</small><br/>AD 40 <small>(Mauretania)</small>
| cadet branches = 
}}
{{Egyptian Dynasty list}}

The '''Ptolemaic dynasty''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|ɒ|l|ɪ|ˈ|m|eɪ|.|ɪ|k}}; {{langx|grc|Πτολεμαῖοι}}, ''Ptolemaioi''), also known as the '''Lagid dynasty''' ({{lang|grc|Λαγίδαι}}, ''Lagidai''; after [[Ptolemy I]]'s father, [[Lagus]]), was a [[Ancient Macedonians|Macedonian Greek]]{{Sfn|Jones|2006|p=xiii: "They were members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Macedonian Greeks, who ruled Egypt after the death of its conqueror, Alexander the Great"}}{{Sfn|Jeffreys|2005|p=488: "Ptolemaic kings were still crowned at Memphis and the city was popularly regarded as the Egyptian rival to Alexandria, founded by the Macedonian Greeks"}}{{Sfn|Robins|2001|p=108: "...Cleopatra VII, the last member of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty to govern Egypt. Although the Ptolemies were not only Greek by origin but also by culture, they adopted from the Egyptians the custom of royal brother-sister marriage"}}{{Sfn|Southern|2009|p=43: "The Ptolemaic dynasty, of which Cleopatra was the last representative (...) stemmed from Ptolemy Soter, a Macedonian Greek in the entourage of Alexander the Great"}}<ref>{{harvnb|Depuydt|2005|p=687: "during the Ptolemaic period, when Egypt was governed by rulers of Greek descent..."}}; {{harvnb|Pomeroy|1990|p=xvi: "...while Ptolemaic Egypt was a monarchy with a Greek ruling class"}}</ref> royal house which ruled the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] in [[Ancient Egypt]] during the [[Hellenistic period]]. Reigning for 275 years, the Ptolemaic was the longest and last [[Dynasties of ancient Egypt|dynasty of ancient Egypt]] from 305 BC until its incorporation into the [[Roman Republic]] in 30 BC.{{Sfn|Jones|2006|p=3}}<ref>[[Epiphanius of Salamis]], however, puts the total number of years of the Ptolemaic dynasty at 306, presumably calculated from 306/5 BC to 1 AD. See: ''Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures – The Syriac Version'' (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 28 (note 104). Compare ''[[On Weights and Measures]]''.</ref>

[[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]], a general and one of the ''[[somatophylakes]]'' (bodyguard companions) of [[Alexander the Great]], was appointed [[satrap]] of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305&nbsp;BC he declared himself Pharaoh Ptolemy I, later known as ''Sōter'' "Saviour". The [[Egyptians]] soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the [[pharaoh]]s of independent Egypt.{{Efn|As such, in modern times they are sometimes called the '''Thirty-third (XXXIII) Dynasty''' in the context of [[Ancient Egyptian history]]}} The new dynasty showed respect to local traditions and adopted the Egyptian titles and iconography, while also preserving their own [[Koine Greek|Greek language]] and culture.{{Sfn|Southern|2009|pp=43-44}}{{Sfn|Jones|2006|p=3}} The Ptolemaic period was marked by the intense interactions and blending of the [[Culture of Greece|Greek]] and [[Culture of Egypt|Egyptian]] cultures.{{Sfn|Rutherford|2016|p=4: "The second [phase of relationship between Greek and Egyptian culture] begins when Egypt is taken over by a Greek-speaking elite in the last decades of the fourth century. From then on, the two cultures coexisted, which inevitably resulted in interactions and mutual influence between them"}} Under the Ptolemies, [[Hellenistic religion]] was largely shaped by [[religious syncretism]] and [[Hellenistic religion#Ruler cults|imperial cult]].{{Sfn|Potter|2009|p=419}}{{Sfn|Carney|2013|pp=95-100|loc="Cults"}} Elements of Greek education became widespread in urban spaces, culminating in the foundation of the [[Mouseion]] (including the [[Library of Alexandria]]) and the [[Serapeum of Alexandria|Serapeum]].{{Sfn|Holbl|2001|p=84}} During the Hellenistic period, the city of [[Alexandria]], founded by Alexander the Great, would gradually surpass [[Athens]] as the intellectual centre of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] world.{{Sfn|Jones|2006|p=10}}

To emulate the previous dynasties of Egypt, the Ptolemaic dynasty eventually adopted the practice of [[inbreeding]] including [[sibling marriage]];{{Sfn|Robins|2001|p=108: "...they adopted from the Egyptians the custom of royal brother-sister marriage"}} this did not start in earnest until nearly a century into the dynasty's history.<ref name=avclub>[https://www.avclub.com/move-over-lannisters-no-one-did-incest-and-murder-lik-1830399087 Move over, Lannisters: No one did incest and murder like the last pharaohs] on [[The A.V. Club]]</ref> All the male rulers of the dynasty took the name [[Ptolemy (name)|Ptolemy]], while [[Queen regnant|queens regnant]] were all called [[Cleopatra (given name)|Cleopatra]], [[Arsinoe (disambiguation)|Arsinoe]], or [[Berenice]]. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, [[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII]], known for her role in the [[Caesar's Civil War|Roman political battles]] between [[Julius Caesar]] and [[Pompey]], and later between [[Augustus|Octavian]] and [[Mark Antony]]. [[Death of Cleopatra|Her apparent suicide]] after the [[War of Actium|Roman conquest of Egypt]] marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleopatra the Great: Last Power of the Ptolemaic Dynasty |url=https://arce.org/resource/cleopatra-great-last-power-ptolemaic-dynasty/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=ARCE |language=en}}</ref>

==Rulers and consorts{{anchor|Rulers}}==
Dates in brackets represent the regnal dates of the Ptolemaic pharaohs. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters, aunts or cousins. Several queens exercised regal authority. Of these, one of the last and most famous was [[Cleopatra]] ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC), with her two brothers and her son serving as successive nominal [[Coregency|co-rulers]]. Several systems exist for numbering the later rulers; the one used here is the one most widely employed by modern scholars.
* [[Ptolemy I Soter|'''Ptolemy I''' Soter]] (305–282 BC) married [[Thaïs]], [[Artakama]], [[Eurydice of Egypt|Eurydice]], and finally [[Berenice I of Egypt|Berenice I]]
* [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|'''Ptolemy II''' Philadelphus]] (282–246 BC) co-ruler since 285 BC; married [[Arsinoe I]], then [[Arsinoe II]];
** ''with his nephew'' [[Ptolemy Epigonos]] (267–259 BC)
* [[Ptolemy III Euergetes|'''Ptolemy III''' Euergetes]] (246–221 BC) married [[Berenice II]]
* [[Ptolemy IV Philopator|'''Ptolemy IV''' Philopator]] (221–203 BC) married [[Arsinoe III]]
* [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|'''Ptolemy V''' Epiphanes]] (203–181 BC) married [[Cleopatra I Syra|Cleopatra I]]
* [[Ptolemy VI Philometor|'''Ptolemy VI''' Philometor]] (181–164 BC) married [[Cleopatra II]]
** [[Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator|'''Ptolemy VII''' Neos Philopator]] (posthumously named king)
* [[Ptolemy VIII Physcon|'''Ptolemy VIII''' Physcon]] (170–163 BC), married Cleopatra II
* '''Ptolemy VI''' Philometor (163–145 BC)
** ''briefly with'' [[Ptolemy Eupator]] (152 BC)
* '''Ptolemy VIII''' Physcon (145–131 BC), married [[Cleopatra III of Egypt|Cleopatra III]]
* [[Cleopatra II|'''Cleopatra II''' Philometor Soteira]] (131–127 BC), expelled Ptolemy VIII from Alexandria
* '''Ptolemy VIII''' Physcon (127–116 BC), reconciled with Cleopatra II in 124 BC
**''with'' [[Ptolemy Apion]] (c. 120–96 BC), last Ptolemaic king of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]]. 
* [[Cleopatra III|'''Cleopatra III''' Philometor Soteira Kokke]] (116–101 BC) ruled jointly with [[Ptolemy IX]] and [[Ptolemy X]]
* [[Ptolemy IX Soter|'''Ptolemy IX''' Soter Lathyros]] (116–107 BC) married [[Cleopatra IV of Egypt|Cleopatra IV]]; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III
* [[Ptolemy X Alexander I|'''Ptolemy X''' Alexander I]] (107–88 BC) married [[Cleopatra Selene of Syria|Cleopatra Selene I]], then [[Berenice III of Egypt|Berenice III]]; ruled with Cleopatra III till 101 BC
* '''Ptolemy IX''' Soter Lathyros (88–81 BC) married Cleopatra Selene
* [[Berenice III of Egypt|'''Berenice III''' Philopator]] (81–80 BC)
* [[Ptolemy XI Alexander II|'''Ptolemy XI''' Alexander II]] (80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III before murdering her; ruled alone for 19 days after that.
* [[Ptolemy XII Auletes|'''Ptolemy XII''' Neos Dionysos Auletes]] (80–58 BC) married [[Cleopatra V Tryphaena]]
* [[Cleopatra VI|'''Cleopatra VI''' Tryphaena]] (58–57 BC) ruled jointly with [[Berenice IV|Berenice IV Epiphaneia]] (58–55 BC), possibly identical with [[Cleopatra V|Cleopatra V Tryphaena]]<ref>W. Huß, ''Ägypten in hellenistischer Zeit'' (''Egypt in Hellenistic times''). C. H. Beck, Munich 2001, p. 679</ref>
* '''Ptolemy XII''' Neos Dionysos Auletes (55–51 BC)
* [[Cleopatra|'''Cleopatra''' '''VII''' Thea Philopator]] (51–30 BC)
** ''with'' [[Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator|'''Ptolemy XIII''' Theos Philopator]] (51–47 BC)
** ''with'' '''[[Arsinoe IV]]''' (48–47 BC) as rival queen
** ''with'' [[Ptolemy XIV Philopator|'''Ptolemy XIV''' Philopator]] (47–44 BC)
** ''with'' [[Caesarion|'''Ptolemy XV''' Caesarion]] (44–30 BC)

===Other notable members of the Ptolemaic dynasty===
[[File:Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale MET DP105943.jpg|thumb|right|A seated woman in a fresco from the Roman [[Villa Boscoreale]], dated mid-1st century BC. It likely represents [[Berenice II]] of [[Ptolemaic Egypt]] wearing a ''stephane'' (i.e. royal [[diadem]]) on her head.<ref>Pfrommer, Michael; Towne-Markus, Elana (2001). ''[http://d2aohiyo3d3idm.cloudfront.net/publications/virtuallibrary/0892366338.pdf Greek Gold from Hellenistic Egypt]''. Los Angeles: Getty Publications (J. Paul Getty Trust). {{ISBN|0-89236-633-8}}, pp. 22–23.</ref>|205x205px]]

*[[Ptolemy Keraunos]] (died 279 BC) – eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter. Eventually became king of Macedonia.
*[[Ptolemy Apion]] (died 96 BC) – son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Made king of [[Cyrenaica]]. Bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
*[[Ptolemy II of Telmessos]], grandson of Ptolemy Epigonos, flourished second half of 3rd century BC and first half of 2nd century BC
*[[Ptolemy of Cyprus]], king of Cyprus c. 80–58 BC, younger brother of Ptolemy XII Auletes
*[[Alexander Helios]] (born 40 BC) – elder son of [[Mark Antony]] and Cleopatra VII
*[[Ptolemy Philadelphus (son of Cleopatra)|Ptolemy Philadelphus]] (born 36 BC) – younger son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
*[[Cleopatra Selene II]] (40–c.5 BC) – daughter of Cleopatra VII, client queen of Mauretania; ruled jointly with her husband [[Juba II]] on the behest of Rome
* [[Ptolemy of Mauretania]] (c. 10 BC–AD 40) – client king and ruler of [[Mauretania]] for Rome. Son of King [[Juba II]] of [[Numidia]] and [[Mauretania]] and [[Cleopatra Selene II]], daughter of Cleopatra VII and [[Mark Antony]].

==Health==
{{See also|Incest#Antiquity|Inbreeding#Royalty and nobility|Incest in ancient Egypt}}

Continuing the tradition established by previous [[List of ancient Egyptian dynasties|Egyptian dynasties]], the Ptolemies engaged in [[inbreeding]] including [[Sibling relationship#Sibling marriage and incest|sibling marriage]], with many of the pharaohs being married to their siblings and often co-ruling with them.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Walter Scheidel|title=Brother-sister and parent-child marriage outside royal families in ancient Egypt and Iran: A challenge to the sociobiological view of incest avoidance?|journal=Ethology and Sociobiology|date=September 1996|volume=17|issue=5|page=321|doi=10.1016/S0162-3095(96)00074-X|url=https://doi.org/10.1016/S0162-3095(96)00074-X|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Ptolemy I and other early rulers of the dynasty were not married to their relatives, the childless marriage of siblings [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] and [[Arsinoe II]]<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-II-Philadelphus Ptolemy II "Philadelphus"] on ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online|Encyclopædia Britannica]]''</ref> being an exception. The first child-producing incestuous marriage in the Ptolemaic dynasty was that of [[Ptolemy IV Philopator|Ptolemy IV]] and [[Arsinoe III of Egypt|Arsinoe III]], who were succeeded as co-pharaohs by their son [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|Ptolemy V]], born 210 BC. The best-known Ptolemaic pharaoh, [[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII]], was at different times married to and ruled with two of her brothers ([[Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator|Ptolemy XIII]] until 47 BC and then [[Ptolemy XIV of Egypt|Ptolemy XIV]] until 44 BC), and their parents were also likely to have been siblings or possibly cousins.<ref name=avclub/>

[[File:Cammeo gonzaga con doppio ritratto di tolomeo II e arsinoe II, III sec. ac. (alessandria), da hermitage.jpg|thumbnail|The [[Gonzaga Cameo]] of [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]] and [[Arsinoe II]] from [[Alexandria]] ([[Hermitage Museum]])|260x260px]]
Contemporaries describe a number of the Ptolemaic dynasty members as [[Obesity|extremely obese]],<ref>{{cite journal| url=https://thorax.bmj.com/content/58/3/281.3|title="Morbid obesity and hypersomnolence in several members of an ancient royal family"|year=2003|doi=10.1136/thorax.58.3.281-b|last1=Michalopoulos|first1=A.|last2=Tzelepis|first2= G.|last3=Geroulanos|first3=S.|journal=Thorax|volume=58|issue=3|pages=281–282|pmid=12612315|pmc=1746609}}</ref> while [[sculpture]]s and [[coin]]s reveal prominent eyes and swollen necks. Familial [[Graves' disease]] could explain the swollen necks and eye prominence ([[exophthalmos]]), although this is unlikely to occur in the presence of morbid obesity. This is all likely due to [[inbreeding depression]]. In view of the familial nature of these findings, members of the Ptolemaic dynasty are likely to have suffered from a multi-organ fibrotic condition such as [[Erdheim–Chester disease]], or a familial [[multifocal fibrosclerosis]] where thyroiditis, obesity and ocular proptosis may have all occurred concurrently.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ashrafian|first=Hutan|title=Familial proptosis and obesity in the Ptolemies|journal=J. R. Soc. Med.|year=2005|volume=98|issue=2|pages=85–86|pmc=1079400|pmid=15684370
|doi=10.1177/014107680509800224}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Ptolemy I Soter Louvre Ma849.jpg|Ptolemy I, founder of the dynasty.
File:Ptolemy II MAN Napoli Inv5600.jpg|Ptolemy II
File:Ptolemy III Euergetes.jpg|Ptolemy III
File:PtolemyIV-StatueHead MuseumOfFineArtsBoston.png|Ptolemy IV
File:Ptolemaeus V.jpg|Ptolemy V
File:Ring with engraved portrait of Ptolemy VI Philometor (3rd–2nd century BCE) - 2009.jpg|Ptolemy VI
File:Cleopatra II and III Kom Ombo Temple.jpg|Cleopatra II (right)
File:Relief of Ptolemy VIII in Kom Ombo Temple.jpg|Ptolemy VIII
File:Edfu29.JPG|Ptolemy IX
File:Ägyptisches Museum Berlin 112.jpg|Ptolemy X
File:Kom Ombo 0312.JPG|Ptolemy XII
File:Kom Ombo 0333.JPG|[[Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator|Ptolemy XIII]] and [[Sekhmet]]
File:Ptolemy XIV.jpg|[[Ptolemy XIV Philopator|Ptolemy XIV]]
File:Cleopatra VII statue fragment, 69-30 BC - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC09761.JPG|[[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII]]
File:Denderah4 Cesarion.jpg|Ptolemy XV, commonly called Caesarion.
File:Cameo Ptolemaic prince Bab111 CdM Paris.jpg|[[Sardonyx]] [[Cameo (carving)|cameo]] of a Ptolemaic prince as the Greek god [[Hermes]], [[Cabinet des médailles]], Paris.
File:Posthumous painted portrait of Cleopatra VII of Egypt, from Herculaneum, Italy.jpg| Posthumous portrait of [[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII]], from Roman [[Herculaneum]], mid-1st century AD.<ref>{{citation|last1=Walker|first1=Susan|last2=Higgs|first2=Peter|editor-surname1=Walker|editor-given1=Susan|editor-surname2=Higgs|editor-given2=Peter|title=Cleopatra of Egypt: from History to Myth|location=Princeton, N.J.|chapter=Painting with a portrait of a woman in profile|publisher=Princeton University Press (British Museum Press)|year=2001|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cleopatraofegypt0000unse/page/314|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cleopatraofegypt0000unse/page/314 314–315]|isbn=9780691088358|postscript=.}}</ref><ref>Fletcher, Joann (2008). ''Cleopatra the Great: The Woman Behind the Legend''. New York: Harper. {{ISBN|978-0-06-058558-7}}, image plates and captions between pp. 246-247.</ref>
File:Coupe_des_Ptolémées_01.JPG|The [[Cup of the Ptolemies]]: front (''top'') of the cup ([[Cabinet des Médailles]])
File:Coupe_des_Ptolémées_02.JPG|The [[Cup of the Ptolemies]]: back (''bottom'') of the cup ([[Cabinet des Médailles]])
</gallery>


==Family tree==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}
{{Chart top|width=100%|Ptolemaic family tree}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|collapsed=| summary=Boxes and lines diagram with 43 boxes}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | Lag |y| Ars |Lag=[[Lagus]] of Eordea, Macedon|Ars=[[Arsinoe of Macedon]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |!| }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |PTOL1|y|BERE1|y|PHILI| | | | | | | | | | | | | PTOL1='''[[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy I<br/>Soter]]''' <br/>(Kg 303–282 BC)| BERE1=[[Berenice I of Egypt|Berenice I]]| PHILI=[[Philip (husband of Berenice I of Egypt)|Philip]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |,|-|-|-|v|-|'| | | |`|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1|ARSI2|~|PTOL2|y|ARSI1| |MAGAS|y|APAM2| | | | | | | | | ARSI2=[[Arsinoe II]]| PTOL2='''[[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II<br/>Philadelphus]]''' <br/>(Kg. 285–246 BC)| ARSI1=[[Arsinoe I]]| MAGAS=[[Magas of Cyrene|Magas<br/>of Cyrene]]| APAM2=[[Apama II]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |!| | | | | |`|-|.| | | |,|-|'| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1|PTE| | | | | |PTOL3|y|BERE2| | | | | | | | | | | | |PTE='''[[Ptolemy Epigonos|Ptolemy<br/>Epigonos]]''' <br/>(Kg. 267–259 BC)| PTOL3='''[[Ptolemy III Euergetes|Ptolemy III<br/>Euergetes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 246–221 BC)| BERE2=[[Berenice II of Egypt|Berenice II]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | |PTOL4|y|ARSI3| | | | | | | | | | | | | PTOL4='''[[Ptolemy IV Philopator|Ptolemy IV<br/>Philopator]]''' <br/>(Kg. 221–203 BC)| ARSI3=[[Arsinoe III of Egypt|Arsinoe III]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | |,|-|'| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | |PTOL5|y|CLEO1| | | | | | | | | | | | | PTOL5='''[[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|Ptolemy V<br/>Epiphanes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 203–181 BC)| CLEO1=[[Cleopatra I Syra|Cleopatra I<br/>Syra]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |PTOL6|y|CLEO2|~|~|y|~|V|PTOL8|y|EIREN| | | | | PTOL6='''[[Ptolemy VI Philometor|Ptolemy VI<br/>Philometor]]''' <br/>(Kg. 181–164 BC,<br> 163–145 BC)| CLEO2='''[[Cleopatra II of Egypt|Cleopatra II]]''' <br/>(Qn. 131–127 BC)| PTOL8='''[[Ptolemy VIII Physcon|Ptolemy VIII<br/>Physcon]]''' <br/>(Kg. 170–163 BC,<br> 145–116 BC)| EIREN=Eirene}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|.| | | |!| |:| | | |`|-|.| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1|PTE2| |PTOL7| |CLEO3|7|PTOLM|:| | | | |PTOLA| | | | |PTE2='''[[Ptolemy Eupator|Ptolemy<br/>Eupator]]''' <br/>(Kg. 152 BC) | PTOL7=[[Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator|Ptolemy VII<br/>Neos Philopator]]| CLEO3='''[[Cleopatra III of Egypt|Cleopatra III]]''' <br>(Qn. 116–101 BC)| PTOLM=Ptolemy<br/>Memphites| PTOLA=[[Ptolemy Apion]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | | | |L|~|y|~|J| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |CLEO4|y|PTOL9|y|CLSE1|y|P10A1|7| | | | | | | | CLEO4=[[Cleopatra IV of Egypt|Cleopatra IV]]| PTOL9='''[[Ptolemy IX Lathyros|Ptolemy IX<br/>Lathyros]]''' <br/>(Kg. 116–107 BC,<br> as Soter II 88–81 BC)| CLSE1=[[Cleopatra Selene of Syria|Cleopatra<br/>Selene]]| P10A1='''[[Ptolemy X Alexander I|Ptolemy X<br/>Alexander I]]''' <br/>(Kg. 107–88 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |,|-|'| | | |`|-|.| |`|-|.| |:| | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |PTO12|7| | | |F|BERE3|~|P11A2|:| | | | | | | | PTO12='''[[Ptolemy XII Auletes|Ptolemy XII<br/>Auletes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 80–58 BC,<br> 55–51 BC)| BERE3='''[[Berenice III of Egypt|Berenice III]]''' <br/>(Qn. 81–80 BC)| P11A2='''[[Ptolemy XI Alexander II|Ptolemy XI<br/>Alexander II]]''' <br/>(Kg. 80 BC, <br>for 19 days)}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | |:| | | |L|~|y|~|~|~|~|~|J| | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | |L|~|y|~|~|CLEO5| | | | | | | | | | | | | CLEO5='''[[Cleopatra V of Egypt|Cleopatra V]]''' <br/>(Qn. 58–55 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |CLEO6| |BERE4| |PTO13|~|CLEO7|~|PTO14| |ARSI4| CLEO6='''[[Cleopatra VI of Egypt|Cleopatra VI]]''' <br/>(Qn. 58 BC)| BERE4='''[[Berenice IV of Egypt|Berenice IV]]''' <br/>(Qn. 58–55 BC)| PTO13='''[[Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator|Ptolemy XIII<br/>Theos Philopator]]''' <br/>(Kg. 51–47 BC)| CLEO7='''[[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII<br/>Thea Philopator]]''' <br/>(Qn. 51–30 BC)| PTO14='''[[Ptolemy XIV of Egypt|Ptolemy XIV]]''' <br/>(Kg. 47–44 BC)| ARSI4='''[[Arsinoe IV of Egypt|Arsinoe IV]]''' <br/>(Qn. 48–47 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |:| |:| | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | |JULCA|y|~|~|~|~|J| |L|~|~|y|~|~|MARAN| JULCA=[[Julius Caesar|Julius<br> Caesar]]| MARAN=[[Mark Antony|Mark<br> Antony]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | |,|-|'| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|(| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | |PTO15| |ALEXH| |PTO16| |CLSE2| | | | | PTO15='''[[Caesarion|Ptolemy XV<br/>Caesarion]]''' <br/>(Kg. 44–30 BC)| ALEXH=[[Alexander Helios|Alexander<br> Helios]]| PTO16=[[Ptolemy Philadelphus (son of Cleopatra)|Ptolemy <br/>Philadelphus]]| CLSE2=[[Cleopatra Selene II|Cleopatra<br/>Selene II]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PTOMA| | | | | PTOMA=[[Ptolemy of Mauretania|Ptolemy of <br>Mauretania]]}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

{{chart top|Detailed Ptolemaic family tree}}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|collapsed=yes}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | ANT | | | | | | LAG |y| Ars | ANT = [[Antipater]] | LAG = [[Lagus]]|Ars=[[Arsinoe of Macedon]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |!| | |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | EUR |~|y|~|~|~|~|~| PT1 |~|y|~|~| BE1 | | LYS | | EUR = [[Eurydice of Egypt|Eurydice]] | PT1 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>  '''[[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy I<br/>Soter]]''' <br/>(Kg 303–282 BC) | BE1 =[[Berenice I of Egypt|Berenice I]]<br><small>(∞ [[Philip (husband of Berenice I of Egypt)|Philip]]<br>↓<br>[[Magas of Cyrene|Magas<br/>of Cyrene]]<br>∞ [[Apama II]]<br>↓<br>''See below: '''Berenice II''''')</small>| LYS = [[Lysimachus]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|.| | | | |,|-|-|^|.| | | | | | |!| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | LYS | | PTO | | KER |~|~| AR2 |~| PT2 |~|y|~|~| AR1 | | LYS = [[Lysandra]] | PTO = [[Ptolemais (daughter of Ptolemy I Soter)|Ptolemais]] | KER = [[Ptolemy Ceraunus]] | AR1 = [[Arsinoe I]] | PT2 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II<br/>Philadelphus]]''' <br/>(Kg. 285–246 BC) | AR2 = [[Arsinoe II]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BE2 |y| PT3 | | | | SYR | | BE2 = [[Berenice II of Egypt]]<br><small>(''daughter of<br>Magas of Cyrene,<br>see above: '''Berenice I''''')</small>| PT3 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy III Euergetes|Ptolemy III<br/>Euergetes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 246–221 BC) | SYR = [[Berenice (Seleucid queen)|Berenice Syra]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | ANT | | | AR3 |y| PT4 | | ANT = [[Antiochus III the Great]]| AR3 = [[Arsinoe III of Egypt|Arsinoe III]] | PT4 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy IV Philopator|Ptolemy IV<br/>Philopator]]''' <br/>(Kg. 221–203 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |!| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | CL1 |~|y|~|~| PT5 | | CL1 = [[Cleopatra I Syra|Cleopatra I<br/>Syra]]| PT5 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|Ptolemy V<br/>Epiphanes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 203–181 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | PT6 |y| CL2 |~|~|~|y|~| PT8 |-|y|~| IRE | PT6 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy VI Philometor|Ptolemy VI<br/>Philometor]]''' <br/>(Kg. 181–164 BC,<br> 163-145 BC)| CL2 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Cleopatra II of Egypt|Cleopatra II]]''' <br/>(Qn. 131–127 BC)| PT8 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Ptolemy VIII Physcon|Ptolemy VIII<br/>Physcon]]''' <br/>(Kg. 170–163 BC,<br> 145–116 BC)| IRE = ''Eirene ?''}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|^|-|-|.| | | |!| | |:| | |!| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | PEU | | CLT | | PT7 | | CL3 | | MEM | |:| | API | | PEU = [[Ptolemy Eupator]] | CLT = [[Cleopatra Thea]] | PT7 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator|Ptolemy VII<br/>Neos Philopator]]''' | CL3 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Cleopatra III of Egypt|Cleopatra III]]''' <br>(Qn. 116–101 BC) | MEM =Ptolemy<br/>Memphites | API = [[Ptolemy Apion]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |L|~|~|y|~|~|~|J| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | CLT | | CL4 |~|~| PT9 |~|~|y| CL5 |~|~|~|~|~|y| PTX | | CLT = [[Tryphaena|Cleopatra Tryphaena]] | CL4 = [[Cleopatra IV of Egypt|Cleopatra IV]] | CL5 =[[Cleopatra Selene of Syria|Cleopatra V<br/>Selene]] | PT9 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy IX Lathyros|Ptolemy IX<br/>Lathyros]]''' <br/>(Kg. 116–107 BC,<br> as Soter II 88–81 BC) | PTX =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy X Alexander I|Ptolemy X<br/>Alexander I]]''' <br/>(Kg. 107–88 BC)| INC = ''?''}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |:| | | |!| | | | | | | | |!| |:| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | INC | | | | | |:| | | BE3 |~|~|~|~|~|~| P11 |:| | | INC = ''?'' | BE3 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Berenice III of Egypt|Berenice III]]''' <br/>(Qn. 81–80 BC) | P11 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Ptolemy XI Alexander II|Ptolemy XI<br/>Alexander II]]''' <br/>(Kg. 80 BC, <br>for 19 days)}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | |L|y|~|~|~|y|~|J| | | |L|~|~|y|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|J| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | PTC | | P12 |~|~|~|~|~|~| CL6 | PTC = [[Ptolemy of Cyprus]] | CL6 = [[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Cleopatra VI of Egypt|Cleopatra VI]]''' <br/>(Qn. 58 BC) | P12 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Ptolemy XII Auletes|Ptolemy XII<br/>Auletes]]''' <br/>(Kg. 80–58 BC,<br> 55–51 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | BE4 | | P13 |~| CL7 |~| P14 | | AR4 | | BE4 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Berenice IV of Egypt|Berenice IV]]''' <br/>(Qn. 58–55 BC)| P13 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator|Ptolemy XIII<br/>Theos Philopator]]''' <br/>(Kg. 51–47 BC)| CL7 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Cleopatra|Cleopatra VII<br/>Thea Philopator]]''' <br/>(Qn. 51–30 BC)| P14 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br>'''[[Ptolemy XIV of Egypt|Ptolemy XIV]]''' <br/>(Kg. 47–44 BC)| AR4 = '''[[Arsinoe IV of Egypt|Arsinoe IV]]''' <br/>(Qn. 48–47 BC)}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | |:| | | |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | CES | | | | |:| | | | | MAR | | CES = [[Julius Caesar|Julius<br> Caesar]] | MAR = [[Mark Antony|Mark<br> Antony]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | |L|~|~|y|~|~|A|~|~|y|~|~|J| | |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | |!| | | | |,|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | P15 | | | ALE | | CLS |y| JUB | | PTP | | P15 =[[File:Double crown.svg|25px]]<br> '''[[Caesarion|Ptolemy XV<br/>Caesarion]]''' <br/>(Kg. 44–30 BC) | ALE = [[Alexander Helios|Alexander<br> Helios]] | CLS = [[Cleopatra Selene II|Cleopatra<br/>Selene II]] | JUB = [[Juba II|Juba II<br/>of Mauretania]] | PTP = [[Ptolemy Philadelphus (son of Cleopatra)|Ptolemy Philadelphus]]}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{tree chart|border=1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PTM | | PTM = [[Ptolemy of Mauretania|Ptolemy of <br>Mauretania]]}}
{{tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Ancient Egypt|Egypt|History}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Argead dynasty]], another Greek dynasty in Egypt which ruled immediately prior to the Ptolemies
* [[Donations of Alexandria]]
* [[Hellenistic period]]
* [[History of ancient Egypt]]
* {{section link|List of pharaohs|Ptolemaic Dynasty}}
* [[List of Seleucid rulers]]
* ''[[On Weights and Measures]]'', which contains a chronology of the Ptolemies
* [[Ptolemaic Decrees]]
* [[Roman pharaoh]]s
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
'''Informational notes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Carney |first=Elizabeth |title=Arsinoe of Egypt and Macedon, A Royal Life |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780195365511}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Prudence |title=Cleopatra: A Sourcebook |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780806137414}}
* {{Cite book |last=Pomeroy |first=Sarah |author-link=Sarah B. Pomeroy |title=Women in Hellenistic Egypt, From Alexander to Cleopatra |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=1990 |isbn=9780814322307}}
* {{cite book |last=Southern |first=Patricia |author-link=Pat Southern |title= Antony and Cleopatra: The Doomed Love Affair That United Ancient Rome and Egypt |publisher=Amberley Publishing |year=2009 |orig-year=2007 |isbn=9781848683242}}
* {{Cite book |last=Potter |first=David |title=A Companion to the Hellenistic World |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2009 |isbn=978-1405154413 |editor-last=Erskine |editor-first=Andrew |chapter=Hellenistic religion}}
* {{Cite book |last=Holbl |first=Gunther |title=Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=0195138236 |editor-last=Redford |editor-first=Donald |volume=3 |chapter=Ptolemaic period}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jeffreys |first=David |title=Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |orig-year=1999 |isbn=1134665253 |editor-last=Bard |editor-first=Kathryn |editor-link=Kathryn A. Bard |chapter=Memphis}}
* {{Cite book |last=Depuydt |first=Leo |title=Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |orig-year=1999 |isbn=1134665253 |editor-last=Bard |editor-first=Kathryn |chapter=Rosseta Stone}}
* {{Cite book |last=Robins |first=Gay |title=Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=0195138236 |editor-last=Redford |editor-first=Donald |volume=3 |chapter=Queens}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rutherford |first=Ian |title=Greco-Egyptian Interactions: Literature, Translation, and Culture, 500 BCE-300 CE |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-0199656127}}
{{refend}}

'''Further reading'''
{{refbegin}}
* Bingen, Jean. ''Hellenistic Egypt''. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007 (hardcover, {{ISBN|0-7486-1578-4}}; paperback, {{ISBN|0-7486-1579-2}}).
* {{cite book|title=When the Greeks Ruled Egypt: From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra|editor=Roberta Casagrande-Kim|year=2014|publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]|isbn=978-0691165547}}
* A. Lampela, ''Rome and the Ptolemies of Egypt: The development of their political relations 273–80 B.C.'' (Helsinki, 1998).
* J. G. Manning, ''The Last Pharaohs: Egypt Under the Ptolemies, 305–30 BC'' (Princeton, 2009).
* Susan Stephens, ''Seeing Double: Intercultural Poetics in Ptolemaic Alexandria'' (Berkeley, 2002).
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ptolemaic dynasty}}
*[https://www.livius.org/ps-pz/ptolemies/ptolemies.htm Livius.org: "Ptolemies"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906102445/https://www.livius.org/ps-pz/ptolemies/ptolemies.htm |date=2014-09-06 }}—by Jona Lendering

{{Pharaohs |genealogies}}
{{Hellenistic rulers}}
{{Rulers of the Ancient Near East}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ptolemaic dynasty| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 4th century BC]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Dynasties of ancient Egypt|33]]
[[Category:Hellenistic dynasties]]
[[Category:African dynasties|Ptolemaic]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek dynasties]]
[[Category:Ancient royal families]]
[[Category:4th century BC in Egypt]]
[[Category:3rd century BC in Egypt]]
[[Category:2nd century BC in Egypt]]
[[Category:1st century BC in Egypt]]
[[Category:4th-century BC establishments in Egypt]]
[[Category:1st-millennium BC disestablishments in Egypt]]
[[Category:305 BC]]
[[Category:300s BC establishments]]
[[Category:30 BC]]
[[Category:4th-century BC establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:1st-century BC disestablishments in Greece]]