Ptolemy II Philadelphus (308-246 BC) - son of Ptolemy I, king of Egypt. In 283 he inherited the Egyptian throne from his father. Ptolemy II tried to turn Egypt into the strongest power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
After the death of Seleucus I in 281, Ptolemy II invaded Syria and captured Damascus. In Asia Minor he occupied Halicarnassus, Mindus, Caunus and occupied Caria. On the Balkan Peninsula, Ptolemy II supported the Greek states and Epirus against Macedonia; in the Middle East, he sought to maintain control over Coelesyria despite the claims of the Seleucids.
In 275, the First Syrian War began. The Egyptian fleet reigned supreme along the entire eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Soon the situation changed. Antiochus II defeated the Egyptians in Syria and took Damascus from Ptolemy II. Megas rebelled in Cyrenaica, and Pyrrhus died in Argos. In 272, the First Syrian War ended and peace was signed.
Ptolemy II's allies in Greece were defeated by Antigonus Gonatas at Chremoni-
before the war (268-262). Immediately after the signing of peace, an anti-Egyptian coalition was created, which included Antigonus Gonatas, Antiochus II and Rhodes. In 261, the Second Syrian War began. Antiochus II took a number of cities in Asia Minor from Ptolemy II, and his troops invaded Coelesyria. At the Battle of Kos in 258, the Egyptian fleet was defeated by Antigonus Gonatas. Ptolemy II admitted his defeat and signed a peace treaty in 255.
Book materials used: Tikhanovich Yu.N., Kozlenko A.V. 350 great. Brief biography of the rulers and generals of antiquity. The Ancient East; Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome. Minsk, 2005.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Ptolemaios, Loving Sister) (308-246 BC). King of Egypt in 283/282-246. BC, son of Ptolemy I and Berenice I. Born on the island of Kos. OK. 289/288 BC married Arsinoe I (daughter of Lysimachus). In 285 BC. became co-ruler with his father, and in 283/282 BC. - a sovereign king. OK. 281 BC divorced Arsinoe I and c. 276/275 BC married his sister Arsinoe II and made her his sender. For the Greeks, this marriage was a scandal, although among the Egyptian pharaohs, marriages between brother and sister were quite normal. During the First Syrian War against Antiochus I (c. 274/273-271 BC) invaded Syria and Asia Minor, winning victory in 271 BC. Having deified himself and Arsinoe II in 272/271 BC, he established the Ptolemaic cult. Later he took the title and cult name of Arsinoe - Philadelphus.
During the Chremonide War, he suffered certain losses, supporting Athens and Sparta in the fight against Macedonia (286-263/262 BC). In the Second Syrian War against Antiochus II (260-253 BC), he lost vast territories in Asia Minor and, to make peace, was forced to marry his daughter Berenice Syra to Antiochus II. Together with his advisors, he did a lot for the Hellenization of Egypt. Created most of the institutions of the strict financial administration of the Ptolemaic state and founded many Greek settlements, especially along the shores of Lake Merida. He built the Faros Lighthouse and significantly expanded the museum and library in Alexandria. Organized the construction of a canal connecting the Red Sea with the Nile. Alexandria, its capital, became the cultural and intellectual center of the Greek world.
Adkins L., Adkins R. Ancient Greece. Encyclopedic reference book. M., 2008, p. 88.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus - king of Egypt from the Ptolemaic family, who reigned in 283-246. BC Son Ptolemy I and Berenice. Genus. in 309 BC. + 246 BC Wives: 1) Arsinoe, daughter of the Thracian king Lysimachus; 2) Arsinoe, daughter of Ptolemy 1 (his sister); 3) unknown.
Ptolemy began to rule the country during his father’s lifetime (Justin: 16; 2). Having fallen in love with Arsinoe, his own sister on both his father's and mother's sides, he married her, doing something that was in no way allowed among the Macedonians, but which was customary among the Egyptians over whom he ruled. Then he killed his brother Argei, who allegedly encroached on his life. He also transported Alexander's ashes from Memphis to Alexandria. Ptolemy also killed another brother, born of Eurydice, noticing that he was encouraging the inhabitants of Cyprus to fall away from Egypt (Pausanias: 1; 17).
In 280 BC, taking advantage of the difficult situation of the Syrian kingdom, Ptolemy took the southernmost regions of Syria from Antiochus 1, and even captured Damascus (Droysen: 3; 1; 3). Ptolemy's maternal brother, Maga, who, thanks to Berenice, received governorship in Cyrene, in 274 BC. led an army from Cyrene to Egypt. Ptolemy, having strengthened the passes, awaited the advance of the Cyrene troops, but Maga never attacked him, since he was forced to conquer the nomadic Libyan tribes that had fallen away from him. Ptolemy wanted to pursue him, but he also could not do this due to the outbreak of an uprising of Galatian mercenaries. Maga did not rest on this and dragged the Asian king Antiochus 1 into the war. In 265 BC. Ptolemy sent his fleet to the shores of Greece to act against the Macedonian king Antigonus II Gonatas (Pausanias: 1; 17). But this fleet was defeated at Kos (Droyzen: 3; 1; 3). Later, Ptolemy waged a successful war with the Syrian king Antiochus II, and conquered the coast of Cilicia and Lycia from him in Asia (Droyzen: 3; 2; 1).
Ptolemy's children were born not from his sister Arsinoe, but from the daughter of Lysimachus. His sister died childless (Pausanias: 1; 17). According to Strabo, Ptolemy was distinguished by curiosity and, due to bodily weakness, was constantly looking for new entertainment and amusements (Strabo: 17; 1; 5). Josephus adds that Ptolemy founded a wonderful library in Alexandria, trying to collect in it and translate into Greek all the books that existed in the world. The number of books in this unique repository allegedly reached half a million copies. Among others, the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek. Interested in the fate of the Jewish people, Ptolemy ordered the release of 100,000 prisoners taken by his father from Judea (Flavius: “Jewish Antiquities”: 12; 2).
All the monarchs of the world. Greece, Rome, Byzantium. Konstantin Ryzhov. Moscow, 2001.
Read further:
Ptolemy I Soter- ruler and king of Egypt in 324-283. BC, father of Philadelphus.
Ptolemy III Euergetes- king of Egypt from the Ptolemaic family, 246-222. BC , son of Philadelphia.
Historical figures of Greece(biographical reference book).
The first representative and founder of the dynasty was Ptolemy Lagus or Ptolemy I Soter (“savior”). Presumably he was born around 360 BC. e. and was the son of Lag and Arsipoya. His mother's family was more noble than his father's, since they were related to the dynasty of Macedonian kings. Ptolemy's father, Lag, belonged to one of the respectable Macedonian families, whose material well-being was based on land ownership.
The most important event that changed the life of young Ptolemy was Alexander’s Eastern Campaign, which opened a completely new world to the Macedonians. For the first time they saw the mountains and valleys of Asia Minor, the snow-covered Taurus, the coastal plains of Phenicia with its largest cities of Tire and Sidon. At that time, Ptolemy did not yet belong to Alexander’s inner circle. However, he participated in the Battle of Issus (333 BC) and, together with Alexander, entered the land of Egypt. He especially showed himself at the end of the Eastern Campaign; he was a capable warrior, distinguished by prudence and personal courage. But another of his distinguishing features was cunning and foresight, without which he most likely would not have been able to become the pharaoh of Egypt in the future. Ptolemy's life changed completely with the death of Alexander. In 323 BC. e. he became satrap of Egypt. Even under Alexander (332-331), Ptolemy was able to appreciate the advantages associated with the position and population of this country. 5
Ptolemy I declared himself king (pharaoh) of Egypt in 305 BC. e. He showed himself to be a cautious and persistent ruler, as a pioneer in all areas of his activity. He pursued an active policy of conquest, starting in 322, in order not only to expand the borders of his kingdom, but also to maximally secure its borders in the Mediterranean Sea. He did a lot for his empire: he introduced a coin system, attracted Hellenes to Egypt, tried to keep mercenaries in the war, giving them plots of land - cleirs. He began to pursue a policy of cooperation between the Greeks and the indigenous population, just as Alexander had done, offering them a new god to worship - Sarapis, who was equally revered by both the Egyptians and the Macedonians. He also paid great attention to and patronized the development of culture and science. So he founded the Great Alexandrian Library and Museum in Alexandria Egypt. 6
The forty years of his reign marked a period of rapid development and prosperity of the state. Ptolemy I died at the end of 283 BC. e. Two years before his death, he appointed his son Ptolemy as co-ruler. This is how the change of ruler in the Lagid state took place without any difficulties. Among the descendants of Ptolemy I, the later rulers and rulers of Egypt, he forever remained a model, admiration for which was elevated to a sacred cult, and his memory was preserved and honored throughout the existence of Hellenistic Egypt. 7
His son Ptolemy II, who reigned 283-246. BC e., was married to his sister Arsinoe, hence he received his nickname Philadelphus (“loving sister”). He continued the work of his father and, like him, pursued an active foreign policy, which was based both on dynastic marriages and wars, in particular with the Seleucid power (1st and 2nd Syrian wars) and Antigonids. During the period of the highest power of Egypt, Cyrene, Cyprus, Pamphylia, etc. were under the rule of Ptolemy II. He could also influence the confederation of city-states of the Cyclades islands. Ptolemy II gave Egypt a new administrative system that allowed the country to be exploited more efficiently through royal monopolies and strict tax policies. He reformed the monetary system that his father had once introduced, while prohibiting the use of foreign money within the country, ordered the restoration of the Necho Canal, and brought the Fayum Oasis back to life. The most famous poets, scientists and doctors of the Hellenistic world gathered at his court, and the Museum and Library of Alexandria flourished and reached their highest peak during his reign.
Ptolemy III Euergetes I (246-221 BC) - “benefactor”, son of Ptolemy II, was married to the daughter of the king of Cyrene - Berenice. In the second half of his reign, he waged war with the Seleucid power (3rd Syrian War). His court was no less brilliant than that of his father Ptolemy II. He expanded the Library of Alexandria, ordered the organization and sending of an expedition to the Persian Gulf, and created the necessary conditions for the work of Eratosthenes.
But already at this time, popular unrest began, due to increasingly growing social tension, and the so-called damage to the coin. These problems became especially acute during the reign of the first two successors of Ptolemy III: Ptolemy IV Philopator (“loving father”), who fought with Antiochus III the Great, the ruler of the Seleucid state (4th Syrian War), and Ptolemy V Epiphanes (“glorious”) , in which Egypt lost Kelesyria - and as a result, only Cyprus and Cyrene remained of all extra-Egyptian possessions.
After the death of Ptolemy V Epiphanes, a long period of decline began, spanning the 2nd and 1st centuries. BC e. The last representatives of the Lagid dynasty, in particular the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, will try to return Egypt to its former greatness and power. 8
Each ruler of Egypt from the Lagid dynasty made his contribution and wrote his name in world history. Ptolemy I, as one of the heirs of the first generation of Alexander, is among the founders of the Hellenistic states, and his descendants continued what he started. Their affairs have survived centuries. It was they who directed the destinies of states in Macedonia, Western Asia and Egypt; it was they who opened the way to new ideas and methods in the political and economic fields, which in the future were adopted by the Romans and brought to perfection. Egypt became one of the first Hellenistic states and the history of the Hellenistic era will end there. 9
Cameo Gonzaga
(paired portrait of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II)
Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Ptolemy II Philadelphus- king of Egypt, ruled in 283 - 246 years BC Son of Ptolemy I and Berenice I.
Rise to power
He received the throne bypassing the eldest sons of Ptolemy I from his first marriage to Eurydice I, daughter of Antipater, and began to rule the country from 285 BC. , even during his father’s lifetime. He received an excellent education, but was prone to effeminacy and cruelty.
Ptolemy killed his brother Argeus, who allegedly encroached on his life. He also transported Alexander’s ashes from Memphis to Alexandria. Ptolemy also killed another brother, born of Eurydice, noticing that he was encouraging the inhabitants of Cyprus to fall away from Egypt.
Foreign policy
First successes
At the beginning of his reign, Ptolemy II turned all his efforts to using the difficulties of his rivals for the benefit of Egypt. Thus, the Cyclades, which previously belonged to Demetrius Poliorcetus. On Delos, Philocles, the ruler of Sidon, one of the main confidants of Ptolemy II, organized magnificent festivities - the Ptolemaios. Traces of Egyptian rule are found in Kos, Cyprus. Of course, Egyptian influence also expanded in Asia Minor, primarily in its southern regions. The weakening of the position of Antiochus Soter in the international arena in the first years of his reign (defeat from the Bithynian king Nicomedes) suggests that in Coelesyria the Egyptians had the opportunity to strengthen themselves, in particular, to take possession of Damascus.
On the Balkan Peninsula, Ptolemy II supported the Greek states and Epirus against Macedonia; in the Middle East, he sought to maintain control over Coelesyria despite the claims of the Seleucids.
Threat from Cyrenaica
The direct initiator of the First Syrian War was Ptolemy II's maternal brother, Magas, who, thanks to Berenice, received governorship in Cyrenaica. He concluded a military alliance with Antiochus I, married his sister Apama and convinced the king of Asia to start fighting Ptolemy Philadelphus. Antiochus was unable to set out immediately; It seems that at this time he was still busy with the war with the Galatians. Therefore, Magas had to go out alone (275 BC). He captured Paretonium and reached Chios, about 50 kilometers from Alexandria. But here Magas received news that a nomadic tribe of Marmarids had rebelled in his rear.
The Cyrene ruler immediately returned home. Trying to pursue him, Ptolemy II unexpectedly found himself in the same position as his unlucky opponent: in Egypt, 4,000 Galatians sent by Antigonus rebelled against Ptolemy. Upon his return, Ptolemy II punished them severely, sending them to a deserted island in the Nile Delta, where they died. The goals of the rebel Galatians are not entirely clear: some sources say that they wanted to capture Egypt, while others say that they were simply going to rob the Egyptian treasury.
War in Syria
Pausanias reports that at the time when Antiochus was preparing to go on campaign, Ptolemy sent his people to all the nations over which he ruled. They rebelled and thus detained Antiochus. The Babylonian Cuneiform Chronicle testifies to Antiochus’s own military actions, where under the 36th year of the Seleucid era (275/4 BC) the following is indicated: “In this year the king left his court, his wife and son in Sardis (Sapardu) to provide lasting protection. He came to the province of Ebirnari (Syria) and went against the Egyptian army, which was camped in Ebirnari. The Egyptian army fled from him (?). In the month of Adar, on the 24th, the ruler of Akkad sent to Ebirnari to the king a lot of silver, fabrics, furniture and cars from Babylonia and Seleucia, the royal city, and 20 elephants, which the ruler of Bactria sent to the king. In this month, the commander-in-chief mobilized the king’s troops, which were stationed in Akkad, and went to the king in the month of Nisan to help in Ebirnari...” So, the main military clashes between Antiochus and Ptolemy occurred in the spring months of 274 BC. e. and, it seems, ended with the victory of Antiochus (if you believe the interpretation of the chronicle by S. Smith). The successes of Antiochus I in Syria may not have been limited to the operation described in the chronicle. Probably at the same time Antiochus suddenly captured Damascus, which was occupied by the Egyptians under the command of the strategist Dinon.
Fighting in Asia Minor
One can only speak speculatively about a war on the territory of Asia Minor. There is, for example, a random mention in Polyaenus of the capture of Caunus by Ptolemy’s commander Philocles. Stefanius of Byzantium speaks of some kind of struggle that the kings of Pontic Cappadocia, Mithridates and Ariobarzanes, waged against the Egyptians with the help of Galatian mercenaries; Having fought with the Egyptians, the Pontic kings were victorious, drove the enemies all the way to the sea and captured ship anchors as trophies. It is possible that in this case Mithridates and Ariobarzanes acted as allies of Antiochus.
Theocritus in the 17th idyll names among the Asia Minor possessions of Egypt (shortly after the First Syrian War) Caria, Lycia, Cilicia, and Pamphylia. Some of these possessions may have been completely or partially subjugated during the First Syrian War. In this regard, it is extremely interesting to resolve the question of the fate of Ionia. The fact that Egypt claimed dominance in Ionia is evidenced by a letter from Ptolemy II to Miletus.
Crucial is Theocritus' silence on Egyptian rule in Ionia in the late 270s BC. e. It is difficult to imagine that Egypt did not try to take possession of the region of Asia Minor, one of the richest parts of the former power of Lysimachus, which was Ionia. The Seleucids and their allies probably took some countermeasures in Ionia in order to prevent the Egyptians from strengthening their positions here.
End of the First Syrian War
The Pitom inscription reports that in the month of Hatir in the 12th year of his reign (November 274 BC), Ptolemy II appeared in Heronopolis “with his wife (she is also his sister) to protect Egypt from foreigners. Perhaps from this inscription it follows that the invasion of Egypt by Antiochus' troops was expected, and the presence of Ptolemy and Arsinoe was required to organize the defense.
The end of the war is absolutely unknown to us. It ended no later than Theocritus writing his 17th idyll, that is, either in 273 or 272 BC. e. It is difficult to assess the overall results of the war. The successes of the Seleucids are very likely, but it is hardly possible to talk about their victory. Most likely, as a result of prolonged hostilities, a reconciliation was achieved with a fair amount of compromise on both sides.
Ptolemy's policy in Greece
In the decree of Chremonides (at the beginning of the Chremonides War), in connection with the listing of all participants in the anti-Macedonian coalition, it is said that “King Ptolemy, in agreement with the direction of his ancestors and sister, is obviously jealous of the general freedom of the Hellenes.” Having not received any definite results in the First Syrian War, Ptolemy II transferred the center of gravity of the struggle for the revival of the power of Lysimachus to Greece. What role Ptolemy, the son of Lysimachus and Arsinoe, was now supposed to play in this policy is not known exactly.
By interfering in Greek affairs, Ptolemy II sought to unite all anti-Macedonian forces. He made the Lacedaemonians “friends and allies”, sent a friendly embassy to Athens, probably also with a proposal for an alliance, and sent theors to Delphi calling on the Delphians to take part in the Ptolemaic games in Alexandria. Not without the participation of Egypt, the struggle between cities in Crete also developed. Perhaps Egypt and Sparta acted as accomplices in Crete, and on their side stood such cities as Falasarna, Polirrenia, Aptera, Gortyna.
Chremonides War
Ptolemy II's allies in Greece were defeated by Antigonus Gonatas in the Chremonidean War (268 - 262 BC). This war, named after the Athenian politician Chremonides, in which the Athenians, in alliance with Egypt, Sparta, many other members of the Peloponnesian League and Epirus fought against the Macedonian king Antigonus Gonatas, was not successful.
In 266 BC. Ptolemy sent his fleet under the command of Patroclus to the shores of Greece, with the goal of controlling the Cyclades islands in order to act against the Macedonian king Antigonus II Gonatas. The Egyptians probably landed on the eastern coast of Attica, on the Koroni Peninsula, where remains of temporary defensive walls, utensils and many coins of Ptolemy II were found. Unable to persuade the Spartan king Ares to a decisive battle with the Macedonians, Patroclus and his fleet sailed from Attic waters and from then until the end of the war the Egyptians, it seems, did not appear in Greece. The results of excavations on the Koroni Peninsula show that the withdrawal of the Egyptians was more like the flight of the vanquished. It is possible that during this war the Egyptian fleet was defeated at Kos.
It seems that there is some reason to think that Ptolemy II was again at enmity with the Cyrene ruler Magas and that the Egyptian invasion of Ionia intensified. Ionia fell into the hands of the Egyptians most likely sometime in the 60s of the 3rd century. BC e., at least after Theocritus wrote his 17th idyll, but before the 2nd Syrian War. By 261 BC. e. Magas reconciled with Ptolemy and betrothed his only daughter Berenice to the latter’s son.
The Macedonians greatly devastated Attica and, among other things, burned the sacred grove and the temple of Poseidon in Colon. Antigonus besieged Athens, forced it to surrender and occupied the Athenian fortifications with his garrisons (262 BC). Chremonides fled from Athens to Egypt. The consequence of the Chremonides War was the loss by Egypt of the influential position that it previously occupied in the Aegean Sea, and the significant strengthening of Macedonia. Immediately after the signing of peace, an anti-Egyptian coalition was created, which included Antigonus Gonatas, Antiochus II and Rhodes.
Battle of Andros
V. Felman suggested that there were not two naval battles with Antigonus, but only one - in the waters between the adjacent islands of Andros and Keos. “Kos” is a mistake of manuscript copyists. Felman also cites the idea that Plutarch’s repetition of the same story in relation to the Battle of Andros and the Battle of Kos is far from accidental: this is evidence that there was exactly one battle, and not two.
Zhigunin dates it to 260 BC. e. He believes that Ptolemy Andromachus (son of Lysimachus and Arsinoe) participated in the naval battle of Andros on the Egyptian side and saw his plans for his kingdom die as the Egyptian fleet was defeated. Apparently, after this event, the long-term relationship between Ptolemy, the son of Lysimachus, and Ptolemy Philadelphus broke down.
Second Syrian War. Mutiny in Asia
A component, and perhaps one of the starting points, of the Second Syrian War was the rebellion in Asia of “the son of Ptolemy in complicity with Timarchus”; this is what Pompey Trog tells us. According to Trogus, it is also clear that the rebellion occurred sometime between two events: the death of Antiochus I (261 BC) and the death of Demetrius the Fair in Cyrene (259/8 BC). It is not at all impossible that the rebel who rebelled in Asia was Ptolemy, the son of Lysimachus and the adopted son of Ptolemy Philadelphus. After all, Philadelphus had no other sons with the name Ptolemy, except Ptolemy III.
Ptolemy Andromachus, having established himself in Ephesus, acted in alliance with Timarchus, the tyrant of Miletus. Deciding to capture Samos from the Egyptians, Timarchus entered the Samos harbor and used a rather primitive, but blatant military trick. After some time, Andromachus was killed in Ephesus by the Thracians, and the city probably again passed into the hands of the Egyptians.
Conflict with Cyrene
Unfortunately for Ptolemy Philadelphus, the Cyrene ruler Magas, with whom the Egyptian king had established relations that suited the Egyptians in the first place, died at that time. The wife of Magas Apama, who was anti-Egyptian, offered Berenice as a wife to Demetrius, the brother of Antigonus Gonatas, nicknamed the Handsome. Demetrius hastily rushed to Cyrene, was treated kindly here and, it seems, was proclaimed king. According to Eusebius, Demetrius did not waste any time: he fought a lot in Cyrene and “captured all of Libya.” It is unlikely that his enemies were only Libyan nomads; Most likely, Eusebius directly refers to Demetrius’s war with the Egyptians. However, during the rebellion, which was allegedly led by the young Berenice herself, Demetrius was killed in the bedroom of Apama (259/8 BC), and the widow of Magas herself, at the insistence of Berenice, was spared the life of the rebels.
Cyrene was subjugated by Ptolemy only 10-12 years after the death of Demetrius the Handsome.
Antiochus II Campaign
Antiochus II found it advantageous and timely to intervene in the struggle of the powers of the Eastern Mediterranean. His allies were considered primarily the Rhodians, who had long been burdened by Ptolemaic hegemony; Antiochus II and the Rhodians jointly besieged Ephesus. The Egyptian fleet, according to Polyaenus, was commanded in the harbor of Ephesus by the famous Athenian Chremonides. Agathosstratus, the Navarch of Rhodes, unexpectedly launched an attack on the enemy fleet and defeated the Egyptians. After this victory, Ephesus was taken. Probably at the same time Antiochus besieged Miletus and, having captured this city, destroyed the tyrant Timarchus.
Results of the war
Such a vigorous attack by Antiochus II on Egyptian positions in the Eastern Mediterranean meant the complete defeat of Egypt in the war. Apart from the above, nothing concrete is known about the war itself. Its enormous scale is partly revealed by its results. Various documents indicate that Antiochus II regained Ionia, part of Cilicia, Pamphylia, Ptolemy III Euergetes then had to recapture them from the Seleucids. It seems that Antiochus also took possession of Samothrace.
The peace treaty seems to have been concluded in the year of the Delian archon Pakhet - 255/4 BC. e. Neither the place nor the nature of the diplomatic agreements, however, are known. It may have been under the terms of these agreements that Antigonus withdrew the garrison from Musaeum in Athens, as an act of returning “freedom” to the Athenians. Antiochus II was supposed to confirm the autonomy of the Greek cities of Asia Minor, and Ptolemy II - the independence of Cyrene.
Post-war diplomacy
For Ptolemy Philadelphus, the existence of a broad coalition of his opponents was especially dangerous. In the face of military defeats, the ruler of Egypt resorted to deft diplomatic maneuvers to sow discord between Macedonia and the Seleucid Empire. Ptolemy II tried to bring Antiochus closer to himself and married him to his daughter Berenice, giving her a huge dowry. Also, the Egyptian king pretended to be Antigonus' friend and ally Gonatas.
Arat of Sicyon, having annexed his city to the Achaean League, took measures to strengthen friendship with Egypt. Ptolemy II sent him a gift of 25 talents, perspicaciously seeing in him an ally of his power and the future support of the anti-Macedonian policy in Greece. Having reached Alexandria, Aratus completely charmed Ptolemy Philadelphus with his intelligence, knowledge of art, and through this “relaxed diplomacy” he begged another 350 talents from the cunning ruler of Egypt. Thus, while supporting either Antiochus or Antigone, Philadelphus at the same time financed liberation movements directed against them, hoping for future revenge.
Domestic policy
Ptolemy II strengthened the economic and political position of Egypt. He pursued a policy of distributing land plots to large nobles. He forbade turning free people into slavery. He laid the foundation for the deification of the pharaohs of the Ptolemaic dynasty, founding the cults of his parents and his sister and wife Arsinoe II. In commercial terms, he maintained relations with Rome: from there he received raw materials processed in Egyptian factories. According to Strabo, Ptolemy was distinguished by curiosity and, due to bodily weakness, was constantly looking for new entertainment and amusements. Ptolemy II, like his father, encouraged the development of sciences and arts. Josephus adds that Ptolemy was a great bibliophile and significantly increased the wonderful library in Alexandria, trying to collect in it and translate into Greek all the books that existed in the world. The number of books in this unique repository allegedly reached half a million copies. Among others, the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek. Interested in the fate of the Jewish people, Ptolemy ordered the release of 100,000 prisoners taken by his father from Judea. Many famous scientists and poets of that time lived at the court of Ptolemy (Callimachus, Theocritus, Manetho, Eratosthenes, Zoilus and others). Ptolemy erected many luxurious buildings, built cities, organized festivals, restored and decorated the southern temple between Luxor and Karnak. However, his greatest fame, which did not fade in the subsequent period, was brought to him by the construction of the Pharos lighthouse (c. 280 BC), which was soon ranked as one of the seven wonders of the world.
Family
- His first wife and mother of Ptolemy III was Lysimachus' daughter Arsinoe I.
- Children:
- Ptolemy III Euergetes
- Lysimachus
- Berenice
- Having fallen in love with Arsinoe, his own sister, he married her, doing something that was in no way allowed among the Macedonians, but which was customary among the Egyptians over whom he ruled. Originally the beautiful and vain Arsinoe in 299 BC. was married to old Lysimachus of Thracia. She then had his son from his first marriage executed to clear the way for her sons to gain power. After the fall of the Thracian kingdom and the death of Lysimachus in 281 BC. she married her stepbrother Ptolemy Keraunus, who turned out to be an even more cunning schemer, and killed her two sons. She was forced to flee in 279 BC. ended up in Egypt with her brother Ptolemy II. Arsinoe II married her brother, who was eight years younger than her, and so became queen. The former wife of Ptolemy II was expelled from the capital and accused of plotting against the life of the king of Egypt, then repressions began against other members of the royal house, most likely provoked by Arsinoe II. Zhigunin believes that the marriage union of Arsinoe and Ptolemy II was needed not only by Arsinoe and her son, but also by the king of Egypt himself, who hoped through this marriage to acquire “legal” rights to the legacy of Lysimachan - to those vast territories where Arsinoe had once been unlimited mistress, and where her son Ptolemy could regain his royal name under the supreme protectorate of Egypt. Ptolemy II even received the nickname Philadelphus (Greek: “Loving sister”) for his supposedly exemplary love for his sister-wife. Arsinoe II received divine honors, and in “Arsinoe” there was a topaz statue of her almost two and a half meters high. Pausanias mentions a statue of a brother and sister that stood near the Odeon in Athens.
Ptolemy had no children from her.
With him from 273g. BC. an alliance was concluded (ancient Greek. ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ) Ptolemies with Rome, which, probably, in subsequent times was mechanically renewed with the accession to the throne of each new ruler of Egypt. According to Appian, Ptolemy II Philadelphus tried to mediate between the Romans and Carthaginians during the First Punic War (264-241 BC).
Judea under Ptolemaic rule
Ptolemy I Lagus
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The great empire of Alexander the Great, scattered in three parts of the world - Europe, Asia and Africa, did not last long. After his death in 323 BC. e. Alexander's generals began to fight each other for the possession of the conquered lands. These wars went down in history under the name “wars of the diadochi” (diadokh - translated from Greek - heir). Ptolemy was one of Alexander's closest friends. More than once he carried out the most difficult assignments of the great commander. After Alexander's death, he believed that the power should pass into strong hands. Ptolemy I Lagus, nicknamed Soter, was the ruler of Egypt from 324-283. BC e. It took him about 20 years to recapture Judea from the Seleucids. The fighting took place on the territory of Eretz Israel. Jerusalem passed several times to one ruler and then to another. According to the chroniclers, Ptolemy I easily captured the city, attacking it on Saturday, when the Jews could not resist the enemy with weapons in their hands. In 301 BC. e. Judea finally came under the rule of Ptolemy I. |
After many years of unrest, the lands of Western Asia and North Africa were divided between two Greek commanders: Egypt and Judea remained with Ptolemy I, and Syria, Asia Minor and Babylonia went to the military leader Seleucus. Alexandria of Egypt was chosen as the capital of the Ptolemies, and Antioch, in Asia Minor, for the Seleucids. The Syrian rulers from the clan of Seleucus could not come to terms with the idea that Judea had fallen to the Egyptians, and were always looking for an opportunity to reconquer this land. But the Egyptian kings kept Judea under their rule for a long time.
Historians claim that Ptolemy I Lagus treated the conquered peoples fairly. He settled the captives taken from Judea in Alexandria and granted them all civil rights. He appointed capable Jewish warriors as commanders of the army and entrusted them with the protection of fortresses. Many voluntarily came from Judea to Egypt and settled there. But the Egyptians themselves were hostile to the Jews, as foreigners who came to their country along with the Greek conquerors.
In Judea itself, Ptolemy I left for the inhabitants the same freedom of government as under the Persians. The high priest was in charge of internal affairs with the help of the Sanhedrin. The High Priest was Judah's representative to the Egyptian government, responsible for the timely payment of taxes and maintaining peace in Eretz Israel.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Septuagint - translation of the seventy
After Ptolemy I, his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (reigned 283-247 BC), became king of Egypt, under whom the situation of the Jews became even better. The new ruler surrounded himself with Greek scientists and poets and took care of the development of sciences and arts in his country. At his court in Alexandria there was the greatest museum in the world, where literary and artistic works of all nations were collected.
Tradition tells that Ptolemy II Philadelphus, having learned about the high merits of the Jewish sacred books, wished to get acquainted with them and obtain an accurate Greek translation of them for his rich book depository. Despite the fact that there were many Jewish sages in Egypt, Ptolemy II turned to the high priest of Jerusalem Elazar and asked to send knowledgeable people to Alexandria who could translate Jewish books into Greek. Elazar sent 70 scholars who brought with them the original Torah for translation.
The translators received a brilliant reception. The king talked a lot with them and was amazed at their wisdom. The scientists were given a palace on the island of Pharos, not far from Alexandria, and there, in complete silence, they began their work. According to one of the existing legends, everyone received a separate room and could not communicate while working with other translators. At the end of the work, it turned out that all 70 translations were exactly the same.
Another legend tells that the translators constantly consulted with each other, discussing for a long time the details of the translation of the Holy text.
The translation was presented to Ptolemy II in the presence of the elders of the Egyptian Jews. These elders asked permission to copy the translation to distribute it in their communities, where the Jews mostly spoke Greek. Many of them could no longer read the Torah in their native language. Later translations of the remaining books of the Tanakh were made. Through these translations, the Hellenistic world discovered a completely different religion, culture and philosophy. Subsequently, this translation received the name "Septuagint" - "translation of the seventy."
Until now, the attitude towards this event in the Jewish world is ambiguous. Some believe that the translation of the Torah ensured its dissemination in the Hellenistic world and had a great influence on it. In addition, the translation of the Torah into Greek made it possible for Jews who had lost knowledge of their language to remain faithful to the religion of their ancestors.
Others consider the translation of the Torah a catastrophic event in the life of the Jewish people. In their opinion, a book was revealed to the world that God gave only to the Jewish people. Let us add that texts like Holy Scripture cannot be accurately translated into any other language.
Ptolemy III Euergetes
Under Ptolemy III Euergetes, who ruled 246-221. BC BC, Judea was in great danger. The Syrian kings wanted to reclaim Judea. They won over the high priest and the nobles and persuaded them to refuse payments to the Egyptian king. Ptolemy III sent an envoy to Judea with a strict demand for the immediate payment of 20 talents of silver (1 talent 21.5 kg), threatening to punish the disobedient.
Controversy has flared up again in Jerusalem. Supporters of Egyptian rule sent the high priest's young nephew, Joseph, son of Tobiah, to Alexandria to assuage the anger of Ptolemy III. With flattering speeches and rich gifts, Joseph managed to win over the king and convince him of the loyalty of the Jewish people.
Ptolemy III appointed Joseph as chief tax collector in Palestine. A detachment of 2,000 soldiers was placed at his disposal. For twenty-two years Yosef was in charge of collecting taxes and diligently fulfilled his duties. During this time, he not only significantly enriched the Egyptian treasury, but also enriched himself. As a royal commissioner, he had great influence on the management of affairs in Judea and contributed to the establishment of Greek order in it. Jews from wealthy strata of society began to increasingly imitate the life of the Greeks, indulged in luxury and idleness, and increasingly moved away from Jewish customs.
Ptolemy IV Philopator
Hostility towards Jews first appeared under Ptolemy IV Philopator, who reigned from 221-205. BC e. The Syrian king Antiochus III the Great threatened Judea. He had already taken possession of Galilee and the lands east of the Jordan. Ptolemy IV managed to defeat the Syrians and return the conquered lands. Contemporaries believed that after this successful battle, Ptolemy IV could launch a successful offensive and take all the lands from Antiochus III. But the king loved fun and holidays more than military campaigns.
Ambassadors from the Jewish people came to congratulate the Egyptian king on his victory. Tradition says that the king expressed a desire to visit Jerusalem and make a sacrifice in the Temple.
Soon Ptolemy IV arrived in Jerusalem and climbed the Temple Mount. Having entered the front rooms of the Temple, he wanted to go further to the Holy of Holies, where by law only the high priests were allowed access. Neither the requests of the clergy, nor the murmur of the assembled people could change his intentions. Josephus says that as soon as the king stepped on the threshold of the sacred rest, his legs gave way and he fell exhausted, so that he had to be carried out of the Temple in his arms. Since then, according to legend, he hated the Jews and their faith.
Information about these events was preserved for us by the Third Book of Maccabees, which was written by an Egyptian Jew and dedicated to the Jews of this country during the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopator. The main goal of the author of the book was to exalt the Temple, to tell about manifestations of Divine power, and not to present strict historical facts. That is why the book is more like a literary work and not all the events described in it can be considered scientifically confirmed.
Changes in the economic life of Judea
The hostilities between Egypt and Syria brought with them death and ruin for the inhabitants of Eretz Israel. Even when military operations were not carried out on its territory, economic losses were enormous. Armies of warriors, accompanied by endless convoys, merchants, women, children and the soldiers' own slaves, captured cities, stole supplies, and plundered villages. With the usual strength of armies of 80,000 foot soldiers and 8,000 horsemen, Eretz Israel was forced to feed about 300,000 people and a huge number of livestock - horses, donkeys, mules and camels.
The entire population was required to pay taxes on land and crops, which reached 1/3 of the grain harvest and 1/2 of the fruit harvest. Under Greek rule, the position of slaves also changed. If previously a person became dependent on a local owner for debts and remained to live in his settlement, now the sale of slaves outside Eretz Israel has become a mass phenomenon.
But along with the conquerors, technical improvements also came to Judea. The primitive hand mill, in which grain was ground with a stone millstone, was supplanted by the Greek mill, in which manual labor was necessary only at the beginning of the work.
At the same time, oil pressing machines and presses for wine production appeared. The vertical loom also appears. The water was raised using a gate and an “endless” rope. Perhaps some improvements to the plow date back to this time.
Serious changes took place in pottery - potters began to work on a wheel, which was driven by their feet. Hands are freed to create exquisite shapes. For poorer buyers, potters began to cover clay products with glaze - and they could hardly be distinguished from the silver and gold dishes that were in fashion among aristocrats.
Even the lighting has changed. Traditionally in Palestine, an open saucer was used, the edge of which was slightly curved to support the wick - oil was poured into the saucer, and the lamp was ready. Now “Greek lamps” began to appear - small, black-glazed, with a wick attachment, they burned longer, saved oil and wicks, and were safer.
Questions for the chapter
1. Try to identify historical and mythical elements in the story about the creation of the translation of the Torah into Greek.
2. Find out from the teacher of tradition what other opinions exist regarding the translation of the books of Tanakh into Greek.
3. Write a general description of the life of the Jewish people under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
4. Who was the main opponent of the Ptolemies in the struggle for possession of Judea?
5. Tell us about the main occupations of the Jews of Eretz Israel.
6. Find on the map the capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom of the Seleucid kingdom.
Historical sources
Greek historian Agafarchides on the reasons for the fall of Jerusalem
When reading the passage, pay attention to the attitude of the historian Agafarchid to the observance of the Torah by the Jews.
[…] There is a people called Jews, who, possessing the fortified and large city of Jerusalem, allowed it to be occupied by Ptolemy only because they did not want to take up arms. It was as a result of such untimely and inappropriate superstition that they had to prefer such a harsh despot. […]
Josephus Flavius
1. What is Agatharchides’ attitude towards Ptolemy Lagus? Explain your assumption.
Description of the capture of Jerusalem by Josephus
Compare this passage with the description of Agatharchides.
[…] Ptolemy also mastered Jerusalem by cunning and deceit, namely, having entered the city on Saturday under the pretext of making a sacrifice, he did not encounter the slightest obstacle from the Jews (they did not at all expect him to be an enemy) and as a result, that they did not suspect anything and spent this day in carefree fun, easily took possession of the city and began to brutally rule over it. […]
Josephus Flavius
Jewish antiquities. Book 12, 1:1.
1. How does this description differ from the previous one?
2. How does it characterize Ptolemy I?
Description of the settlement of Alexandria in Egypt by Jews
As you read the passage, pay attention to the situation of the captives in Alexandria.
[…] Then Ptolemy, having taken captive a multitude of people from the mountainous part of Judea, from the outskirts of Jerusalem, […] led them all to Egypt and settled them here. When he learned that the inhabitants of Jerusalem were particularly reliable in keeping their oaths and keeping their word […] he placed many of them in garrisons and made them equal in rights with the Alexandrian Macedonians, and took an oath from them that they would maintain this loyalty as well to his descendants. […]
Josephus Flavius
Jewish antiquities. Book 12, 1:1.
1. What qualities of the people of Jerusalem are noted in the passage?
Book of Maccabees III about Ptolemy IV's visit to the Temple
As you read the passage, pay attention to how Ptolemy's attitude toward the sanctity of the Temple changed.
[…] 9. Arriving in Jerusalem, Ptolemy made a sacrifice to the great God, gave thanks and performed other things befitting a sacred place;
10. And when he entered there, he was amazed at the grandeur and splendor and, marveling at the improvement of the Temple, desired to enter the sanctuary.
11. He was told that he should not do this, for it was not permissible for anyone from his own people to enter there, not even for priests, but only for one high priest who rules over all, and that only once a year; but he didn’t want to listen.
12. They read the law to him, but even then he did not abandon his intention, saying that he must enter: let them be deprived of this honor, but not me, and asked why, when he entered the Temple, none of those present prevented him ?
13. And when someone imprudently said that it was done badly, he answered, since it had already been done, then should he not enter, whether they want it or not. […]
22. But, full of insolence and neglecting everything, he was already taking a step forward in order to completely fulfill what had been said before.
23. Seeing this, those who were with him began to call upon the Almighty together with us, so that He would help in the present need and would not allow such a lawless, arrogant act. […]
25. It seemed that not only the people, but also the very walls and all the foundations were groaning, as if already dying for the desecration of the sacred place. […]
Book of Maccabees III, 1:9-25
1. Find words in the text that show the author’s attitude to current events.
2. Why was Ptolemy IV so eager to get into the sanctuary of the Jewish Temple?
Tolemy began to rule the country during his father’s lifetime. Having fallen in love with Arsinoe, his own sister on both his father's and mother's sides, he married her, doing something that was in no way allowed among the Macedonians, but which was customary among the Egyptians over whom he ruled. For his love for his sister-wife he was nicknamed Philadelph. Ptolemy II received an excellent education, but was prone to effeminacy and cruelty.
He killed his brother Argei, who allegedly encroached on his life. He transported the ashes from Memphis to Alexandria. Ptolemy also killed another brother, born of Eurydice, noticing that he was encouraging the inhabitants of Cyprus to fall away from Egypt.
In foreign policy, he tried to avoid fighting and acted through deft interventions and negotiations.
In 280 BC. e., taking advantage of the difficult situation of the Syrian kingdom, Ptolemy took away the southernmost regions of Syria and even captured Damascus. Ptolemy's brother on the mother of Berenice I, Magas, who thanks to her received governorship in Cyrene and betrothed his daughter to the son of Philadelphus, in 274 BC. e. led an army from Cyrene to Egypt. Ptolemy, having strengthened the passes, expected the advance of the Cyrene troops, but Magas never attacked him, since he was forced to conquer the nomadic Libyan tribes that had fallen away from him. Ptolemy wanted to pursue him, but he also could not do this due to the outbreak of an uprising of Galatian mercenaries. Magas was not satisfied with this and dragged the Asian king into the war. In 265 BC. e. Ptolemy sent his fleet to the shores of Greece to act against the Macedonian king. But this fleet was defeated at Kos.
After the second Syrian war (266-263), Ptolemy retained Phenicia, Lycia, Caria and many coastal cities (eg Kaun, Ephesus). He intervened in the affairs of Greece in order to acquire the Cyclades islands and prevent the rise of Macedonia (the so-called Chremonid War, 266).
Ptolemy's children were born not from his sister Arsinoe, but from the daughter of Lysimachus. His sister died childless. According to Strabo, Ptolemy was distinguished by curiosity and, due to bodily weakness, was constantly looking for new entertainment and amusements.
In commercial matters, he also maintained relations with Rome: from there he obtained raw goods that were processed in Egyptian factories. At his court we meet many famous scientists and poets of that time (Callimachus, Theocritus, Manetho, Eratosthenes, Zoilus, etc.). Ptolemy II was a great bibliophile; under him, the public library increased so much that a new one was founded at the museum. He tried to collect in it and translate into Greek all the books that existed in the world. The number of books in this unique repository allegedly reached half a million copies. Among others, the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek.
Interested in the fate of the Jewish people, Ptolemy ordered the release of 100,000 prisoners taken by his father from Judea. He erected many luxurious buildings, built cities, organized festivals, restored and decorated the southern temple between Luxor and Karnak.
The murder of his daughter Berenice, given in marriage to, caused the Third Syrian War (247-239), which was started and ended by his successor and son -.