The Ptolemies were the final dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs, and their progenitor was a Greek by birth. The Ptolemies based the capital of their Egypt in Alexandria, a newly constructed port on the Mediterranean Sea. Ptolemy I achieved the rule of Egypt as one of Alexander the Great's generals. When Alexander (323-282 BC) died without heirs, his generals divided all of Alexander's territory among themselves.
Ptolemies and Alexander the Great
Ptolemy's portion of Alexander's rule included Egypt, Libya and the Sinai Peninsula, and he and his descendants would make up 13 rulers of Egypt and rule for close to 300 years. The famous Rosetta Stone, which proved to be the key to unlock the ancient Egyptian language, was carved in 196 BC, during the reign of Ptolemy V.
All of the Cleopatras of Egypt were members of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty; and it was the famous Cleopatra VII Philopator (ruled 51-30 BC) who ended the dynasty by allying herself with the Roman Marc Anthony, committing suicide and turning over the keys of the Egyptian civilization to Augustus Caesar.
Dynastic Rulers
- Ptolemy I 305-282 BC
- Ptolemy II 284-246 BC
- Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-221 BC
- Ptolemy IV Philopator 221-204 BC
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes 204-180 BC
- Ptolemy VI Philometor 180-145 BC
- Ptolemy VIII 170-163 BC
- Euregetes II 145-116 BC
- Ptolemy IX 116-107 BC
- Ptolemy X Alexander I 107-88 BC
- Soter II 88-80 BC
- Berenike IV 58-55 BC
- Ptolemy XII 80-51 BC
- Ptolemy XIII Philopator 51-47 BC
- Cleopatra VII Philopator 51-30 BC
- Ptolemy XIV Philopator Philadelphos 47-44 BC
- Ptolemy XV Caesar 44-30 BC
Sources
Chauveau, Michel (translated from the French by David Lorton). 2000. Egypt in the Age of Cleopatra: History and society under the Ptolemies. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.
This glossary entry is part of the About.com Guide to Ancient Egypt and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
