Ptolemaic dynasty. Ptolemaic Dynasty or Hellenistic Period Tangled Family Ties

Ptolemaic State Thanks to the numerous Greek and Demotic papyri that have survived to this day, much more is known about the socio-political structure of Hellenistic Egypt compared to other Hellenistic monarchies.

Chapter 6. Alexander and the Ptolemaic dynasty 332-30 BC

Beginning of the Ptolemaic dynasty (305–221 BC) As if the glory of Alexandria's famous monuments and sanctuaries were not enough to arouse the envy of their rivals! Ptolemy II established a holiday that was celebrated every four years, it was called Ptolemy and dedicated to the king’s father and

PTOLEMAIES

The Ptolemies (Lagids) were a famous royal dynasty that ruled Hellenistic Egypt for almost three centuries. It was founded by Ptolemy I (367–283 BC), son of Lagus, commander of Alexander the Great. Under the last representative of the dynasty - Cleopatra - the Ptolemaic state was conquered by Rome.

Dynasties, like people, are born, reach their peak and die... However, in relation to the Ptolemies, this metaphor looks unsuccessful: the beginning of the reign of this family was brilliant, the middle was terrible, and the sad, but unusual end was reflected in the work of the masters of words and brushes - Shakespeare , Bernard Shaw, Rubens... And the success of the legendary film “Cleopatra” (1963) clearly showed that interest in the life of the last representative of the Ptolemaic family has not faded to this day...

The founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty was the closest ally of Alexander the Great, a famous commander who won many high-profile victories - Ptolemy I Soter (Savior, reigned in 305-283 BC). The son of a Macedonian aristocrat, one of the friends of the future great king in his youth, he was expelled by his father Philip II from Macedonia, after whose death he returned and became Alexander's bodyguard.

During the wars in which Alexander the Great won victory after victory, Ptolemy gained military glory. Starting with a small detachment that covered the king in battle, he soon showed remarkable talent as a military leader. Historians mention that during the battle at the “Persian Gate,” Ptolemy already led a detachment of three thousand soldiers that captured the Persian camp. After the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander began to entrust him with more important tasks. In Bactria, he sent an associate in pursuit of Bessus, the satrap of Bactria and a distant relative of King Darius. Ptolemy accomplished the impossible: in four days he and his soldiers rode a distance that at that time was covered in ten days, overtook Bessus in one of the villages and brought him to Alexander.

A new chance to show his devotion came to Ptolemy when he became aware of Hermolai's conspiracy, which was reported by Eurylochus. Alexander valued his friend more and more, putting him in charge of first one-fifth, then, during the Indian campaign, already one-third of his army. His troops were entrusted with the most difficult and responsible areas, and there was no case that Ptolemy retreated in battle or did not complete the task assigned to him. Many times he risked his life for Alexander, and was wounded several times. His authority in the army was unshakable. Upon returning to Susa, Alexander married Artakam, daughter of Artabazus, to Ptolemy.

After the death of Alexander, the question arose about the fate of the state expanded thanks to military campaigns. At a meeting of the diadochi, Ptolemy was of the opinion that giving the state into the hands of one of the king’s heirs by blood - his brother Arrhidaeus or Roxana’s unborn child - was dangerous and unwise. He proposed choosing a king from among Alexander’s inner circle, from those commanders who went with him through the conquered countries and enjoyed authority among the army and free Greeks. During the division of Alexander's empire, Ptolemy got Egypt. He began his reign wisely. Founder's Justice new dynasty quickly won the sympathy of the Egyptians, and in subsequent wars they never went over to the side of the enemy. Having ensured the dominance of the Greek stratum, Ptolemy I nevertheless did not seek to impose his own customs in a foreign country, but pursued a policy of bringing the two cultures closer together. In particular, he solved religious problems by establishing a syncretic cult of the god Serapis. Ptolemy was drawn not so much to power and enrichment, but rather to ensure that the power entrusted to him became a new cultural center. He founded the famous Museyon of Alexandria with its famous library. Ptolemy also managed to bring the body of Alexander to Egypt, which was buried in the sanctuary of Amun in the oasis of Siwa, which additionally allowed Egypt to occupy a special place among the kingdoms of the other dyads of Okhs.

Ptolemy resorted to military force only in emergency cases, when it was necessary to strengthen his throne in Egypt. He went on a campaign having carefully weighed all the circumstances, so he knew almost no defeats. There were cases when contemporaries accused the ruler of Egypt of indecisiveness; in fact, he was guided by a sober calculation: he did not want to risk his position and country. His campaigns to Cyrenanca, Kelesyria, Cyprus, and Greece are known. They contributed to the strengthening of Ptolemy's power and the unity of Egypt, which during his reign became a prosperous country.

Of course, the strengthening of Egypt caused discontent among other diadochi. The Egyptians had to repel the invasion of their armies, in particular, Perdiccas and Antigonus One-Eye. The first to try to overthrow his rival was the regent of Macedonia, Perdiccas (c. 365–321 BC). When he openly began to lay claim to the royal throne of Egypt, many of his former comrades went under the banner of Ptolemy, who reminded them of Alexander in both character and abilities. Perdiccas tried several times to openly attack Ptolemy, besieging fortresses and sending troops to Egypt. But after a flood began during the crossing of the Nile and more than two thousand soldiers died, the military leaders openly rebelled and Perdiccas was killed by the conspirators. The army, almost in its entirety, went over to Ptolemy’s side.

Soon the ruler of Egypt again had to defend his right to rule the country. This time his opponent was Antigonus (382–301 BC), Ptolemy’s former ally in the fight against Perdiccas, who this time opposed him along with his son Demetrius Poliorcetes (337–283 BC). Antigonus sought to recreate a unified empire, at the head of which, naturally, he saw himself. Ptolemy acted cautiously: he entered into an alliance with Cassander and Lysimachus, the rulers of Macedonia and Thrace, as well as with Seleucus, who fled from Babylon to Egypt. An embassy was sent to Antigonus demanding that he cede part of the conquered lands. He declared that he had long been ready for war with Ptolemy, and the ambassadors left with nothing.

In 314 BC. e. Antigonus attacked Phenicia and Syria, which were subject to Egypt. Egypt could lose not only its foreign possessions, but also its own independence. In 312 BC. e. in Cyprus, which had not yet shown discontent, a rebellion broke out against Egyptian rule. There is an assumption that the local kings acted at the instigation of Antigonus. Ptolemy, at the head of a large army, crossed to the island. Having dealt with the rebels, he moved to Caria, reached Cilicia, which at that moment fell away from Egypt, plundered this country and returned to Cyprus again, and then went to Egypt to fight the enemy.

The decisive battle between the forces of Ptolemy and Seleucus, on the one hand, and Demetrius, on the other, took place that same year near Gaza, where the Egyptian and Babylonian rulers won a spectacular victory, capturing many prisoners, some of whom were settled in Egypt. Syria and Phenicia were again under the rule of Lagid.

However, the confrontation continued. In 306 BC. e. Ptolemy's fleet near Cyprus entered into battle with Demetrius' ships. The result was a terrible defeat for the Egyptians. Dominance at sea passed to their enemy for many years. Inspired by the victory, Antigonus and Demetrius proclaimed themselves kings. The rest of the dyads immediately followed their example. Ptolemy did this already in 305 BC. e., trying to emphasize their independent position.

Meanwhile, Antigonus assembled a huge army, preparing to cross the Nile and invade Egypt. However, Ptolemy concentrated numerous troops and catapults on the opposite bank. The enemy was unable to even land troops. Soon, due to a lack of food, the enemy army was forced to leave with nothing.

Probably, this life-and-death struggle would have lasted for many more years. However, in 301 BC. e. Antigonus fell at the Battle of Ipsus, fighting against the united forces of the Diadochi. Ptolemy did not take part in it. For reasons known only to him, he returned from Syria to Egypt, and to the reproaches of the allies he replied that he had heard rumors about their defeat.

In subsequent years, Ptolemy led a rather calm life compared to his stormy youth. He was involved in strengthening the economic position of the state (under him, the post of dioikete was introduced - a kind of minister of finance and economy).

It is known that Ptolemy married several times, pursuing purely political goals. No information has been preserved about the fate of his first wife, the Persian Artakama. Historians know much more about Ptolemy’s connection with the Athenian heterosexual Tais (read about their love in Ivan Efremov’s novel “Tais of Athens”). It is no secret that she had children from Ptolemy: sons Leontisk and Lag, as well as daughter Eirene. The fate of the sons is unknown. The daughter was eventually married to Eunost, king of the city of Sola in Cyprus.

As for Ptolemy’s official marriages, they were all dictated by concerns about the state, and not by love. While still a satrap, Ptolemy wanted to marry Alexander's 47-year-old sister Cleopatra, but she was killed on the orders of Antigonus, and the wedding did not take place. For the second time, the king entered into a marriage alliance with the daughter of the diadochos Antipater, Eurydice, which connected him with family ties with the other “heirs” of Alexander, many of whom were also Antipater’s sons-in-law. Eurydice gave birth to many daughters and two sons - Meleager and Ptolemy Keraunus. The latter was at one time considered the heir to the throne of the Egyptian kings. However, Ptolemy broke up with Eurydice, and in 317 BC. BC, according to the custom of the pharaohs, he married his half-sister Berenice. He made her son Ptolemy Philadelphus (309–246 BC) his heir.

The founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty died in 283 BC. e. Two years before his death, in order to prevent quarrels between contenders for the throne, he made Philadelphus his co-ruler, declaring that being the father of a king was better than being a king himself.

The son of Ptolemy I - Ptolemy II Philadelphus (reigned 288–246 BC) - continued the domestic and foreign policy begun by his father. Ptolemy II ordered the ashes of Alexander the Great to be transported from the oasis of Siwa to Alexandria, where he was reburied in a tomb in a section of the royal palace of Sema. The first two Ptolemies carried out monetary reforms, introducing a monetary system that was absent from traditional ancient Egyptian culture during the New Kingdom. Under Ptolemy Philadelphus, the patron saint of scientists and poets, the Museion and the Library of Alexandria reached their greatest prosperity. Under him, the famous Faros lighthouse was built - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Married to his own sister Arsinoe, Ptolemy II established her cult in temples built in her honor. The cult of Arsinoe took place in Mendes, Sais, Memphis, Fayum (Arsinoe) and Thebes. The temple of Aphrodite Arsinoe was also erected on Cape Zephyria. Not every woman, even of royal blood, could boast of such a manifestation of love.

Thanks to the efforts of the first two Ptolemies, Alexandria became the largest commercial and cultural center of the East. The support of the new dynasty was the Greeks and Macedonians, who were the holders of the royal land in the cleruchia. At the same time, the Egyptians perceived the reigning dynasty, if not entirely favorably, then, in any case, without obvious hostility. But soon the situation changed.

Under Ptolemy III Euergetes (285 or 275–222 BC; reigned 246–222 BC), about whom very little is known (in particular, it was he who annexed all of Syria to Egypt), the Ptolemaic state was still in its prime, but under subsequent rulers a gradual decline of the kingdom began, accompanied by major popular unrest. In the 2nd–1st centuries BC. e. Egypt, torn apart by political intrigues at court, bureaucratic arbitrariness at the local level and social protests of the Egyptians, is entering an economic crisis.

The rulers of this time were the product of an era of decline. Of course, most of the records that have survived to this day were made by court historians, but even their evidence confirms that the descendants of Ptolemy Soter devoted much more time to entertainment than to state affairs. In particular, Ptolemy IV Philopator (c. 244–204 BC; reigned 221–204 BC) is notorious for the fact that immediately after the death of his father he killed his mother and brother, after which he indulged in debauchery . He left military affairs and trade for constant orgies. Having killed his wife Eurydice (who was also his sister), he spent his days and nights with the famous heterosexual Agathoclea, and later with her brother Agathocles, since the Greeks were quite tolerant of adherents of same-sex love. The mother of the favorites, Enanfa, quickly realized the full benefit of the situation, and soon the state was actually ruled by a dissolute family, plundering the treasury and selling court positions right and left. Their greed was so great that they even hid the death of Ptolemy and for some time continued to lead their previous lifestyle. However, when the news of the king’s death spread throughout Alexandria, Agathocles was torn to pieces by the crowd, and the women responsible for the death of Eurydice were crucified.

Ptolemy V Epiphanes (210–180 BC; reigned 204–180 BC), son of Ptolemy IV Philopatra and Eurydice, ascended the throne at a young age and achieved almost no glory for himself. He owes his victories and defeats in wars to his commander Skopas. All that is known about the king himself is that he married Cleopatra, the daughter of the Syrian king Antiochus III, and received Kelesyria, Phenicia and Judea as a dowry for her.

Ptolemy VI Philometor (c. 191–145 BC), who ruled Egypt from 180–145 BC. e., according to Justin, he was so inactive and weakened by excesses that he even lost his mind from excessive obesity (in fairness, we should also mention the statement of Polybius, who saw in Ptolemy VI a kind and generous, but weak-willed and prone to debauchery person).

The next representative of the dynasty, Ptolemy VIII Physcon (c. 183–116 BC), was at one time co-ruler of his predecessor and older brother, until the rivalry between Rome and the Syrian king Antiochus IV turned in favor of Philometer. The brothers divided their father's inheritance, and Philometra received Egypt, and Fiscon - Cyrenaica. However, the ambitious Fiskon was dissatisfied with his share and made many efforts to increase it. This was done only in 145 BC. e., after the death of his brother. Egyptian ambassadors came to Physcon and offered him royal power over their country, and with it the hand of the widow of Philometra and his sister Cleopatra II. The queen did not at all want to marry a man who by that time had become famous for such cruelty that even his subjects were horrified. She sought to place her son, Ptolemy VII Neos (d. 142 BC), on the throne, and even with the support of noble Egyptians, she proclaimed him king. However, Fiscon was not going to let go of power. He killed the boy right in the arms of his mother during the wedding, after which he ascended to the wedding bed. This death marked the beginning of a bloody reign. He drove away Cleopatra II by raping and marrying her daughter. Ordinary Egyptians rushed away from Alexandria in horror after Fiscon handed over the kingdom to foreign soldiers. The city was almost deserted. Then the king called foreigners to Alexandria, but they too soon hated the ugly ruler, whose cruelty bordered on madness. When an internecine war broke out with Cleopatra, his ex-wife, he in 130 BC. e. killed his own son Ptolemy Memphite and sent his body to his mother as a birthday present. After this, according to historians, the people began to destroy images of Ptolemy Physcon everywhere and destroy his statues.

Cleopatra II, having loaded her ships with treasures, fled to Syria and began to persuade the Syrian king Demetrius II, married to her daughter, to start a war against Ptolemy. Having learned about this, Fiscon sent a large army led by Alexander Zabina to Syria. He successfully completed his assignment: he captured the country, killed Demetrius and became king. However, he soon began to disdain Ptolemy and was severely punished: a new army led by Demetrius' son, Antiochus VIII, invaded Syria, and the son took his father's throne. Perhaps the strangest thing in the history of Physcon's reign is that at the end of his life he made peace with his sister and ex-wife, Cleopatra II, defeated external and internal enemies and calmly died a natural death in 116 BC. e.

Ptolemy XII Auletes (Fluteist 117–51 BC; reigned in 80–58 BC and from 55 BC) “became famous” for his far from brilliant mental abilities, addiction to playing the flute and exorbitant cruelty, for which he was hated by everyone. Through his inept rule, he brought Egypt to the point where the situation in the country was completely controlled by Roman moneylenders. He even handed over the country's main financial post to one of them. The Alexandrians rebelled, and in 58 BC. e. The flutist was expelled from Egypt, and the throne was taken by his eldest daughter Berenice IV (79 or 75–55 BC), who reigned alone, even after she married Archelaus.

The last prominent representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty was Cleopatra VII (69–30 BC). The youngest daughter of Ptolemy XII, Cleopatra, which means “glorious by father,” was born in Alexandria. The girl was very smart and lively. She showed early cunning and an amazing ability to use people, seducing them in order to achieve what she wanted. She studied many languages ​​(she was the first of the Ptolemies to master ancient Greek), and was familiar with Greek literature and philosophy. Innate curiosity pushed the girl to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of a person, and immense ambition forced her to apply the acquired knowledge to achieve her goals.

And the beauty of the Egyptian queen, alas, is nothing more than a myth. Cleopatra had irregular facial features - a large nose, a sharp chin - which, however, gave her a special charm, enhanced by skillfully applied makeup. The famous ancient Greek historian Plutarch wrote: “The beauty of this woman was not that which is called incomparable and amazes at first sight, but her manner was distinguished by irresistible charm, and therefore her appearance, combined with the rare persuasiveness of her speeches, with enormous charm, visible in every word, in every movement, firmly embedded in the soul. The very sounds of her voice caressed and delighted the ear, and her tongue was like a multi-stringed instrument, easily tuned to any mood - to any dialect, so that she spoke with only very few barbarians through an interpreter, and most often she herself talked with strangers ... "

In 51 BC. e. Ptolemy Auletes died. According to the king's will and ancient Egyptian custom, the eldest brother and sister inherited the throne, becoming husband and wife. The young husband of Ptolemy XIII Philopator (62/61–47 BC) was not capable of ruling the country either by age or character. In contrast, Cleopatra dreamed of creating a strong and powerful state, the borders of which would exceed the borders of the state of the first Ptolemies. To achieve this goal, she was ready to use any means.

The young king's mentor - the cunning and dexterous eunuch Pothin, a master of political and palace intrigue - could not openly sit on the throne, since he had no heirs and the opportunity to found a new dynasty, pushing aside the Ptolemies. But he would be quite content to rule Egypt on behalf of his foolish ward. Cleopatra's far-reaching plans ran counter to his own claims, if not to the throne, then to power in the country. And Pothin began to gather people at the court who were ready to support him in the fight against the queen. Cleopatra turned to Rome for support and even sent troops loyal to her to meet the expected Roman legions. Taking advantage of the situation, Potin carried out a coup d'etat. Cleopatra fled to Syria, where her army stood on the border with Egypt. The queen managed to convince the military leaders to march on Alexandria. Ptolemy XIII moved the army towards her, succumbing to the persuasion of the power-hungry eunuch.

The will of Ptolemy Auletes stated that Rome was the guarantor of his will for succession to the throne. Remembering this, as well as the unpaid debt of the reigning house of ten thousand talents, Caesar volunteered to settle the dispute between brother and sister in the hope of returning the money and demanded that both parties disband their armies and appear in Alexandria for his trial.

Legend has it that Cleopatra offered Caesar a night of love in exchange for a ruling in her favor. Whether this was actually the case is unknown, but Caesar announced to Ptolemy that he must make peace with his sister and share power with her. Deceived in his expectations, the king tore the crown from his head, threw it on the floor and shouted “I have been betrayed! To arms! ran out of the palace. Dissatisfied with the presence of the Romans and incited by Pothinus, the Alexandrians seemed to be just waiting for this call. A rebellion broke out, which very quickly escalated into a real war, later called the Alexandrian War.

All winter 48/47 BC. e. A Roman detachment led by Caesar withstood a siege at the residence of the Egyptian kings. Fearing that his fleet, blocked in the harbor, might fall to the enemy, the commander ordered it to be set on fire. The fire spread to the shore, destroying many buildings, and the unique city library was seriously damaged. When reinforcements arrived, Caesar defeated the rebels and the Egyptian army: Ptolemy XIII drowned during the flight, Pothinus died, and Arsinoe, Cleopatra's younger sister, who had sided with the rebels, was captured and then exiled outside the country.

By right of victory, Julius Caesar could have declared Egypt a Roman province, but instead he placed Cleopatra on the throne, obliging her, however, for the sake of local customs, as well as to avoid unnecessary conversations and discontent, to take as her husband and co-ruler another brother, Ptolemy XIV (c. 59–44 BC). This marriage, like the supposed joint reign, was fictitious. Cleopatra became the lover of the Roman commander.

In the summer of 47 BC. e. Cleopatra gave birth to 53-year-old Caesar, who had no legal heirs, her first child, a son, and named him Ptolemy XV Caesar (47–30 BC), adding two more titles to this name: Philopator and Philometor (“Loving Father” and "Loving mother") The Alexandrians, and later the Romans, called him mockingly: Caesarion (Caesarean, Caesar). Neither in Egypt nor in Rome no one rejoiced at the rapprochement between Caesar and Cleopatra. She was a stranger in Rome, he in Egypt. Nevertheless, many beautiful moments of their love are known, furnished with truly royal luxury: the sailing on the Nile, and the golden statues of Cleopatra in the guise of Isis, erected in Rome...

After the death of Ptolemy XIV and assassination in 44 BC. e. Julia Caesar's Cleopatra began to rule Egypt together with her son, and in fact - alone. In the conflict that flared up between Mark Antony and Caesar's great-nephew Octavian, Cleopatra, who dreamed of creating a great Hellenistic eastern empire, took Antony's side, concluding an alliance with him. Anthony and Cleopatra declared themselves a divine couple - Osiris (Dionysus) and Isis. Of course, Cleopatra was not at all a frivolous woman who constantly changed lovers. Her main love was Egypt, and it was for his sake that she entered into a new alliance, becoming the mistress of the rude, short-sighted and not very educated Anthony. According to Plutarch, she “did not let him go one step, day or night, chaining the Roman to her tighter and tighter. She played dice with him, drank together, hunted together, was among the spectators when he practiced with weapons, and at night, when in the dress of a slave he wandered and wandered around the city, stopping at the doors and windows of houses and showering his usual with the jokes of the owners - people of simple rank, Cleopatra was here next to Anthony, dressed to match him.” There is reason to believe that Anthony was not at all fascinated by the Egyptian queen. The reason for his rapprochement with her was as old as the world: he lacked funds for military campaigns, and Egypt at that time could provide him with everything he needed. Be that as it may, in 37 BC. e. Cleopatra, responding to the commander’s request, went to Laodicea (now Latakia, Syria) to deliver supplies for his army, and the meeting after a long separation, presumably, was stormy - upon returning to Alexandria at the end of the summer, she gave birth to a son, named Ptolemy Philadelphus . In exchange for agreeing to financially support the Parthian campaign, Anthony gave the queen part of the territory of Phenicia and northern Judea, promised to marry and legitimize the children (they married later, probably in 36 BC).

The policy of Anthony, who openly married Cleopatra and gave her Crete and Cilicia, caused outrage in Rome. War broke out between Antony and Octavian, recent allies. The combined forces of Cleopatra and Antony in the decisive naval battle off Cape Actium on September 2, 31 BC. e. were defeated, the Roman and the Egyptian queen fled to Alexandria. While Antony mourned his defeat, his wife began strengthening Egypt's defenses. She recruited allies, distributed weapons to the people and, in order to raise the morale of the troops, enlisted Caesarion as a soldier. At the same time, she was preparing an escape: in the narrowest place separating the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, Cleopatra decided to drag her ships, load soldiers and treasury on them, and sail in search of new lands, most likely to India. But when the ships were already dragging along the isthmus, the Nabatean Arabs, incited by the Romans, burned Cleopatra's fleet. She made a desperate attempt to come to an agreement with Octavian, but the price for mercy turned out to be prohibitively high - the murder of her husband. In August 30 BC. e. Roman troops approached the walls of Alexandria. The remnants of Anthony's army betrayed their commander; he himself, deceived by rumors of Cleopatra's death, attempted to commit suicide by throwing himself on a sword and died in the arms of his beloved.

Cleopatra decided to take a desperate step. In the evening of August 12, 30 BC. e. an unknown peasant brought Cleopatra a basket of sweet figs. Seeing the offering, the queen loudly exclaimed: “Ah, here she is!” Then she lay down on a golden bed and, parting the fruits in the basket, saw under them a fast sleeping asp curled up in a ring. With a golden hairpin, she pricked the snake, which, hissing in pain, stung the extended hand... When the Roman officers burst into the royal tomb, they saw the dead Cleopatra lying on a luxurious bed in the golden robes of the goddess Isis. Octavian ordered the children of Antony and Cleopatra (as well as Caesarion as a particularly dangerous contender for the throne) to be killed. The entry of Octavian's legions into Alexandria in August 30 BC. e. put an end to the independence of Egypt, which was included in the Roman possessions as a special province governed by an imperial prefect.

Thus ended the history of the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty - an ancient Macedonian family, whose representatives were outstanding people. Some can be called the greatest generals, others the greatest villains, but Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemaic family, combined all the best traits of the family: wisdom, foresight, charm and loyalty to her kingdom.

The name "Egypt" comes from ancient Greek. Αἴγυπτος and lat. Aegyptus, probably going back to one of the local names of the city of Memphis “Hetkaptah” “House of the Soul of Ptah”, apparently pronounced “Hi-Ku-Ptah”, which in Greek was pronounced as Aigyptos. The Egyptians themselves called their country “Kemet” - “Black”, thus contrasting it with the “Red” desert.

Hellenistic Egypt, otherwise Ptolemaic Egypt (332 BC - 30 BC) is a Hellenistic state formed on the territory of Egypt after the collapse of the state. The capital of Hellenistic Egypt was the founded city of Alexandria (Egyptian) in the Nile Delta, which became one of the main centers of Greek Hellenistic culture. The state's first ruler, the Diadochus Ptolemy I, used local traditions from the dynastic period to consolidate his power and founded the Ptolemaic dynasty. Hellenistic Egypt lasted until the Roman conquest in 30 BC. e., after which it became a province within the Roman Empire.

During the division of Alexander's empire, Egypt went to (“Savior”, 305-282 BC), the son of a Macedonian aristocrat and ally of the king. The cautious and far-sighted Ptolemy managed to bring the body of Alexander to Egypt, which was buried in the sanctuary of Ammon in the oasis of Siwa, which placed Egypt in a special place compared to the kingdoms of the other diadochi. The monarchical form of government, characteristic of the East since ancient times and adopted by the crowned pharaoh, was continued by the Ptolemies.

Throughout the 3rd century, the throne was inherited from father to son. Having ensured the dominance of the Greek stratum, Ptolemy I pursued a policy of bringing the two cultures closer together, establishing the cult of the syncretic god Serapis. Having planned to turn Egypt into a center of culture and the arts, Ptolemy founded the famous Museion with a famous library in Alexandria. The son of Ptolemy I - Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) - continued the domestic and foreign policies of his father. Married to his own sister Arsinoe II (the de facto ruler of Egypt), in keeping with the ancient Egyptian tradition of consanguineous marriages within the royal family, Ptolemy II established a cult in temples built in her honor.

The cult of Arsinoe took place in Mendes, Sais, Memphis, Fayum (city of Arsinoe) and Thebes. In Alexandria, on Cape Zephyria, the temple of Aphrodite Arsinoe was also built. On the island of Philae, the cult of the queen merged with the cult of Isis. Ptolemy II ordered the ashes of Alexander the Great to be transported from the oasis of Siwa to Alexandria, where he was buried in a tomb in a section of the royal palace of Sema. The first two Ptolemies carried out monetary reforms, introducing a monetary system that was absent from traditional ancient Egyptian culture during the New Kingdom. Under Ptolemy Philadelphus (reigned 285-246), the patron saint of scientists and poets, Musaeus and the Library of Alexandria reached their greatest prosperity. The Faros lighthouse was also built.

Being capable organizers, Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II created centralized system government with strong administrative power. The growth and consolidation of the kingdom led to the rapid transformation of Alexandria into the largest commercial and cultural city of the East. The main support of the new dynasty were the Greeks and Macedonians, who were the holders of the royal land (cleruchia). Among the Egyptians, the Ptolemies relied mainly on the priesthood, granting them privileges and endowing newly built temples in honor of Egyptian deities. Wanting to strengthen their influence and enlist the support of the Egyptian priesthood, the kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty built temples, the layout and architecture of which went back to the type of temple developed in the era of the New Kingdom.

Under Ptolemy III Evergetes (246-222 BC), who, like his father, patronized scientists, the Ptolemaic state was still at the zenith of its power, but under subsequent rulers a decline began, accompanied by popular unrest and damage to coins. The Egyptians protested not only against a specific dynasty, but against the Greeks who were placed in a privileged position and the priests who supported them. In the 2nd-1st centuries. BC e. Egypt, torn apart by political intrigues at court, bureaucratic arbitrariness at the local level and social uprisings of the Egyptian population, is entering an economic crisis. The last outstanding representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty was Cleopatra VII (69-30 BC). In reality, Cleopatra was not as beautiful as was later believed, but this queen had charm and determination that helped her win over Julius Caesar and then Mark Antony. From 51 Cleopatra ruled the country jointly with her brother and husband Ptolemy XIII, but after his death a sharp struggle for power broke out between her and her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. In the struggle for the throne, Cleopatra resorted to the help of Caesar, whose mistress she became. In a fire that broke out in Alexandria during the uprising of the city's inhabitants against Caesar's garrison (48 BC), most of the famous Library was destroyed. Caesar managed to gain the upper hand and place Cleopatra on the Egyptian throne, but Egypt retained its independence from Rome.

The son of Ptolemy XV Caesarion, born in 47 from Caesar (at least, this was announced by the queen) and Cleopatra, declared the son of Isis, strengthened the position of the queen, although he was only a nominal co-ruler. After the death of Ptolemy XIV and the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44, Cleopatra ruled Egypt alone. In the conflict that flared up between Mark Antony and Caesar's great-nephew Octavian, Cleopatra, who dreamed of creating a Hellenistic eastern empire, took the side of Caesar's associate, concluding an alliance with him. Anthony and Cleopatra declared themselves a divine couple - Osiris (Dionysus) and Isis. However, the short-sighted policy of Antony, who married Cleopatra and gave her Crete and Cilicia, caused outrage in Rome and led to a war between Antony and Octavian.

The war that began between the recent allies led to the defeat of the combined forces of Cleopatra and Antony in the naval battle off Cape Actium on September 2, 31. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Alexandria, where the commander, who considered the war lost, fell into despair and committed suicide. Cleopatra, who had vainly relied on her charms to avoid participating in Octavian's triumph, was forced to follow the example of her husband. Octavian ordered the children of Antony and Cleopatra (and Caesarion as a particularly dangerous contender for the throne) to be killed. The entry of Octavian's legions into Alexandria in August 30 put an end to the independence of Egypt, which was included in the Roman possessions as a special province governed by an imperial prefect.

Kings of Egypt (305 - 31 BC)
Capital Alexandria:

After the death of Alexander the Great, the vast empire of this great conqueror was divided into parts among his generals. One of them, Ptolemy, son of Nagas, became pharaoh of Egypt. He founded the Lagid dynasty, which ruled the land of the Ramesses for more than two and a half centuries.

Babylon plunged into mourning. On this mournful day of 323 BC. e. the great Mesopotamian city mourned Alexander the Great. The conqueror, who in less than fifteen years conquered Athens and Greece, defeated the troops of the proud Darius, king of the Persians, crossed the Euphrates and Tigris, captured Susa and Persepolis and created an unprecedented empire stretching from the banks of the Nile to the spurs of the Caucasus, died suddenly in its prime glory, struck down by fever. He did not live a few days before turning thirty-three.

Who will become the heir of the late ruler? Who will now rule these endless lands, these cities and these peoples, conquered by the great Alexander? The conqueror’s body had not yet had time to cool down when, between the diadochi shedding tears, he faithful comrades on weapons, the first disputes have already begun. And rivalry, ambition and envy began to flare up.

The split of the empire of Alexander the Great

The generals gathered for a council. However, very quickly disagreements arose in their circle. All of them had once shed blood for the sake of victories and now demanded a province or a city for themselves. Perdiccas was the most ardent in this dispute. Being Alexander's favorite and second after him, he laid claim to the regency and, in addition, proclaimed himself the protector of the ruler's widow, Queen Roxana. As a result, the empire collapsed. The Diadochi divided it into many pieces. But one province still escaped this fate because no one claimed it for themselves. This was Egypt. In 332 BC. e. Alexander freed him from Persian rule. The following year he founded a city in the Nile Delta, on the island of Pharos, and named it Alexandria. This distant African land on the western border of the empire, a long valley sandwiched between two deserts, did not attract any of the diadochi. The commanders were much more eager to take possession of the rich eastern territories located near the legendary route to India and mysterious China. That is why no one even began to argue when one of them declared that he wanted to rule this inhospitable region, which was of no economic or strategic interest. It must be said that the future ruler of Egypt was an outstanding personality, and not only because he was one of Alexander’s most famous commanders.

His name was Ptolemy, and he was the son of Lagus, a Macedonian leader. At the time of Alexander's death he was forty-four years old. Imagine a warrior with a proud, upright posture, a glorious soldier who has wielded weapons from a young age. However, Ptolemy was more than a soldier: heavy military armor could not hide either the flexible mind or the impeccable manners of the son of a leader, who was raised by the best Greek philosophers of the Macedonian court.

Egypt in decline

Of course, Ptolemy was well aware of what he was getting into when he undertook to rule Egypt. He knew these lands well. Ten years earlier, he accompanied Alexander the Great as he rode in triumph into Memphis, the ancient capital of the pharaohs, driving out the Persians. Diadochos did not forget that only the victorious king was then allowed to enter the sacred walls of the temple of Amun, where the priests proclaimed him the pharaoh of Egypt and the son of the greatest of the gods.

It is worth noting that when Ptolemy gained power over Egypt, the country was in an extremely poor state.

The lands are not cultivated, the temples are destroyed, the cities are left to their own devices. Eight centuries earlier, Ramesses XI, the last ruler of the 20th Dynasty, reigned here, and his reign marked the end of the New Kingdom, the era of prosperity of Egypt. After his death, the country plunged into the darkness of a new Transitional Period, the third in its history. Then the first Persian kings came with the XXVII Dynasty. Nectanebo II, a reign that could be described as something of a respite for the country, was the last Egyptian pharaoh. Following him, a new Persian dynasty, the XXXI, came to power, reigning around 341 BC. e. It was this dynasty that Alexander the Great overthrew.

First of all, Ptolemy wanted to understand exactly how to govern the amazing country that he, in some way, inherited. He felt that for this it was necessary to take into account its history, customs, religious rites and secrets, which no conqueror could understand before him. To become the true ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy had to eliminate one obstacle - the satrap Cleomenes, the Greek governor to whom Alexander had once entrusted the administration of the country. Being an intelligent, active and extremely rich man, Cleomenes introduced into the government numerous and completely loyal agents who in every possible way prevented the execution of Ptolemy’s orders. But Ptolemy did not hesitate in choosing the means to achieve his goal. The intriguing governor was killed by the guards sent to him.

Tangled Family Ties

The first wife of Ptolemy I was Artacama, who left him no children. He then married Eurydice, daughter of Antipater. From this marriage three children were born: Ptolemy Keraunus, Lysandra, who was given as a wife to Agathocles, the son of the Thracian king Lysimachus, and Ptolemais. A few years later, Ptolemy I divorced Eurydice and married Berenice. She bore him two more children: a girl, Arsinoe, and a boy, Ptolemy Philadelphus (literally, “who loves his sister”). He took Arsinoe as his wife after the death of her first husband Lysimachus. It was Ptolemy Philadelphus who inherited the Egyptian throne from his father under the name of Ptolemy II and, together with his sister Arsinoe, continued the Lagid family.

Unheard of audacity

So the Macedonian commander became the new ruler of Egypt and heir to the pharaohs. Ptolemy won this glorious title thanks to an unheard of daring act, which, nevertheless, turned out to be a very successful move.

Two years have passed since the death of Alexander the Great; his body still rested in Babylon. By this time Perdiccas had achieved his goal. He was proclaimed regent and protector of Queen Roxana, the widow of his former master, but did not want to stop there. Soon the ambitious diadochos decided to transport Alexander's body to Macedonia. To do this, he organized a large-scale expedition: the remains of the Macedonian conqueror were placed in a sarcophagus made of pure gold and loaded onto a huge, luxuriously decorated cart, which was harnessed to dozens of mules. And finally, a large detachment set off: it had to overcome several thousand kilometers through the desert.

Ptolemy could not help but realize political significance enterprise conceived by Perdiccas. At the same time, he understood how he could benefit from this situation. Just one act would have elevated him in the eyes of the Egyptian people. And the ruler of Egypt set up an ambush on the way of the caravan. The numerous cavalry literally trampled Perdiccas' warriors and recaptured the funeral chariot. The sarcophagus was solemnly brought to Memphis, where the Egyptians buried Alexander's body with honors.

The daring kidnapping, as you might guess, did not please Perdiccas at all. He gathered troops and marched on Alexandria, the capital of Ptolemy. The two armies met in front of Pelusium, the first fortified city in Egypt. Perdiccas died in the battle, and his soldiers fled. This victory was the successful completion of Ptolemy's plan and gave his power legal force. From now on he will be called Ptolemy I Soter, which means “savior”. Now the victorious king could only found a dynasty.

Marriage with the beautiful Eurydice

Of course, Ptolemy was married. His wife's name was Artakama; she was the daughter of Artabazus, a Persian aristocrat. Despite the legendary beauty of the woman, this marriage could not be called happy. It was concluded by the will of Alexander the Great, who, trying to bind the victors and the vanquished with strong bonds, ordered his officers to choose wives from among the Persian aristocrats. The conqueror himself set an example for them by marrying Satyra, the natural daughter of King Darius III. However, Ptolemy could not even think about continuing the royal family with a woman of someone else’s blood. By the way, he and Artakama had no children. The dynasty that the ruler of Egypt dreamed of could only be founded with a Macedonian woman.

After the death of Perdiccas, the council of diadochi proclaimed old Antipater, one of the most faithful associates of Alexander the Great and friend of Ptolemy, regent of the empire. Antipater's third daughter was the beautiful Eurydice. Ptolemy mercilessly drove out Artacama, whom he disliked, and instead took Antipater’s daughter as his wife. So, first with her, and then with Berenice, his third wife, the diadokh founded the glorious dynasty of the Ptolemies, or Lagides (remember that Lag was the name of Ptolemy’s father), which was destined to rule Ancient Egypt for more than two and a half centuries. It died out only with the death of Ptolemy XV in 30 BC. e.

And now twenty years have passed since the Macedonian commander came to power. Egypt regained its former greatness and prosperity. The land that Ptolemy inherited was completely ruined, but the ruler managed to make it one of the most beautiful states of the ancient world. He achieved this by skillfully and wisely using the achievements of two of the most outstanding civilizations at that time - ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian.

The Last of the Diadochi

Meanwhile, Ptolemy was already more than eighty years old and he foresaw the approach of death. He faced an important question: where exactly should he be buried? The funeral rites and beliefs of the Greeks and Egyptians differed greatly. We remember that Alexander the Great rested in Memphis, but the old king wanted to transport the body of his ruler to Alexandria. For many months, hundreds of craftsmen had been working on the construction of the sema (grave, ancient Greek), a huge tomb towering above the city. Ptolemy was not destined to see the successful completion of this grandiose enterprise. Death overtook him in the palace on Cape Lohias, from where he could watch how his other project was being implemented - the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a kind of huge torch that was supposed to perpetuate the memory of the glorious Egyptian civilization.

Ptolemy was the last of the diadochi, the last witness to the deeds of Alexander the Great. After his death, a new generation came to power. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who by that time had already been helping his father rule Egypt for several years, shared his glory. It was he who now had to take care of the continuation of the Lagid family.

Famous library

Under Ptolemy I, Alexandria became a real economic and spiritual center of the Mediterranean basin. The ruler ordered the construction of a library here, the task of which was not only to take care of the safety of the royal archives, but also to collect within its walls as much knowledge as possible so that it could be used by learned contemporaries. The first keeper of the library was the philologist Zenodotus of Ephesus, mentor of Prince Ptolemy Philadelphus. Thanks to the care of the Egyptian ruler and the talent of Zenodotus, the library very quickly gained fame among scholars: researchers came here from afar to read the precious texts stored in the huge halls of this building and in the Museion (museum). But, alas, in 47 BC. e. fire destroyed the Library of Alexandria...

In the 4th-1st centuries BC, Egypt went through a unique stage in its history, the essence of which is indicated by the name Hellenistic Egypt (or Ptolemaic Egypt). The former power of the Egyptian kingdom had already sunk into oblivion, and Alexander the Great entered the world stage, creating a new “world power.” Alexander the Great conquered Thebes, conquered Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt, defeated the Persian Empire, and made campaigns in India and Central Asia.

Conquests of Alexander the Great

In the spring of 334 BC. e. Alexander's 50,000-strong army began the conquest of Asia Minor. Over the next two years, many cities in Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt were occupied. Tough battles alternated with the bloodless capture of impregnable citadels. Most of the Asia Minor fortresses opened their gates to the Macedonians and their allies. Phrygia capitulated, Ephesus surrendered without a fight, and Miletus was taken from the Persians with a dashing onslaught, despite the presence of a strong Persian fleet nearby. In 333, near Issa, the Macedonian managed to squeeze the Persian army between the mountains and the sea and completely defeat it. Darayavaush himself, better known to us by his Hellenic name Darius, fled from the battlefield.

After a 7-month siege of Tire and a 2-month siege of Gaza, the path to Egypt was open and entered its Hellenistic period. The main forces of the Egyptians were destroyed as part of the Persian army at Issa, and the local Egyptian population was more inclined to surrender their cities to Alexander, seeing in him a savior from the Persian yoke. Macedonian wisely did not touch the local faith and customs and did not engage in rash changes to the usual way of life, but strengthened the local system of managing his own garrisons. Almost immediately, the great commander founded, in which many famous people are located to this day.

Ptolemaic Dynasty

Alexandria, immodestly named Macedonian after himself, quickly became the most important cultural center, the most big city Egypt (today the second largest metropolis in Egypt), the center of Hellenistic culture and the residence of the Ptolemies, who ruled Egypt from the 4th to the 1st centuries BC. e. But under them, the old religious centers did not fall into oblivion. So, for example, the necropolis, on the contrary, under the Lagids became even more popular than before. Ptolemy I Soter was one of the Diadochi of Macedon. After the death of the conqueror, the commanders of Alexander the Great (diadochi) divided the empire he founded for two decades and pulled the “world power” into separate Syria, Bithynia, Pergamon, Hellenistic Egypt and Macedonia. Many items dating back to that time are still kept in other large collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Under the Ptolemies (aka Lagids) they were built in their current form, and Greek culture and science were enriched by the Egyptian heritage. If you have it handy, look at the fifty pound note. It exactly depicts the Temple of Edfu in its “Ptolemaic” form. The final stage of the existence of Hellenistic Egypt, the time of the last queen of the Macedonian dynasty, is best known to our contemporaries. This queen's name was Cleopatra. It was during her reign that Egypt was conquered by Rome, and the queen herself committed suicide so as not to become a captive of Octavian Augustus.