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Περίληψη : Ptolemy I Was a Macedonian General of Alexander the Great’S Army and One of the Leading Figures During the Time of the Successors

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Περίληψη : Ptolemy I Was a Macedonian General of Alexander the Great’S Army and One of the Leading Figures During the Time of the Successors IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα Μετάφραση : Χρυσανθόπουλος Δημήτριος Για παραπομπή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα , "Ptolemy I Soter, Son of Lagus", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=9581> Περίληψη : Ptolemy I was a Macedonian general of Alexander the Great’s army and one of the leading figures during the time of the Successors. He assumed command of the satrapy of Egypt, turning it into a Hellenistic kingdom. Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης 367 BC, Macedonia Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου 283 BC, Egypt Κύρια Ιδιότητα General and King 1. Biographical information Ptolemy was born in Macedonia in 367 BC and died in Egypt in 283 BC. He was allegedly the son of Lagus from Macedonia and Arsinoe, a cousin of king Philip II.1 It is believed that he was an illegitimate son of Philip II. According to one version of the story, Lagus abandoned baby Ptolemy, who was later saved by an eagle.2 The fact, however, that Ptolemy – and probably his father – was one of the “friends”of young Alexander betrays his noble descent. 2. Activity during the time of Alexander Ptolemy must have participated in Philip’s campaigns in Thrace and mainland Greece. He was one of the four “friends”of Alexander whom Philip II released of their duties in order to prevent his first-born son from marrying the daughter of the Carian satrap Pixodarus. Alexander called off this decision in 336 BC, after his father’s assassination.3 It is believed that Ptolemy participated in the siege of Thebes by Alexander (335 BC).4 At the same time, he must have met the Athenian hetaera Thais, with whom he had three children named Lagus, Leontiscus and Eirene – none of whom he acknowledged.5 Ptolemy cannot have played an important role in the early campaigns of Alexander in Asia. However, the possibility that he followed Alexander to Egypt6 and then to Persia, Bactria and India7 cannot be ruled out. According to one version of the story, he was the leader of the campaign against the satrap of Bactria, Bessus, and played the leading part in his arrest.8 Ptolemy’s contribution to the Indian campaign and the crossing of Gedrosia was extremely important. At the time of Alexander’s marriage to the eldest daughter of Darius III, Stateira, and the youngest daughter of the former Persian King Artaxerxes III, Parysatis, in Sousa (spring of 324 BC), Ptolemy married Artakama (or Apamea). Artakama was the daughter of Artabazus III (ca. 387-325 BC), the satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia first and Bactria later (under Alexander).9 Ptolemy took part in the settlement regarding the fate of the empire after Alexander’s death in 323 BC.10 He assumed command of Egypt, Libya and the part of Arabia which borders with Egypt. One of his subordinates was Cleomenes, Perdiccas’ man.11 3. Activity during the time of the Successors As commander of Egypt, Ptolemy carried Alexander’s dead body to Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom first and the Persian state later. At the same time, he executed Cleomenes and instituted the cult of Sarapis and Isis in order to bring his Greek and Egyptian subjects closer.12 Cleomenes’execution brought about Perdiccas’reaction and the beginning of a war between Ptolemy Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/9/2021 Σελίδα 1/7 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα Μετάφραση : Χρυσανθόπουλος Δημήτριος Για παραπομπή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα , "Ptolemy I Soter, Son of Lagus", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=9581> and Perdiccas, which ended successfully for Ptolemy.13 After Perdiccas’assassination, Ptolemy refused to become the regent of Alexander’s empire at the conference of Triparadisus in northern Syria (321 BC). Antipater was proclaimed regent of the empire and Ptolemy’s rule over his dominions, including Libya, was affirmed. Moreover, Ptolemy was given permission in absentia to expand westwards. Ptolemy’s conflict with Antigonus I Monophthalmus (One-Eyed), the winner of the conference, was inevitable. Antigonus not only retained his Asiatic dominions, but he also assumed command of Perdiccas’remaining army and put himself in charge of the war against Eumenes of Cardia. Five years later, after Eumenes’defeat, Seleucus exhorted Ptolemy, the king of Thrace Lysimachus and the Macedonian king Cassander to ally against Antigonus (315-311 BC). The war reached its climax with Ptolemy’s victory over Demetrius Poliorcetes, son of Antigonus, in Gaza (312 BC), thanks to which Ptolemy managed to regain Syria and Palestine. It was probably at the same time that the Hebrews were encouraged to move to Alexandria.14 The short-lived peace between the two opponents was followed by the conquest of Andros, Corinth and Sikyon.15 In 305 BC, Ptolemy was proclaimed king, following the example of Antigonus and Demetrius,16 despite his crushing defeat by Antigonus’navy near Salamis of Cyprus in 306 BC. Ptolemy received special honours by the Rhodians, thanks to his support during the siege of Rhodes by Demetrius.17 It seems that the name “Soter”was given to him by the Rhodians because of his important contribution during the siege.18 Seleucus’emergence as a potential threat to the rest of the Successors after the battle of Ipsus (301 BC) led to the reestablishment of relations between Ptolemy and Lysimachus. After Cassander’s death in 297 BC, Ptolemy financially supported Pyrrhus, who had been sent by Demetrius to exile in Egypt, to regain Epirus. In 295 BC, Ptolemy regained Cyprus, which Demetrius had conquered in 306 BC, and from 291 BC onwards, he increased his influence on the aegean Koinon of the Islanders. Based on the scant information on his activity until his death in 283 BC, we can assume that he tried not to get involved in Greek affairs. However, Ptolemy is said to have sent garrisons to cities of Asia Minor, such as the Carian cities of Iassus (308 BC)19 and Caunus (309 BC).20 4. Evaluation Unfortunately, Plutarch does not throw any light on Ptolemy’s personality. Generally speaking, the Macedonian general emerged in the political firmament of a difficult period thanks to his military genious. His presence in the political arena was characterized by the same modesty and consistency which helped him abstain from the disputes between Alexander’s generals and impelled him to record his contemporary events. The history of Alexander’s wars, compiled rather late and indirectly known nowadays thanks to the references of his contemporary writers (mainly Arrian’s), was considered by some to be an attempt at self-promotion as a worthy Successor of Alexander. However, the fact remains that Ptolemy was the first of the Successors to manifest his interest in Egypt, abandoning the ambition to reconstruct Alexander’s kingdom. Since his main concern was the preservation of his Egyptian dominions, his actual participation in the conflicts of the Successors was limited. However, he took advantage of the possibilities diplomacy offered to him, especially the reestablishment of relations with important contemporary personalities through intermarriage. For example, apart from being married to Artakama, he was also married to Eurydice, Antipater’s daughter, with whom he had at least four children (two sons, one of whom was Ptolemy Keraunos, and two daughters, Ptolemais – Demetrius Poliorcetes’subsequent wife – and Lysandra. In 317 BC, Ptolemy was married to Berenice, who had followed Eurydice to Egypt. Among the children he had with Berenice were Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II, who were named “Philadelphoi”. It has been suggested that in order to secure his succession to the Macedonian throne, Ptolemy planned to marry Cleopatra, Alexander’s sister, who was assassinated by Antigonus.21 Finally, keeping the exiled Pyrrhus in Egypt as a hostage presented Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/9/2021 Σελίδα 2/7 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα Μετάφραση : Χρυσανθόπουλος Δημήτριος Για παραπομπή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα , "Ptolemy I Soter, Son of Lagus", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL: <http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=9581> Ptolemy with a valuable friend, who counterbalanced the threat posed by Demetrius Poliorcetes in mainland Greece. Ptolemy left a significant legacy with regard to the organization of Egypt, creating a bureaucratic system which made use of the Greek language and focusing on the promotion of arts and letters. By moving the Egyptian capital from Memphis to Alexandria, he made Egypt the centre of the Hellenistic states. According to Tacitus, Ptolemy constructed the walls and temples of Alexandria.22 Among his other works were the construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Museum of Alexandria and the Library of Alexandria. It is also known that he associated with intellectuals, such as the philosopher and governor of Athens Demetrius Phalereus. It is no coincidence, therefore, that he was deified posthumously by his son and co-regent of Egypt since 285 BC, Ptolemy II Philadelphus. In 280 BC, a festival named Ptolemaieia was established in his honour, whereas a festival of the same name was established in Delos, the worshipping centre of the Koinon of the Islanders.23 Generally speaking, Ptolemy I was the general of Alexander who founded the most stable and long-lived Hellenistic kingdom. His military achievements and works of writing allow us to form an idea about his character, which is supplemented by the numismatic depictions of his physical appearance: his rough facial features, his long crooked broken nose, his crooked chin and his deep-set eyes constitute one of the most epic figures of the time of the Successors.24 1. Lagus’descent is not clear. Plut., Mor. 6.458 A-B. 2. The possibility that this version of the story was deliberately spread by Ptolemy so that he could present himself as Alexander the Great’s half- brother cannot be ruled out.
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