IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα Μετάφραση : Χρυσανθόπουλος Δημήτριος Για παραπομπή : Παναγοπούλου Κατερίνα , "Ptolemy I Soter, Son of Lagus", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη URL:
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
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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
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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. See Mahaffy, J.P., The Empire of the Ptolemies (London 1976), p. 20. Ptolemy’s noble descent is not confirmed by Justin’s version, according to which Alexander singled Ptolemy out of the ranks of plain soldiers. See Just. 13.4.
3. Plut., Alex. 10.3.
4. Ptolemy’s participation in this siege can be deduced from the fact that Arrian refers to him as one of the primary sources on this particular battle. See Arr., An. 1.8.1.
5. Athen. 13.576d; Just. 15.2. On Thais, see also Diod. S. 17.7.2; Plut., Alex. 38; SIG3, 314.
6. Ellis, W.M., Ptolemy of Egypt (London 1993), pp. 5-8.
7. On the indian campaign, see Arr., An. 4.28.1-2. On the conquest of Harmatelia, see Curt. 9.8.17-28; Diod. S. 17.103. See also Ellis, W.M., Ptolemy of Egypt (London 1993), pp. 12-13.
8. Arr., An. 3.29.6-3.30.5. According to other versions of the story, Ptolemy is not associated with Bessus’arrest. See Diod. S. 17.83.7-9; Curt. 7.5.19- 42; Plut., Alex. 43.3.
9. On Alexander’s wedding ceremony, see Arr., An. 7.4.4-7.4.8; Plut., Alex. 70.2; Athen. 12.538b-539a.
10. Ptolemy’s key proposal at the conference of Babylon was the – innovative – election of the successor by the majority of the macedonian army. See Curt. 10.6-7. See also Errington, R.M., “From Babylon to Triparadeisos”, JHS 90 (1970), PP. 49-77.
11. Diod. S. 18.3.1-5; Arr. Events after Alexander 1.2-8; Curt. 10.10.1-6.
12. On the cult of Sarapis, see Lewis, N., The Greeks in Ptolemaic Egypt (Oxford 1986), pp. 69-87. See also Holbl, G., Geschichte des Ptolemaerreiches: Politik, Ideologie und religiose Kultur von Alexander dem Grossen bis zur romischen Eroberung (Darmstadt 1994), pp. 69-107.
13. Diod. S. 18.29-36; Arr., Events after Alexander 1.30-34.
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14. Diod. S. 18.69.
15. Diod. S. 20.37.1; Seibert, J., Untersuchungen zur Geschichte Ptolemaios I (Munich 1969), pp. 184-189.
16. On the importance of the title “βασιλεύς”, see Gruen, E., “The Coronation of the Diadochoi”, Eadie, J. – Ober, J. (ed.), The Craft of the Ancient Historian: Essays in Honor of Chester G. Starr (Lantham MD 1985), pp. 253-271.
17. Diod S. 20.81.
18. Paus. 1.8.6.
19. Pugliese-Caratelli, G., “Supplemento Epigrafico di Iasos”, ASAtene 29-30 (1967-1968), no. 1.
20. Diod S. 20.27.2; Bagnall, R., The Administration of Ptolemaic Possessions outside Egypt (Leiden 1976), pp. 98-99.
21. Diod. S. 20.37.3-6; Seibert, J., Untersuchungen zur Geschichte Ptolemaios I (Munich 1969), pp. 184-189.
22. Tac., Hist. 4.83. See also Arr., An. 3.1.5; Diod. S. 17.52.3.
23. Theocr. 17.121-125; SIG3, 390.
24. Morkholm, O., Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamea 9336-188 BC) (Cambridge 1991), p. 65. See also Brown, B.R., Royal Portraits in Sculpture and Coins, Pyrrhos and the Successors of Alexander the Great (Hermeneutics of Art vol. 5, New York – Washington – San Francisco 1995), pp. 15-17, 21-23, 25-26, 28-31.
Βιβλιογραφία : Billows R.A., Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State, Berkeley – Los Angeles – London 1990
Will E., Histoire Politique du Monde Hellénistique. 320-30 av. J.-C., 2, Nancy 1983
Müller O., Antigonos Monophthalmos und das Jahr der Könige, Bonn 1973
Fraser P.M., Ptolemaic Alexandria, Oxford 1972
Will E., "Τhe Period of Antigonus Monophthalmus (321-301)", CAH, 2, 1984, 39-61
Hölbl G., Geschichte des Ptolemäerreiches: Politik, Ideologie und religiöse Kultur von Alexander dem Grossen bis zur römischen Eroberung, Darmstadt 1994
Brown B.R., "Styles in the Alexander Portraits on the Coins of Lysimachus", Casson, L. (ed.), Coins, Culture and History in the Ancient World. Numismatic and Other Studies in Honour of B.L. Trell, Detroit 1981, 17-27
Bevan E., A History of Egypt, Under the Ptolemaic Dynasty: The House of Ptolemy, Chicago 1985
Errington R.M., "From Babylon to Triparadeisos: 323-320 B.C.", JHS, 90, 1970, 49–77
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Brown B.R., Royal Portraits in Sculpture and Coins, Pyrrhos and the Successors of Alexander the Great, New Υοrk 1995
Huss W., Der makedonische König und die ägyptischen Priester: Studien zur Geschichte des ptolemäischen Ägypten, Stuttgart 1994
Kornemann E., Die Alexandergeschichte des königs Ptolemaios I. von Ägypten: Versuch einer Rekonstruktion, Leipzig 1935
Mahaffy J.P., The Εmpire of the Ptolemies, London 1976
Seibert J., Untersuchungen zur Geschichte Ptolemaios I, München 1969
Vanoyecke V., Les Ptolémées, derniers Pharaons d’Égypte, d’Alexandre à Cléopâtre, Paris 1998
Δικτυογραφία : Egypt, Ptolemy I - Ancient Greek Coins http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/egypt/ptolemy_I/i.html Ptolemy I (Soter) http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Egypt/_Texts/BEVHOP/2*.html The House of Ptolemy: Historical Overviews of Ptolemaic Egypt http://www.houseofptolemy.org/houseovr.htm
Γλωσσάριo : koinon, the The term koinon pertains to every confederacy of ancient cities. satrap, the The title designated a representative of the Persian king, and was widely used in the Persian language. In ancient writers the term usually designates an official of the Persian empire who assumes highest political and military power within the limits of his satrapia, the division under his command. Alexander the Great introduced the institution to the administrative organisation of his empire in the East. In the Roman empire, the office of the satrap was hereditary for Armenian nobles who administered an Armenian klima (=canton, a historic- geographical unit); in the case of the Armenian territories inside the Roman Empire, the satrap yielded limited power under the suzerainty of the Roman emperor.
Χρονολόγιο 367 BC: Birth of Ptolemy I, Son of Lagus
338 BC: Battle of Chaeronea
336 BC: Assassination of Philip II, accession of Alexander III to the macedonian throne
335 BC: Destruction of Thebes. Probable meeting of Ptolemy I with Thais
334 BC: Beginning of the asian campaign of Alexander the Great. Battle of Granicus
333 BC: Battle of Issus
332 BC: Siege of Tyrus and Gaza
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332-331 BC: Alexander III and Ptolemy I in Egypt. Foundation of Alexandria
330 BC: Destruction of Persepolis
329-325 BC: Arrest of Bessus. Indian campaign
324 BC: Ptolemy’s marriage to Artacama during mass wedding in Sousa
323 BC: Death of Alexander in Babylon
323-305 BC: Proclamation of Ptolemy as satrap of Egypt
322 BC: Ptolemy executes Cleomenes and obtains Alexander’s dead body
321 BC: Ptolemy’s marriage to Eurydice. Expansion of Ptolemy’s influence in Cyprus and Cyrene
321 BC: Assassination of Perdiccas following his unsuccessful invasion of Egypt. Conference of Triparadisus. Ptolemy conquers Syria and Palestine
317 BC: Ptolemy’s marriage to Berenice
313 BC: Ptolemy moves the capital from Memphis to Alexandria
312 BC: Victory of Ptolemy I over Demetrius Poliorcetes in the battle of Gaza
309 BC: Birth of Ptolemy II Philadelphus in Cos
308-307 BC: Ptolemy I visits Greece
306 BC: Defeat of Ptolemy I by Demetrius Poliorcetes in Salamis of Cyprus
305-304 BC: Siege of Rhodes. Ptolemy I is named Soter
305 BC: Ptolemy I is proclaimed king of Egypt
301 BC: Battle of Ipsus
297 BC: Death of Cassander. Ptolemy and Demetrius Phalereus design the Museum and the Library of Alexandria. Beginning of the construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
295 BC: Ptolemy I regains Cyprus
288 BC: Ptolemy I regains control over the Koinon of the Islanders
287 BC: Ptolemy I appoints Ptolemy II Philadelphus, son of Berenice, as his successor
285 BC: Ptolemy II Philadelphus is proclaimed co-regent of Egypt alongside Ptolemy I
283 BC: Death of Ptolemy I and Demetrius Poliorcetes
283-246 BC: Ptolemy II Philadelphus is proclaimed king of Egypt
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280 BC: Establishment of festivals in honour of Ptolemy I Soter
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