Ptolemy III Euergetes

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Ptolemy III Euergetes
King of Egypt
Gold coin depicting Ptolemy III issued by Ptolemy IV to honor his deified father
Reign	246–222 BCE
Greek	Πτολεμαῖος Εὐεργέτης
Ancient Egyptian	Iwaennetjerwysenwy Sekhemankhre Setepamun^[1]
Predecessor	Ptolemy II
Successor	Ptolemy IV
Consort	Berenice II
Offspring	Ptolemy IV, Arsinoe III, Alexander, Magas, Berenice
Dynasty	Ptolemaic
Father	Ptolemy II
Mother	Arsinoe II

Ptolemy III Euergetes, (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Εὐεργέτης, Ptolemaĩos Euergétēs, reigned 246 BC – 222 BC) was the third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.

Contents

1 Family
2 Leadership
3 War with Seleucids
4 See also
- 4.1 References
- 4.2 Bibliography
5 External links

Family

Statue of Ptolemy III in the guise of Hermes wearing the chlamys cloak. Ptolemaic Egypt.

Euergetes ("Benefactor") was the eldest son of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and his first wife, Arsinoe I, and came to power in 246 BC upon the death of his father. He married Berenice of Cyrene in the year corresponding to 244/243 BC; and their children were:

Arsinoe III, born in ca 246/245 BC. She later married her brother Ptolemy IV
Ptolemy IV Philopator, born ca 244 BC
Possibly Lysimachus. The name of the son is not known, but he is said to have been born in ca 243 BC.^[2]
Alexander, born in c. 242 BC ^[3]
Magas, probably born in ca 241 BC. Scalded to death in his bath by Theogos or Theodotus, at the orders of Ptolemy IV.^[4]
Berenice, probably born in ca 239 BC and died a year later.^[5]

Leadership

Ptolemy III Euergetes was responsible for the first known example of a series of decrees published as bilingual inscriptions on massive stone blocks in three writing systems. Ptolemy III's stone stela is the Canopus Stone of 238 BC. Other well-known examples are the Memphis Stele (Memphis Stone), bearing the Decree of Memphis, about 218 BC, passed by his son, Ptolemy IV, and the famous Rosetta Stone erected by Ptolemy Epiphanes, his grandson, in 196 BC.

Ptolemy III's stone contains decrees about priestly orders, and is a memorial for his daughter Berenice. But two of its 26 lines of hieroglyphs decree the use of a leap day added to the Egyptian calendar of 365 days, and the associated changes in festivals.

He is also credited with the foundation of the Serapeum.

War with Seleucids

Bronze coin issued by Ptolemy III depicting Zeus-Amun (obverse) and traditional Ptolemaic eagle (reverse). Ptolemy III did not issue coins with his own image.

Due to a falling out at the Seleucid court, his eldest sister Berenice Phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. In response Ptolemy III invaded Syria.^[6] During this war, the Third Syrian War, he occupied Antioch and even reached Babylon.^[7] In exchange for a peace in 241 BC, Ptolemy was awarded new territories on the northern coast of Syria, including Seleucia Pieria, the port of Antioch. The Ptolemaic kingdom reached the height of its power.

This war is cryptically alluded to in Daniel 11:7-9.^[8]

External links

Ptolemy Euergetes I at LacusCurtius — (Chapter VI of E. R Bevan's House of Ptolemy, 1923)
Ptolemy III — (Royal Egyptian Genealogy)
Ptolemy III Euergetes entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith

Regnal titles
Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemaic dynasty Born: Unknown 246 BCE
Preceded by Ptolemy II Philadelphus	Ruler of Egypt 246-222 BC	Succeeded by Ptolemy IV Philopator

v t e Hellenistic rulers

Argeads	Alexander III the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV Aegus

Antigonids	Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Antigonus II Gonatas Demetrius II Aetolicus Antigonus III Doson Philip V Perseus Philip VI (pretender)

Lagids (Ptolemies)	Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy Keraunos Meleager Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Physcon Ptolemy IX Lathyros Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra V Cleopatra VI Berenice IV Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator Ptolemy XV Caesarion

Seleucids	Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Soter Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Seleucus VII Philometor Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus

Lysimachids	Lysimachus

Antipatrids	Cassander Philip IV Alexander V Antipater II Antipater Etesias Sosthenes

Attalids	Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III

Greco-Bactrians	Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I

Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenios Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebios Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II

Kings of Bithynia	Boteiras Bas Zipoites I Nicomedes I Zipoites II Etazeta (regent) Ziaelas Prusias I Prusias II Nicomedes II Nicomedes III Nicomedes IV Socrates Chrestus

Kings of the Pontus	Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II

Kings of Commagene	Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV

Kings of Cappadocia	Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus

Kings of the Cimmerian Bosporus	Mithridates I Pharnaces Asander with Dynamis Mithridates II Asander with Dynamis Scribonius’ attempted rule with Dynamis Dynamis with Polemon Polemon with Pythodorida Aspurgus Mithridates III with Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I incorporated a part of the Roman Province of Moesia Inferior Rhescuporis I briefly with Eunice Sauromates I Cotys II Rhoemetalces Eupator Sauromates II Rhescuporis II Rhescuporis III Cotys III Sauromates III Rhescuporis IV Ininthimeus Rhescuporis V Pharsanzes Synges Teiranes Sauromates IV Theothorses Rhescuporis VI Rhadamsades

Pharaohs (list)

Dynastic Genealogies: 4^th
12^th
18^th
19^th
20^th
21^st
25^th
26^th
27^th
31^st
Ptolemaic

Protodynastic Period
(prior to 3150 BC)

Lower Egypt	Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Mekh

Upper Egypt	Scorpion I Double Falcon Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer

Early Dynastic Period
(3150–2686 BC)

Dynasty I	Menes Hor-Aha Djer Djet Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird

Dynasty II	Hotepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy

Old Kingdom
(2686–2181 BC)

Dynasty III	Djoser Sanakhte Sekhemkhet Khaba Huni

Dynasty IV	Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Menkaure Shepseskaf

Dynasty V	Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Shepseskare Neferefre Niuserre Menkauhor Djedkare Unas

Dynasty VI	Teti Pepi I Merenre Pepi II

1^st Intermediate Period
(2181–2040 BC)

Dynasties VII & VIII	Wadjkare Qakare Iby

Dynasties IX & X	Meryibre Khety Merykare Kaneferre Nebkaure Akhtoy

Middle Kingdom
(2040–1782 BC)

Dynasty XI	Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV

Dynasty XII	Amenemhet I Senusret I Amenemhet II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV Sobeknefru♀

2^nd Intermediate Period
(1782–1570 BC)

Dynasty XIII	Wegaf Ameny Intef IV Hor Sobekhotep II Khendjer Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sobekhotep IV Merneferre Ay Merhotepre Ini

Dynasty XIV	Nehesy

Dynasty XV	Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi I Khamudi

Dynasty XVI	Anather Yakobaam

Dynasty XVII	Sobekemsaf I Sobekemsaf II Intef V Intef VII Senakhtenre Tao Kamose

New Kingdom
(1570–1070 BC)

Dynasty XVIII	Ahmose I Amenhotep I Tuthmosis I Tuthmosis II Tuthmosis III Hatshepsut♀ Amenhotep II Tuthmosis IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb

Dynasty XIX	Ramesses I Seti I Ramses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀

Dynasty XX	Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI

3^rd Intermediate Period
(1069–525 BC)

Dynasty XXI	Smendes I Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II

Dynasty XXII	Sheshonq I Osorkon I Sheshonq II Takelot I Osorkon II Takelot II Sheshonq III Pami Sheshonq V Osorkon IV

Dynasty XXIII	Pedibastet Sheshonq IV Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamon Iuput

Dynasty XXIV	Tefnakht Bakenrenef

Dynasty XXV	Piankhi Shabaka Shebitku Taharqa Tanutamun

Dynasty XXVI	Psamtik I Nekau Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III

Late Period
(525–332 BC)

Dynasty XXVII	Cambyses II Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II

Dynasty XXVIII	Amyrtaeus

Dynasty XXIX	Nefaarud I Hakor

Dynasty XXX	Nectanebo I Teos Nectanebo II

Dynasty XXXI	Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III

Hellenistic Period
(332–30 BC)

Argead Dynasty (XXXII)	Alexander the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV

Ptolemaic Dynasty	Ptolemy I Soter I Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes I Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Ptolemy IX Soter II Ptolemy X Alexander I Ptolemy XI Alexander II Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Berenice IV♀ Cleopatra VII♀ Ptolemy XV Caesarion

♀ indicates female pharaoh

Persondata
Name	Ptolemy 03
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

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