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Message:: [QUOTE="Magnus Maximus, post: 4670834, member: 73473"]Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Tryphon was born in 184 BCE as the youngest son of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I of Syria. Fun fact through his mother, Ptolemy VIII was the grandson of Antiochus III Megas. Ptolemy VIII with out a doubt is one of the most interesting figures of the later Ptolemaic kingdom, and the hellenistic age at large. The man reigned over Egypt three times, and ruled during a key transition period, so I am going to try to break his reign up into bit sized eras. Birth and Formative Years (184-165 BCE)<ul> <li>Born in Alexandria in 184 BCE to Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Ptolemy V dies in 180, possibly due to assassination by court intrigue. Cleopatra I becomes regent for Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Relations between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms are amicable due to the siblings Seleucus IV and Cleopatra I ruling the respective states.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>176 BCE- Cleopatra Ist dies of natural causes. The war hawk faction at the Ptolemaic court gains prominence.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>175 BCE-Antiochus IV succeeds Seleucus IV as King of the Seleucid Empire and prepares for war with the Ptolemaic Kingdom.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>170 BCE- The Ptolemaic army invades Cole-Syria and is utterly defeated by a Seleucid counter attack. Ptolemy VI, VIII and Cleopatra II are made co-rulers.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Antiochus IV invades Egypt and captures most of the country side. Ptolemy VI comes to terms with Antiochus IV, with Egypt accepting Seleucid dominance.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>The people of Alexandria revolt against the peace treaty with Antiochus IV, and declare Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II joint rulers. In response to the revolt, Antiochus puts Alexandria under siege, but is prevented from capturing the city by a Roman dignitary.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>165 BCE- With the near total Seleucid domination over the Ptolemaic army a local rebellion starts in southern Egypt.</li> </ul>First Sole Reign and Rule in Cyrenaica (164-150 BCE)<ul> <li>Local revolts in Alexandria force Ptolemy VI to flee to Rome.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Ptolemy VI returns to Egypt in 163 BCE and issues an amnesty for the supporters of Ptolemy VIII.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Ptolemy VIII leaves Egypt to rule Cyrenaica. While there he makes Rome the inheritor of Cyrene if he dies without an heir.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>154 BCE, Ptolemy VIII tries to conquer Cyprus from Ptolemy VI, but is repulsed.</li> </ul>Death of Ptolemy VI and Second Sole Reign (145-130 BCE)<ul> <li>Ptolemy VI leads an army into Syria in support of the Seleucid King Alexander Balas. Details are murky but the two forces end up fighting each other in Syria. Ptolemy VI wins the battle, but his horse falls on top of him resulting in him being paralyzed. Ptolemy VI dies after a few days from his injuries. Demetrios II takes over the Seleucid Empire and Egyptian garrisons are removed from Seleucid cities in Cole Syria.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Ptolemy VIII marries his sister, Cleopatra II, and has his nephew/stepson murdered.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>140 BCE- Ptolemy VIII, while still married to Cleopatra II, marries his sister-wife's daughter by his brother Ptolemy VI, Cleopatra III.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>139 BCE- Cleopatra III, the niece and daughter in law of Ptolemy VIII, gives birth to Ptolemy IX.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Despite being mother and daughter and married to their Uncle/Brother, both Cleopatras hate each other and openly fight the other.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>132 BCE- A civil war erupts between Ptolemy VIII and his niece/wife Cleopatra III against his sister wife, Cleopatra II. Ptolemy VIII ingratiates himself with the native Egyptians, while Cleopatra II is supported by the Greek aristocracy.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>130 BCE- Ptolemy VIII retreats to Cyprus to plot his next move against Cleopatra II.</li> </ul>Final Sole Reign and Death(130- 116 BCE)<ul> <li>Ptolemy VIII while on Cyprus, has his son by Cleopatra II, killed and cut into pieces which he then sends to her in Alexandria for a birthday present.</li> <li>130/129 BCE- Ptolemy VIII returns to Egypt. Demetrius II is prevented from aiding Cleopatra II by a revolt sponsored by Ptolemy VIII.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>127-125 BCE- Ptolemy VIII purges Cleopatra II's supporters from the capital of Alexandria.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>124 BCE- Cleopatra II returns to Egypt and the royal family rules in relative peace.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>After 120 BCE- Egypt at this point is a Roman vassal, and has very little independent political or military power. Ptolemy VIII, finally secure on his throne, indulges in a life of debauchery so much so that the locals give him the title of Physcon(fat).</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Unknown- Scipio Aemilanus meets with Ptolemy VIII, who offers to take him for a stroll around the city of Alexandria. Scipio remarks" I have shown the Alexandrines something they have never seen before, their King!"</li> </ul> <ul> <li>116 BCE- Ptolemy VIII, aged 68 dies in Alexandria Egypt. He is succeeded in Egypt by his sons Ptolemy IX and Ptolemy X. In Cyrenaica he is succeeded by his illegitimate son, Ptolemy Apion.</li> </ul>Wow!!! So yeah, Ptolemy VIII was a bad dude who did lots of bad things. The only thing he really cared about was securing his throne and enjoying the perks of being pharaoh. Even after he had eliminated all the threats to his rule, he did nothing with his power to benefit Egypt and instead helped to run it into the ground. I have been fascinated with Physcon for a few years but have never been able to pick up one of his tetradrachms for a decent price. However the other day I came across this bad boy for $284 USD. [ATTACH=full]1151328[/ATTACH]PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon). Sole reign, 146/5-116 B.C. AR tetradrachm. 14.08 gm. 26 mm. Paphos mint. Dated regnal year 52 (118 B.C.). His diademed bust right, wearing aegis / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; LNB (date) to left, ΠA to right. Svoronos 1528. Cf. SNG Cop 623-626. Near Very Fine; richly toned and of good style. Ex Davidsons Ltd. Head of Ptolemy VIII in Hellenic style[ATTACH=full]1151327[/ATTACH] Head of Ptolemy VIII in Native Egyptian style[ATTACH=full]1151329[/ATTACH] A map of Ptolemaic possessions circa 125 BCE[ATTACH=full]1151331[/ATTACH]Sources:<a href="http://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/memphites_fr.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/memphites_fr.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/memphites_fr.htm</a><a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Egypt/_Texts/BEVHOP/10*.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Egypt/_Texts/BEVHOP/10*.html" rel="nofollow">http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Africa/Egypt/_Texts/BEVHOP/10*.html</a><a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/ptolemy-viii-physcon/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/ptolemy-viii-physcon/" rel="nofollow">https://www.livius.org/articles/person/ptolemy-viii-physcon/</a> Feel free to post any relevant coins.[/QUOTE]

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