Ptolemy VIII Physcon

Numbering the Ptolemies is a modern invention; the Greeks distinguished them by nickname. The number given here is the present consensus, but there has been some disagreement in the nineteenth century about which of the later Ptolemies should be counted as reigning. Older sources may give a number one higher or lower, but the same epithet.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Εὐεργέτης, Ptolemaĩos Euergétēs) (c. 182 BC – June 26, 116 BC), nicknamed Φύσκων, Phúskōn, Physcon ("Sausage", "Potbelly" or "Bladder") for his obesity, was a king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. His complicated career started in 170 BC, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Egypt, captured his brother Ptolemy VI Philometor and let him continue as a puppet monarch. Then Alexandria chose Ptolemy Euergetes as king.

After Antiochus left (169 BC), Euergetes agreed to joint rule with his older brother Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II. This arrangement led to continuous intrigues, lasting until October 164 BC, when Philometor went to Rome to gain support from the Senate, who were a somewhat helpful with the arrangement, but Physcon's sole rule was not popular, and in May 163 BC the two brothers agreed to a partition that left Physcon in charge of Cyrenaica.

Although the arrangement lasted until Philometor's death in 145 BC, it did not end the sparring. Physcon convinced the Senate to back his claim on Cyprus, but Philometor ignored this. After Physcon's attempt to conquer the island failed, in 161 BC, the Senate sent Philometor's ambassadors home. Sometime around 156 BC/155 BC Philometor tried to have Physcon assassinated. However this failed and Physcon went to Rome, displayed the scars of wounds he received in the attempt, and despite the opposition of Cato the Elder, received the Senate's support and some resources for another attempt on Cyprus. During this time he met Cornelia Africana, who was recently widowed following the death of her husband Tiberius Gracchus Major, and asked for her hand in marriage, which she refused. (An inscription records that Physcon had bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome if he died childless, an act not mentioned by any literary source.)

The second attempt on Cyprus also failed, and Philometor captured Physcon, but spared him, offering him the hand of his daughter Cleopatra Thea, and sent him back to Cyrenaica.

When Philometor died on campaign in 145 BC, Cleopatra II had her son proclaimed Ptolemy VII, but Physcon returned, proposed joint rule and marriage to Cleopatra II, his sister. He then had the unlucky youth assassinated during the wedding feast. He then took the throne as "Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II", the name deliberately recalling his ancestor Ptolemy III Euergetes, and had himself proclaimed as pharaoh in 144 BC.

Physcon took his revenge on the intellectuals of Alexandria who had opposed him, engaging in mass purges and expulsions that included Aristarchus of Samothrace and Apollodorus, leaving Alexandria a changed city. In 145 BC, "he expelled all intellectuals: philologists, philosophers, professors of geometry, musicians, painters, schoolteachers, physicians and others, with the result that these brought 'education to Greeks and barbarians elsewhere,' as mentioned by an author who may have been one of the king's victims" (Menecles of Barca, FGrHist 270 F 9).^[1]

He then seduced and married Cleopatra III (who was his wife's daughter) without divorcing Cleopatra II, who was infuriated, and by 132 BC or 131 BC, the people of Alexandria rioted and set fire to the royal palace. Physcon, Cleopatra III, and their children escaped to Cyprus, while Cleopatra II had their twelve-year-old son Ptolemy Memphitis acclaimed as king. Physcon was however able to get hold of the boy and killed him, sending the dismembered pieces to Cleopatra.

The ensuing civil war pitted Cleopatra's Alexandria against the countryside, who supported Physcon. Cleopatra offered the throne of Egypt to Demetrius II Nicator, but he got no further than Pelusium, and by 127 BC Cleopatra left for Syria, leaving Alexandria to hold out for another year.

After further intrigues, Cleopatra II ended up back in Egypt in 124 BC, and about this time Physcon sent his second daughter by Cleopatra III, Tryphaena, to marry Antiochus VIII Philometor. A formal amnesty decree followed in 118 BC, but it was insufficient to improve government, and the Romans would soon be forced to intervene after his death in 116 BC.

When he died, he left the throne to Cleopatra III and one of her sons, whichever she preferred. She would have chosen her younger son Alexander to have reigned with her. However, the Alexandrians wanted her older son Philometer Soter, governor of Cyprus, to co-reign. She reluctantly complied, with Philometer taking the name Ptolemy IX, though her younger son would also rule at one point.

References

Further reading

• Peter Green, Alexander to Actium (University of California Press, 1990) ISBN 0-520-05611-6
• Peter Nadig, Zwischen König und Karikatur: Das Bild Ptolemaios’ VIII. im Spannungsfeld der Überlieferung (C.H. Beck, 2007) ISBN 978-3-406-55949-5

External links

• Ptolemy Euergetes II at LacusCurtius — (Chapter X of E. R Bevan's House of Ptolemy, 1923)
• Ptolemy VIII Physcon entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
• The Will of Ptolemy VIII

Preceded by: Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II	Ptolemaic King of Egypt First Reign with Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II	Succeeded by: Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II
Preceded by: Ptolemy VII and Cleopatra II	Ptolemaic King of Egypt Second Reign with Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III	Succeeded by: Cleopatra II
Preceded by: Cleopatra II	Ptolemaic King of Egypt Third Reign with Cleopatra II and Cleopatra III	Succeeded by: Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra III

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: 4th 12th 18th 19th 20th 21st 25th 26th 27th 31st Ptolemaic Protodynastic Period (prior to 3150 BC) Lower Egypt Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Mekh Upper Egypt Scorpion I Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer Early Dynastic Period (3150–2686 BC) Dynasty 1 Menes Hor-Aha Djer Djet Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Bird Dynasty 2 Hotepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BC) Dynasty 3 Sanakhte Djoser Sekhemkhet Khaba Huni Dynasty 4 Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Menkaure Shepseskaf Dynasty 5 Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Shepseskare Neferefre Niuserre Menkauhor Djedkare Unas Dynasty 6 Teti Pepi I Merenre Pepi II 1st Intermediate Period (2181–2040 BC) Dynasties 7 & 8 Wadjkare Qakare Iby Dynasties 9 & 10 Meryibre Khety Merykare Kaneferre Nebkaure Akhtoy Middle Kingdom (2040–1782 BC) Dynasty 11 Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV Dynasty 12 Amenemhet I Senusret I Amenemhet II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV Sobeknefru♀ 2nd Intermediate Period (1782–1570 BC) Dynasty 13 Wegaf Ameny Intef IV Hor Sobekhotep II Khendjer Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sobekhotep IV Merneferre Ay Neferhotep II Dynasty 14 Nehesy Dynasty 15 Sheshi Yakubher Khyan Apepi I Apepi II Dynasty 16 Anather Yakobaam Dynasty 17 Sobekemsaf I Sobekemsaf II Intef VII Tao I Tao II Kamose New Kingdom (1570–1070 BC) Dynasty 18 Ahmose I Amenhotep I Tuthmosis I Tuthmosis II Tuthmosis III Hatshepsut♀ Amenhotep II Tuthmosis IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb Dynasty 19 Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀ Dynasty 20 Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI 3rd Intermediate Period (1069–525 BC) Dynasty 21 Smendes I Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II Dynasty 22 Sheshonq I Osorkon I Sheshonq II Takelot I Osorkon II Takelot II Sheshonq III Pami Sheshonq V Osorkon IV Dynasty 23 Pedibastet Sheshonq IV Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamon Iuput Dynasty 24 Tefnakht Bakenrenef Dynasty 25 Piankhi Shabaka Shebitku Taharqa Tanutamun Dynasty 26 Psamtik I Nekau Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III Late Period (525–332 BC) Dynasty 27 Cambyses II Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II Dynasty 28 Amyrtaeus Dynasty 29 Nefaarud I Hakor Dynasty 30 Nectanebo I Teos Nectanebo II Dynasty 31 Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III Hellenistic Period (332–30 BC) Argead Dynasty 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

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