Ptolemy V Epiphanes

Ptolemy V Epiphanes. From S. Walker & P. Higgs, Cleopatra of Egypt (2001).

Ptolemy V Epiphanes: king of the Ptolemaic Empire, ruled from 205 to 180.

Relatives:

Father: Ptolemy IV Philopator
Mother: Arsinoe III
Wife: Cleopatra Syra (daughter of Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III)
Children: Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VI Philometor, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes

Main deeds:

9 October 210: Birth
29 November 205: Co-ruler
Agreement between Antiochus III the Great and Philip V that they will divide the Ptolemaic Empire; at the same time, revolt of Horwennefer
July or August 204: Death of Ptolemy IV Philopator; the queen-mother Arsinoe III is assassinated
202: The royal advisers Agathocles and Sosibius are replaced by Telepolemus, and -later- Aristomenes
May 202: Outbreak of the Fifth Syrian War
Philip expels the Ptolemaic garrisons from the Aegaen Sea, which results in a conflict with Pergamon and Rhodes
201: Rome is alarmed, and demands that Philip halts his aggression.
200: Antiochus occupies Coele Syria (battle of Paneion); Rome declares war against Macedonia
199: Antiochus' attempt to attack Egypt fails; the rebel Horwennefer changes his name into Ankhwennefer
197: Antiochus expands his power in Asia Minor; in the battle of Cynoscephalae the Roman general Titus Quinctius Flamininus overcomes the Macedonians and neutralizes the Macedonian danger.
197/196: Ptolemy V represses the insurrection in the Delta.
26 March 196: Traditional, native coronation of Ptolemy in Memphis; he accepts the surname Epiphanes, 'the god manifests himself'; Egyptian priests decree a divine cult for the young king (the text is known from the Rosetta Stone)
195: Peace with Antiochus III; Ptolemy announces to marry Antiochus' daughter Cleopatra Syra and accepts the loss of all possessions outside Egypt, except for Cyprus and Cyrenaica
194: Royal wedding of Ptolemy and Cleopatra in Raphia
192: Fall of Aristomenes; he is replaced by Polycrates
c.189: Birth of Cleopatra II
186: Birth of Ptolemy VI; end of the revolt of Ankhwennefer, who is executed
182: Ptolemy V plans to attack the Seleucid Empire
182/181: Birth of Ptolemy VIII
180: To prevent this war, Ptolemy V is assassinated

Egyptian title: Iwaennetjerwymerwyitu Setepptah Userkara Sekhemankhamun; andkhdjet meryptah ('Son of the father-loving gods, Chosen by Ptah, Mighty Ka of Ra, Living power of Amun; may he live forever, beloved of Ptah'; the father-loving gods are Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III)

Succeeded by: Ptolemy VI Philometor

Information on the web:

E.R. Bevan, The House of Ptolemy (1927), chapter 8.

Ancient-Warfare.com, the online home of Ancient Warfare magazine

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