Ptolemy I Soter was the son of Lagos, an advisor to Alexander the Great and was the first pharaoh of the well-known Ptolemy dynasty. He was a veteran soldier and accomplished commander. Ptolemy I ruled first as a governor for the kings of Macedon, then from about 305 BCE he ruled as the king in Egypt (hence the two sets of dates).

Ptolemy I was the first of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which lasted almost 300 years. He was a very businesslike pharaoh, running the conquered country for profit once he received Egypt as part of the spoils of war after the death of Alexander. He managed to keep control of the country despite the continuing warfare. In addition to setting the foundation of the dynasty, he continued to enhance the reputation and power of Alexandria by founding the library there.

He married Eurydice, the daughter of Antipater in Rome, to strengthen his position, but he eventually married his half-sister, her niece, Berenice.

Ptolemy I was a superb administrator (despite his warlike ways). He standardized the monetary system in Egypt and re-invigorated the economy. He began many building projects, including temples in Terenutis, Tebtynus, Oxryrnchos, and Tuna el-Gebel. In Alexandria, his home city, he built a temple to Serapis and the foundations for the Museion. [image: British Museum]

pharaohs

Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy III Euergeter
Ptolemy IV Philopater
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Cleopatra I
Ptolemy Eupator
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Cleopatra II
Ptolemy VII Neos Philpator
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X Alexander
Cleopatra Berenice
Ptolemy XI Alexander
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos
Berenice IV
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIV
Ptolemy XV Cesarion

monuments

Temple of Kom Abu Billo