Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/592

 488 APPENDIX in. Btrojnng his intended victims turned upon his own subjects, he conceived a great respect for the Jewish i)eople, loading them with many favours. Ptolemy Epiphanes, 205, or the "Illustrious," succeeded his father, Philopator, at the age of fourteen, and during his minority was compelled to cede many of his possessions to the victorious Antiochus the Great, King of Syria. These, however, were afterwards restored as a dowry when Antiochus gave his daughter in marriage to Ptolemy. Ptolemy Piiilometor, 182, son of Ptolemy Epiphanes, who in a war with Antiochus Epiphanes was taken prisoner and held captive in Syria. Thereupon the Egyptians raised his brother Physcon to the throne ; but he was deposed and Philomctor restored by Antiochus. Ptolemy Physcon, 146, brother of Philometor, after whose death he again ascended the throne. He was a detestable tyrant, who on two occasions ordered a general massacre of the citizens of Alexandria, and put his own son Memphitis to death. Ptolemy Lathyrus, 117, so called from an excrescence on his nose resembling a pea, son of Ptolemy Physcon, who soon after his accession was banished to Cyprus by his mother Cleopatra. The crown was then bestowed on his brother Ptolemy Alexander, after whose death Lathyrus resumed the sceptre. lie invaded Judroa, and wasted the country with fire and sword. Ptolemy Auletes, 81, that is, the "flute-player," illegitimate son of Lathyrus, surrendered Cyprus to the Eomans, also agreeing to pay them a large tribute. This caused a revolt amongst his subjects, by whom his daughter Berenice was placed on the throne. But by the assistance of his allies Auletes recovered possession of his estates, and put Berenice to death. Ptolemy Bacchus, or Dioxysius, 51, son of Auletes, reigned jointly with his sister Cleopatra, whom he married in accordance with the will of his father. In his time Pompey, after the battle of Pharsalia, fled to Egypt, and was murdered on landing at Alexandria. In the war that ensued with the Eomans he was defeated and drowned in the Nile. Cleopatra was then reseated on the throne by Csesar, and reigned jointly wuth a younger brother, Ptolemy, whom, however, she afterwards poisoned. After the battle of Actium she avoided falling into the hands of Octavius by com- mitting suicide. "With her the dynasty of the Ptolemies ended, and Egypt became a Roman province under the Emperor Augustus. Since then the country has continued to be ruled by foreigners or by foreign dynasties. i