Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator[note 1] (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Νέος Φιλοπάτωρ, Ptolemaĩos Néos Philopátōr "Ptolemy the New Beloved of his Father") was an Egyptian king of the Ptolemaic period. His reign is controversial, and it is possible that he did not reign at all, but was only granted royal dignity posthumously. He was a son of Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II of Egypt.

Identity

Ptolemy VII's identity is unclear. According to one reconstruction, he was the son of Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II of Egypt, he reigned briefly with his father in 145 BC, and for a short time after that, and was murdered by his uncle, Ptolemy VIII Physcon, who succeeded him. Alternatively, some scholars identify Ptolemy Neos Philopator with Ptolemy Memphites, a son of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II who was murdered by his father about 132/131 BC after his mother had tried to depose Physcon and proclaim their son king; yet others point to a number of minor co-regents all of whom were named Ptolemy as was the tradition in the dynasty. By tradition, though, the numbering of the Ptolemies is kept intact.

Occasionally, the numbering is reversed, and Ptolemy VIII Physcon is numbered as Ptolemy VII, with a boy-king the one named Ptolemy Memphites, most likely numbered Ptolemy VIII; in some older sources, Ptolemy VII is omitted altogether. This lowers the numbering of all the later Ptolemies, until Caesarion is Ptolemy XV Caesar; the nicknames are unaffected.

Notes

  1. Numbering the Ptolemies is a modern convention. Older sources may give a number one higher or lower. The most reliable way of determining which Ptolemy is being referred to in any given case is by epithet (e.g. "Philopator").

References

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
Born: ? Died: 144 BC
Preceded by
Ptolemy VI
Pharaoh of Egypt
145 BC–144 BC
with Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II
Succeeded by
Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II



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