Ptolemy VI AE28 Diobol_PORTRAIT OF CLEOPATRA I AS ISIS_Ancient Egypt
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:372479 |
11N44 FRASCATIUS ANCIENTSA BEAUTIFUL BRONZE DIOBOL OF PTOLEMY VI OF ANCIENT EGYPT FROM 180 - 145 BC. PORTRAIT OF CLEOPATRA I (QUEEN OF EGYPT) NICE LARGE CHUNKY BRONZE COIN OF ANCIENT EGYPT. THE SIZE IS 28.3 MM AND 16.70 GRAMS. Sear 7903, Svoronos 1384OBVERSE – Head of Cleopatra I as Isis right, wearing wreath of grain ears, and her hair in long curlsREVERSE – PTOLEMAIOY BASILEWS Eagle with open wings standing left on thunderboltPTO...LEMY VI PHILOMETORPtolemy VI Philometor, ( Greek: Loving His Mother) (flourished 180–145 BC), Macedonian king of Egypt under whom an attempted invasion of Coele Syria resulted in the occupation of Egypt by the Seleucids. After Roman intervention and several ventures of joint rule with his brother, however, Ptolemy was able to reunite his realm. The son of Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Cleopatra I, Ptolemy VI ruled as co-regent with his mother, who, although a daughter of a Seleucid king, did not take sides in Syria and remained friendly with Rome. Mother and son governed effectively until her death in 176, when Ptolemy fell under the influence of two ambitious courtiers. Around 173 Ptolemy was married to his sister, Cleopatra II. In 155 the Seleucid ruler of Syria had incurred Ptolemy’s enmity by conspiring to seize Cyprus. When a pretender, Alexander Balas, appeared, Philometor hastened to aid him in 153, and later even gave him a daughter in marriage. About 148, however, the Egyptian king found himself in Syria again when another pretender appeared. When Alexander Balas failed in his attempt to have Philometor assassinated, the Egyptian ruler bestowed his daughter, Balas’ wife, on the new pretender. Although Ptolemy supported him, the people of Antioch and the Syrian army asked the Egyptian monarch himself to become their ruler. Ptolemy declined, but he was soon drawn into a battle in which Alexander Balas was defeated and slain. During the battle Ptolemy fell from his horse and fractured his skull, dying a few days later.PTOLEMAIC EGYPT (330 BC - 30 BC)In the autumn of 332 bc Alexander the Great invaded Egypt with his mixed army of Macedonians and Greeks and found the Egyptians ready to throw off the oppressive control of the Persians. Alexander was welcomed by the Egyptians as a liberator and took the country without a battle. He journeyed to Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert to visit the Oracle of Amon, renowned in the Greek world; it disclosed the information that Alexander was the son of Amon. There may also have been a coronation at the Egyptian capital, Memphis, which, if it occurred, would have placed him firmly in the tradition of the kings (pharaohs); the same purpose may be seen in the later dissemination of the romantic myth that gave him an Egyptian parentage by linking his mother, Olympias, with the last king, Nectanebo II.When Alexander died in 323 bc and his generals divided his empire, the position of satrap was claimed by Ptolemy, son of a Macedonian nobleman named Lagus. The senior general Perdiccas, the holder of Alexander’s royal seal and prospective regent for Alexander’s posthumous son, might well have regretted his failure to take Egypt. He gathered an army and marched from Asia Minor to wrest Egypt from Ptolemy in 321 bc; but Ptolemy had Alexander’s corpse, Perdiccas’s army was not wholehearted in support, and the Nile crocodiles made a good meal from the flesh of the invaders.The Ptolemaic dynasty controlled Egypt for almost three centuries, eventually falling to the Romans. Oddly, while they ruled Egypt they never became Egyptian. Instead, they isolated themselves in the capital city of Alexandria, a city envisioned by Alexander the Great. The city was Greek both in language and practice. There were no marriages with outsiders; brother married sister or uncle married niece. In the end, even the infamous Cleopatra VII remained Macedonian. Except for the first two Ptolemaic pharaohs, Ptolemy I and his son Ptolemy II, most of the family was fairly inept and, in the end, only maintained authority with the assistance of Rome. One of the unique and often misunderstood aspects of the Ptolemaic dynasty was that it never became Egyptian. The Ptolemys coexisted as both Egyptian pharaohs as well as Greek monarchs. In every appearance they remained completely Greek, both in their language and traditions. This unique characteristic was maintained through intermarriage; most often these marriages were either between brother and sister or even uncle and niece. This inbreeding was intended to stabilize the family; wealth and power were consolidated. Although it was considered by many an Egyptian and not Greek occurrence – the mother goddess Isis married her brother Osiris – these sibling marriages were justified or at least made more acceptable when critics would allude that even in Greek mythology the gods intermarried; Cronus had married his sister Rhea while Zeus had married Hera.The Ptolemys coexisted as both Egyptian pharaohs as well as Greek monarchs. They remained completely Greek, both in their language & traditions. Of the fifteen Ptolemaic marriages ten were between brother and sister while two were with a niece or cousin. This meant that even the infamous Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemy to rule Egypt and the subject of playwrights, poets, and movies, was not Egyptian but Macedonian. According to one historian, she was a descendant of such great Greek queens as Olympias, the overly-possessive mother of Alexander. However, in her defense, Cleopatra was the only Ptolemy to learn to speak Egyptian and make any effort to know the Egyptian people. Of course, this inbreeding was less than ideal; jealousy was rampant and conspiracies were common. Ptolemy IV supposedly murdered his uncle, brother, and mother, while Ptolemy VIII killed his fourteen-year-old son and chopped him into pieces.A True Auction Environment – Auctions start at $.99 with No Minimums and No Reserves. FULL UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITYIf the buyer feels that the coin received is not as represented - just return the coin and the buyer will be fully reimbursed for the cost of the coin; the original shipping charge; and the cost to ship the coin back… No Questions Asked. If the buyer is not happy, please let me know, and I will do what I can to make it right. NOTE: Frascatius is a life member (LM #6864) of the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Frascatius fully complies with the ANA Member Code of Ethics. If you have any questions regarding this auction, please click on “Ask seller a question”. I will be more than happy to provide you with a response. VISIT MY EBAY STORE: FRASCATIUS ANCIENT COINS For those new to ancient coins, please contact me, and I will e-mail to you my "Beginners Guide for Ancient Coin Collectors - FAQ" . SHIPPING:To the U.S. = $3.00 Insured Flat RateInternational = $4.50 Insured Flat Rate Multiple items may be grouped at no additional charge at the above rates. All items will be carefully packaged, protected & insured (private insurance).
00222
00222
