CHAPTER VIII - Chronological History of the Ptolemies, extracted from various Authors

Summary

i. EXTRACT from Porphyry, an author of the age of Diocletian, as quoted in Scaliger's Eusebius, and probably thence in the Armenian translation.

Alexander, the Macedonian, died in the CXIVth Olympiad, after a reign of 12 years in the whole: and was succeeded in his kingdom by Aridaeus, whose name was changed to Philip, being brother to Alexander, by another mother; for he was the son of Philip by Philinna of Larissa: and after a reign of seven years, he was killed in Macedonia, by Polysperchon the son of Antipater.

Now Ptolemy the son of Arsinoe and of Lagus, after one year of this reign, by an appointment derived from Philip, was sent as a Satrap into Egypt; which he governed in this capacity for 17 years, and afterwards, with Royal authority, for 23; so that the number of all the years of his government, to the time of his death, became 40; but since he retired from the government two years before, in favour of his son Ptolemy Philadelphus, and considered himself as a subject of his son, who had been crowned in his place, the years of this first Ptolemy, called Soter, are reckoned not 40, but 38 only.

He was succeeded by his son, surnamed, as already mentioned, Philadelphia, who reigned two years during his fathers' life, and thirty [six] afterwards, so that his whole reign occupied, like his father's, 38 years.