Sunday, September 17, 2006

Court of Ptolemy

Court of Ptolemy

Court of Ptolemy (2006)

There are mumerous Ptolemys, but I'm thinking of Egypt's boy king. From the will it burn like the Library at Alexandria Wikipedia:

Son of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII of Egypt (80–58 BC and 55–51 BC), he succeeded his father in the spring of 51 BC as co-ruler of Egypt by his marriage and consummation of the marriage to his older sister Cleopatra VII of Egypt (51–30 BC). In October of 50 BC, Ptolemy XIII was promoted to senior ruler along with her, although Pothinus acted as regent for him.

In the spring of 48 BC, Ptolemy XIII and Pothinus attempted to depose Cleopatra VII due to her increasing status as Queen. Her face appeared on minted coins, for example, while Ptolemy XIII's name was omitted on official documents. Ptolemy intended to become sole ruler, with Pothinus acting as the power behind the throne.

They managed to force her to flee to Alexandria, but she soon organized her own army and a civil war began in Egypt. Soon their other sister started to claim the throne as Arsinoe IV (48–47 BC), further complicating the situation.

At this point defeated Roman general Pompey came to Egypt seeking refuge from his pursuing rival Julius Caesar. Initially, Ptolemy XIII and Pothinus pretended to have accepted his request, but on September 29, 48 BC, Pothinus himself murdered the general, in hopes of winning favor with Caesar when the victorious general arrived. When Caesar did arrive he was presented with the head of his deceased rival and former ally, but reportedly, instead of being pleased, reacted with disgust and ordered that Pompey's body be located and given a proper Roman funeral. Cleopatra VII proved more successful in winning Caesar's favor and became his lover. Caesar arranged the execution of Pothinus and the official return to the throne of Cleopatra VII, though she had never officially abdicated her marriage to Ptolemy XIII.

Still determined to depose Cleopatra VII, Ptolemy XIII allied himself with Arsinoe IV. Jointly, they organized the factions of the army loyal to them against those loyal to Cleopatra VII and the relatively small part of his army that had accompanied Caesar to Egypt. The battle between the warring factions occurred in mid-December of 48 BC inside Alexandria itself, which suffered serious damage, including (according to some sources) the burning of some of the buildings which comprised the Library of Alexandria.

The arrival of Roman reinforcements from Pergamum gave the victory to Caesar and Cleopatra VII, forcing Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoe IV to flee the city. Ptolemy XIII reportedly drowned on January 13, 47 BC while attempting to cross the Nile.

Ptolemy is often portrayed in historical movies as a chubby spoiled brat -- sort of a cross between Gary Coleman and Home Alone-era Macaulay Culkin.

2 comments:

enigma4ever said...

really interesting post...and I love Black and white...
and Egypt...been hooked on it for a long time...you post anything with Egypt in it I will run right over ;-)

Anonymous said...

Pedophiles on Viagra
After a suggestion by Brent Hogan

Where's my teddy boytoy?
Preening on his pole,
The narcoleptic killjoy
Is lancing out a boil.

A locker room ought to be
In bed with Al-Qaida and me!

If it's a physical competition --
Show me yours, I'll show you mine --
Jesus, Buddha, or Poseidon,
I'm a Pied Piper keeping time.

So ornery orgies ought to be
In bed with Al-Qaida and me!

To quaff my monastic cup,
Three pills engorge my baby blue
As miracle drugs to keep me up,
Because I'm missing Dr. Who!

But every one is free to be
In bed with Al-Qaida and me.

[Really Disposable Poem September 29, 2006]