3 /O 



EGYPT. 



jay, and they banished Demetrius with threatening* of 

 death. In this Mtuath>n he fled to the court of Ptolemy, 

 deeply afflicted with the changeable temper, the ungrate- 

 ful and hasty proceedings of the populace, when the go- 

 vernment is invested in their hands. The accomplished 

 Demetrius took charge of Ptolemy's library, and assisted 

 his royal master in literary arrangements. 



The munificence of Ptolemy was manifest in the splen- 

 did buildings of the museum, as well as in the magnifi- 

 cent temple which he reared for Serapis in Alexandria, 

 an, I in die watch-tower of Pharos, which he constructed 

 for the commercial interests of the country. In the mean 

 time, Ptolemy Soter was tin advanced in years; and, by 

 the influence of his favourite wife Berenice, her son Phi- 

 ladelphus was nominated his successor, to the prejudice 

 of Ceraunus his eldest son. 



Ptolemy Philadclphus obtained full possession of the 

 B. C. gk throne, upon the demise of his father; and his accession 

 was celebrated with uncommon splendour. At this time 

 the empire of Asia was engaged in war, by Seleucus and 

 Lysimachus, the only surviving generals of Alexander 

 the Great. Ceraunus, the elder and disappointed bro- 

 ther of Ptolemy Philadclphus, had left Egypt, either from 

 choice or necessity; and he took an active part in the wars 

 which were subsist ing bet ween Seleucus and Lysimachus. 

 By his artifice, the ruin of Lysimachus was accomplished ; 

 and then he put Seleucus to death with his own hand. 

 Having perpetrated these deeds, and being supported by a 

 multitude of adherents, he obtained the throne of Macedo- 

 ia; hut just retribution soon overtook him, for he was slain 

 in battle, and his dead body was treated with indignity. 



During the reign of Philadelphus, the Romans attract- 

 ed the public notice, in their disputes with the city of Ta- 

 rentum ; and the king of Egypt solicited their friendship. 

 Hence n close alliance was formed between the courts of 

 Rome and Alexandria. Ptolemy Philadelphus attempted 

 to assist the Greeks, when they were invaded by the Ma- 

 cedonians ; but the assistance he granted was unsuccess- 

 ful, and his affairs at home assumed a gloomy aspect. 

 His brother Magas, who was governor of Lybia and Sy- 

 rene, took advantage of his perplexing condition, and, by 

 the assistance of his father-in-law Antiochus Soter, king 

 of Upper Syria, he attempted to wrest the kingdom of 

 Egypt from the hands of Ptolemy Philadelphus. During 

 these preparations, and while the king of Egypt was em- 

 ployed abroad, there was a revolt in the bosom of his 

 kingdom, by 4000 Gauls whom he had employed in his 

 service; but overcoming all these difficulties, he finally 

 established his throne. From fear, or a sense of du- 

 ty, his brother Magas was desirous of being at peace 

 with Ptolemy; and, as a bond of union, proposed that his 

 daughter Berenice should be united in marriage to Pto- 

 lemy the son of Philadelphus, that the possessions of both 

 brothers should at length centre in one family. This 

 proposal was carried into effect ; but in the mean time 

 Magas died, and did not see the marriage solemnized. 

 This settlement was opposed by Apamia, the mother of 

 the young princess ; and she stirred up Antiochus Soter 

 to declare war upon Egypt. But the threatening storm 

 passed away, and Ptolemy Philadelphus was left at peace. 



This sovereign of Egypt built many cities, and erected 

 various temples. He had even a share in constructing 

 ibecelebrated Pharos of Alexandria; for that watch-tower 

 was built in the latter end of the former reign, when lie 

 was united with his father in the kingdom. He finished 

 the cnnol from Suez to the Nile, and watered the deserts 



of Lybia by reservoirs and ductile stream*. The court History, 

 of Philadelphus might be called the seat of learning and V ~""Y" ' 

 politeness; for strangers and the unfortunate \u-rc i 

 ved with courtesy, learning flourished, and books . 

 increased. But where is the perfect character? and we 

 find a considerable stain upon the conduct of Ptolemy 

 the Second. Demetrius Phulcrius, the friend and conli- 

 dent of his father, had counselled the old king not tore- 

 tire from the government, and to nominate his eldest son 

 Ceraunus to the succession. A different destination was 

 obtained, as we have seen, by the influence of Ptolemy 

 the Second's mother; and the young prince, not forgiving 

 the counsel of that venerable man, cast him into prison 

 after the death of Ptolemy Soter, and suffered him to die 

 by the bite of a scorpion. Philadelphus at length being 

 far advanced in years, and much afflicted by the death of 

 his Queen Arsinoe, sunk under the infirmities of his con- 

 stitution, and only survived her a few months. 



Ptolemy III. and eldest son of the late king, was in- Ptolemy 

 vested with the powers of government ; but his reign was "' 

 opened with a severe though prosjicrous war. No sooner ' 

 had Antiochus the king of .Syria heard that Ptolemy Phi- 

 ladelphus was dead, than he divorced the Egyptian Prin- 

 cess Berenice, and dismissed her with her infant son. 

 Having recalled his former Queen Laodice, she shewed 

 herself unworthy of the favour, for she conspired against 

 the life of her indulgent husband; and upon his death 

 raised her eldest son Seleucus Cullinicus to the throne of 

 Syria. No sooner were these proceedings known at the 

 court of Egypt, than Ptolemy marched with an army to 

 avenge his sister's wrongs ; but he was too late to save 

 Berenice's life. The conduct of Laodice, however, had 

 rendered her odious to the Syrians, and Ptolemy inflict- 

 ed upon her the reward of her crimes. Seleucus was ba- 

 nished from the kingdom, and the dominions over which 

 he reigned submitted to the power of the Egyptian king. 



In process of time, Seleucus recovered some of his re- 

 volted possessions ; but in attempting to regain the whole, 

 he was defeated by Ptolemy, and forced to retire to An- 

 tioch without an attendant. To deliver himself from this 

 situation, he applied to his brother Antiochus, who had 

 then the command of an army, which he had attached to 

 bin interests ; but having made peace with Ptolemy, his 

 brother was dissatisfied, and opposed tho interest of Se- 

 leucus. But his brother Antiochus was reduced by a sc- 

 ries of calamities ; and Seleucus having acquired addi- 

 tional power, endeavoured to overthrow the rising influ- 

 ence of ArsaceS. This man being governor of Parthia, 

 took advantage of the disasters which were prevalent in 

 the kingdom ; and he attached to his interest many of 

 the soldiers, as well as of the people. It was in vain 

 that Seleucus attempted to counteract his influence ; and 

 he laid the foundation of the famous Parthian empire, 

 which continued in the family of Arsaces for many ge- 

 nerations. 



Ptolemy III. was a successful as well as a warlike 

 prince, and, as appears from a monumental inscription, 

 he not only subdued the provinces which lie on this side 

 of the Euphrates, but crossed that river, and conquered 

 Mesopotamia and various small kingdoms, which ex- 

 tended as far as Bactria. As he was returning from this 

 expedition, he visited Jerusalem, which was then tiilm- 

 tary to Egypt; and, amidst many expressions of affection 

 for the people of Judea, he offered up sacrifices to the 

 God of Israel. Onias, the high priest, had neglected for 

 many years to pay the tribute, and soon after his return 





