Ptolemy Apion
Possible king of Cyrene, 116–96 BC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ptolemy Apion or simply known as Apion (Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Ἀπίων; between 150 BC and 145 BC – 96 BC) was Greco-Egyptian King of Cyrenaica who separated it from the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, and in his last will bequeathed his country to Rome.[1] He was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
| Ptolemy Apion | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Ptolemy Apion from Herculaneum, presently located at the National Archaeological Museum, Naples. | |
| King of Cyrene | |
| Born | 150-145 BC Cyrene (?) |
| Died | 96 BC |
| Greek | Πτολεμαῖος Ἀπίων |
| House | Ptolemaic dynasty |
| Father | Ptolemy VIII Physcon |
| Mother | Eirene of Cyrene |
Biography
Apion was the son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon, king of Egypt (170-165, 145-132, and 127-116) and king of Cyrene and Cyprus (163-116 BC), by a concubine. Apion's mother is often identified with Eirene, who was his mistress around 147 BC,[2] but there is no evidence for this.[3]
Ptolemy Apion was apparently given Cyrene as a separate kingdom ca. 105-101 BC.[3] Nothing is recorded of Ptolemy's reign of Cyrenaica. Some scholars have doubted that he ever actually reigned.[4] Ptolemy died in 96 BC without heirs. In Ptolemy's will, he left Cyrenaica and his ancestral royal estates to the rule of the Roman Republic.[3]
