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Ptolemy 8 Euergetes 2
(184-116 BCE) King of Egypt 145-116, and part of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He is sometimes named Ptolemy 7 from the brief period when he was made king by the intervention of the Seleucid king Antiochus 4. He is numbered as Ptolemy 8 since there was a brief period where his nephew was Egyptian king.
Ptolemy acted as a co-ruler, together with his brother, Ptolemy 6, from 170 until 164, when a conflict between them deprived him of everything but Pentapolis (Cyrenaica).
His return to power came with the death of Ptolemy 6, which gave him the chance of having Ptolemy 6's son killed, shortly after this had taken power.
His period was marked by a long civil war from 124 until 118, where he faced one of his former wives. Despite this, he succeeded in warfare against Syria.
We have conflicting presentations of Ptolemy. Greek sources present him as a despot. while Egyptian sources give him credit for reforming the administration.
At his death, the Egyptian empire was divided. He had Cyrenaica bequeathed to his son Ptolemy Apion, while Egypt was left to his wife Cleopatra 3.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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