List of Ptolemaic governors of Cyprus
The Ptolemaic governors of Cyprus ruled the island on behalf of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, from the abolition of the traditional kingdoms on the island in 312 BC until the conquest of the island by the Romans.
First period (312–306 BC)[edit]
The governors in this period are referred to as strategos (general) in literary sources, but as basileus (king) on their coinage.
| Name | Header text | King |
|---|---|---|
| Nicocreon of Salamis | 312–310 BC | Ptolemy I Soter |
| Menelaus, son of Lagus | 310–306 BC |
Ptolemy lost Cyprus to Demetrius Poliorcetes after the Battle of Salamis in 306 BC.
Second period (287–217 BC)[edit]
Cyprus was regained by Ptolemy after the death of Demetrius Poliorcetes in 287, but there is no certain evidence for a governor of Cyprus for the rest of his reign, or during the reigns of his successors, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283–246 BC) and Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–222 BC). The office may or may not have existed.[1]
Third period (217–58 BC)[edit]
During this period, the governors of Cyprus bore the title of strategos kai archiereus (general and high priest). After 142 BC, they also bore the title of nauarchos (admiral). Governors usually held the rank of syngenes (royal kinsman) in the aulic titulature. The order and dates are according to Roger Bagnall.[2]
| Name | Dates | King |
|---|---|---|
| Pelops, son of Pelops | 217–203 BC | Ptolemy IV Philopator |
| Polycrates of Argos | 203–197 BC | Ptolemy V Epiphanes |
| Ptolemy, son of Agesarchos | 197–180 BC | |
| Ptolemy Macron | 180–168 BC | Ptolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes |
| unknown | 168–164 BC | |
| Archias | 163–158 BC | Ptolemy VI Philometor |
| Xenophon? | 158–152 BC | |
| Andromachus? | 152–145 BC | |
| Seleucus, son of Bithys | 144–ca. 130 BC | Ptolemy VIII Euergetes |
| Crocus | ca. 130–124 BC | |
| Theodorus, son of Seleucus | 123–118 BC | |
| Helenus of Cyrene (1st time) | 118–117 BC | |
| Ptolemy IX Soter | 117–116 BC | |
| Ptolemy X Alexander | 116–114 BC | Ptolemy IX Soter |
| Helenus of Cyrene (2nd time) | 114 BC–106 BC | |
| King Ptolemy IX Soter (direct rule) | 105–88 BC | himself |
| Potamon (deputy governor) | 105–88 BC | Ptolemy IX Soter |
| Chaereas? | 88–80 BC | |
| King Ptolemy of Cyprus (direct rule) | 80–53 BC | himself |
Fourth period (40s–30 BC)[edit]
| Name | Dates | Overlord |
|---|---|---|
| Serapion | ca. 43–41 BC | Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII |
| Diogenes, son of Noumenios | 40 BC | |
| Demetrius? | 39 BC |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Bagnall 1976, pp. 38–45.
- ^ Bagnall 1976, pp. 45, 252–262.
Bibliography[edit]
- Bagnall, Roger (1976). The Administration of the Ptolemaic Possessions Outside Egypt.