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Ptolemy VIII Soter II or Lathyros ("chickpea")
(Greek: Πτολεμαίος Σωτήρ Λάθυρος) was king of Egypt
three times, from 116 BC to 110 BC, 109 BC to 107 BC
and 88 BC to 81 BC, with intervening periods ruled
by his brother, Ptolemy X Alexander. At first he
was chosen by his mother Cleopatra III to be her
co-regent (his father Ptolemy VII wished that she
would rule with one of her sons), though she was
more forced to choose him by the Alexandrians. He
married his sister Cleopatra IV, but his mother
pushed her out and replaced her with his younger
sister Cleopatra Selene. Later, she claimed that he
tried to kill her, and successfully deposed him,
putting her favorite son Alexander on the throne as
co-regent with her. However, she later grew tired of
the now Ptolemy X and deposed him, putting Ptolemy
IX back on the throne. She was soon murdered by
Ptolemy X, who took the throne again. He was then
killed in battle, and Ptolemy IX reigned until his
own death.
His daughter Berenice III took the throne after
his death, and reigned for about a year. She was
forced to marry her stepson Alexander, who reigned
under the name Ptolemy XI Alexander II and had her
killed 19 days later.
Ptolemy VIII's name recalls that of his great
Macedonian ancestor, Ptolemy I Soter; note that in
older references, he may be numbered IX. |