Ptolemy VIII, Euergetes (“Benefactor”) II, king of Egypt, Cyrenaica, and Cyprus, b. c . 182 BCE

Ptolemy VIII, Euergetes II (“Benefactor”), king of Egypt, Cyrenaica, and Cyprus. Born c. 182 bce, the second son of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I, he first ruled with his brother Ptolemy VI and his sister Cleopatra II (170–164), briefly alone (164/163), and then only over Cyrenaica (163–145). In 155 bce, he made a will bequeathing his kingdom to the Romans in case he did not have heirs, which Ptolemy Memphite’s birth nullified. Ptolemy VIII succeeded his brother in 145 bce. He is portrayed negatively by the ancient authors, notably because he expelled some of the intellectuals in Alexandria in 145 bce and because he married his niece Cleopatra III while also ruling with Cleopatra II. Despite a dynastic war (132–124 bce) entangled with the Eighth Syrian War, he adapted state institutions, continuing his brother’s politics of integrating more Egyptians and Greco-Egyptians in the army and administration and supporting Egyptian temple building.