the throne, young Prolemy shook its foundations. He was rash in his conduct, misled by flatterers; and his best friend Aristomenes fell before his rage. He was married to Cleopatra the daughter of Antiochus the Great; but the Syrian king was never the friend of Ptolemy. His daughter was promised and bestowed, together with the provinces of Syria and Palestine for dowry, but the whole was only intended as a political arrangement, to secure the interest of Egypt, while Antiochus should over-run Asia Minor and Greece. Ptolemy was styled Epiphanes, or the illustrious; but there was nothing in his conduct or success which entitled him to the name. He cultivated the friendship of the Achæan league, and courted the favour of the Romans; but his measures were not successful, and his reign was inglorious. His imprudence raised many commotions in the state; and at the age of twenty-nine he was cut off by poison.

In the reign of this king the Romans conquered Antiochus the Great; forced him to leave Europe, and to abandon all that part of Asia Minor which lay to the west of mount Taurus. L. Scipio conducted this war; and as his brother Scipio was called Africanus for his achievements among the Carthaginians, so Lucius on account of his success in Asia, was surnamed Asiaticus.2

a Liv. lib. xxxvii, c. 42, &c.; Eutrop. lib. iv.

CHAP. II.

Ptolemy VI falls into the power of Antiochus king of Syria.... His brother Physcon raised to the throne of Egypt.... Disputes ensue between the brothers.... Both apply to Rome.... Ptolemy Philometor dies... Physcon becomes sole king.... His cruel conduct depopulates the country.... He invites new inhabitants.... At his death Cleopatra his queen reigns in conjunction with one of her sons.... Much confusion in the country.... Thebes finally destroyed; and Cyrenaica becomes a province of Rome.

B. C.

181. THE

HE late king of Egypt left two sons and one daughter; but the eldest of them being only six years of age, his mother Cleopatra directed the affairs of government. In all respects she behaved with so much. propriety, and was so much in favour with the people, that young Ptolomy,

as a token of filial respect, chose for himself the surname Philometor." But in the course of a few years this valuable woman died, and the management of the state passed into other hands.

Soon after his defeat and humiliation, Antiochus the Great was cut off, and the throne having been possessed by his son Seleucus, he soon died by poison; and his brother Antiochus was put into possession of the kingdom. He assumed Epiphanes as a surname, but his character was not illustrious, as the word would import. Violence, duplicity, and injustice, were distinguishing features in his reign. By the convulsive situation of the Egyptian and Syrian kingdoms, Epiphanes possessed those provinces, which his father had surrendered to Ptolemy; and the rulers of Egypt demanded a restoration of those disputed districts.c

A lover of his mother.

c Liv. lib. xli.

This important claim roused the jealousy of the Syrian court, and every arrangement of Egypt was watched with anxiety. When, therefore, Ptolemy had arrived at that age, which entitled him by the laws to exercise the sovereign authority, Antiochus sent a confidential servant, under pretence of shewing respect to his nephew, but in reality with the view of knowing what the Egyptians proposed with respect to Palestine. It having appeared that they were determined to prosecute their claim, Antiochus visited his frontiers, and prepared for war. In the meantime he sent an embassy to Rome, to pay the tribute and engage the favour of the Romans; but he found that they were too much employed in Macedonia to interfere with the conduct which he might pursue; and, therefore, without waiting for an answer, he descended into Egypt. He made a successful incursion into that country, and got young Ptolemy under his power and authority. Vol. I.

U