I. c.), though he does not appear to have adhered strictly
to the laws of classical composition. An elder Philo celebrated Jerusalem in a long hexameter poem Euse-
bius quotes the 11th 1 k of which the few corrupt
lines still preserved (Euseb. Prap. Ev. i\. 20, 24, 28) convey no satisfactory notion. Another epii the Jews, was written by Theodotus, and as the extant passages (ibid, i\. 22) treat of the history of Sichem, it has br.n conjectured thai be WB9 a Samaritan. The work of Aristobulus on the interpretation ot the law- was a still more important result of the combination of the old faith with Greek culture, as forming the ground- work -I latei allegories. While the Jews appropri- ated the fruits of Western science, the Greeks looked towards the East with a new curiosity. The histories of Berosus and Manetho and Hecatseus opened a world as wide and as novel as the conquests of Alexander. The legendary sibyls were taught to speak in the lan- guage of the prophet-. The name of Orpheus, which was connected with the first rise of Greek polytheism,
PTOLEM^EUS
763
PTOLEM.EUS
gave sanction to verses which set forth nobler views of the Godhead {ibid, xiii, 12, etc.). Even the most fa- mous poets were not free from interpolation (Ewald, Gesch. iv, 297, note). Everywhere the intellectual ap- proximation of Jew and Gentile was growing closer, or at least more possible. The later specific forms of teach- ing to which this syncretism of East and West gave rise have already been noticed. See Alexandria. A second time, and in a new fashion, Egypt disciplined a people of God. It first impressed upon a nation the firm unity of a family, and then in due time reconnected a matured people with the world from which it had been called out.
Octodrachm of Ptolemy II.
Obv. AAEAtfiN. Busts of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe, r. Eev. 6ES1N. Busts of Ptolemy I and Berenice, r.
3. Ptolemy III, Euergetes (Eiiepyirnc, i. e. well- doer), was the eldest son of Ptolemy Philadelphia, and brother of Berenice, the wife of Antiochus II. The re- pudiation and murder of his sister furnished him with an occasion for invading Syria (B.C. cir. 216). He "stood up, a branch out of her stock [sprung from the same parents] in his [father's] estate; and set himself at [the head of] his arm;/, and came against the fortresses of the king of the north [Antiochus], and dealt against them and prevailed" (Dan. xi, 7). He extended his conquests as far as Antioch, and then eastward to Bab- ylon, but was recalled to Egypt by tidings of seditions which had broken out there. His success was brilliant and complete. " He carried captive into Egypt the gods [of the conquered nations] with their molten images, and with their precious vessels of silver and gold" (ver. 8). This capture of sacred trophies, which included the re- covery of images taken from Egypt by Cambyses (Jer- ome, ad loc), earned for the king the name Euergetes — "Benefactor" — from the superstitious Egyptians, and was specially recorded in the inscriptions which he set up at Adule in memory of his achievements (Cosmas Ind. ap. Clinton, F. H. p. 382, n.). After his return to Egypt (B.C. cir. 243) he suffered a great part of the conquered provinces to fall again under the power of Seleucus. But the attempts which Seleucus made to attack Egypt terminated disastrously to himself. He first collected a fleet, which was almost totally destroyed by a storm ; and then, "as if by some judicial infatua- tion," " he came against the realm of the king of the south and [being defeated] returned to his own land [to Anti- och]" (Dan. xi, 9; Justin, xxvii, 2). After this Ptole- my "desisted some gears from [attacking] the king of the north" (Dan. xi, 8), since the civil war between Se- leucus and Antiochus Hierax, which he fomented, se- cured him from any further Syrian invasion. The re- mainder of the reign of Ptolemy seems to have been spent chiefly in developing the resources of the empire,
Octodrachm of Ptolemy III.
which he raised to the highest pitch of its prosperity. His policy towards the Jews was similar to that of his predecessors, and on his occupation of Syria he "offered sacrifices, after the custom of the. law, in acknowledg- ment of his success, in the Temple at Jerusalem, and added gifts worthy of his victory" (Joseph. C. Ap. ii, 5). The famous story of the manner in which Joseph, the son of Tobias, obtained from him the lease of the revenues of Judaea is a striking illustration both of the condition of the country and of the influence of individ- ual Jews (id. Ant. xii, 4). See Onias.
4. Ptolemy IV, Philopator (*t\o7rarojp, i. e.father- loving). After the death of Ptolemy Euergetes, the line of the Ptolemies rapidly degenerated (Strabo, xvi, 12, 13, p. 798). Ptolemy Philopator. his eldest son, who succeeded him, was, to the last degree, sensual, effemi- nate, and debased. But, externally, his kingdom re- tained its power and splendor; and when circumstances forced him to action, Ptolemy himself showed ability not unworthy of his race. The description of the cam- paign of Raphia (B.C. 217) in the book of Daniel gives a vivid description of his character. " The sons of Se- leucus [Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great] were stirred up, and assembled a multitude of great forces; and one of them [Antiochus] came, and over- jtowed, and passed through [even to Pelusium : Polyb. v, 62] ; and he returned [from Seleucia, to which he had retired during a faithless truce : Polyb. v, 66] ; and they [Antiochus and Ptolemy] wen stirred up [in war] even to his [Antiochus's] fortress. And the king of the south [Ptolemy Philopator] was moved with choler,and came forth and fought with him [at Raphia] ; and he set forth a great multitude; and the multitude ivas given into his hand [to lead to battle].' And the multitude raised itself [proudly for the conflict], and his heart was lifted up, and he cast down ten thousamls (comp. Polyb. v, 86) ; but he was not vigorous" [to reap the fruits of his victo- ry] (Dan. xi, 10-12 ; comp. 3 Mace, i, 1-5). After this decisive success, Ptolemy Philopator visited the neigh- boring cities of Syria, and, among others, Jerusalem. After offering sacrifices of thanksgiving in the Temple, he attempted to enter the sanctuary. A sudden paral- ysis hindered his design; but when he returned to Al- exandria, he determined to inflict on the Alexandrian Jews the vengeance for his disappointment. In this, however, he was again hindered ; and eventually he confirmed to them the full privileges which they had enjoyed before. See Maccabees, The Third Book of. The recklessness of his reign was further marked by the first insurrection of the native Egyptians against their Greek rulers (Polyb. v, 107). This was put down, and Ptolemy, during the remainder of his life, gave him- self up to unbridled excesses. He died B.C. 205, and was succeeded by his only child, Ptolemy V, Epipha- nes, who was at the time only four or five years old (Jerome, ad Dan. xi, 10-12).