Ptolemy (son of Pyrrhus I)

Ptolemy ( Greek  Πτολεμαῖος ; * 295/94 BC; † 272 BC before Sparta ) was the eldest son and heir to the throne of King Pyrrhus I of Epiros and Antigone from the Aiakids dynasty .

Ptolemy was born around 295/94 BC a few years after his parents married. Born since he was 280 BC At the age of fifteen. It was named in honor of Ptolemy I of Egypt , his mother's stepfather and his father's supporter. When Pyrrhos I in 280 BC For the war against Rome ( Pyrrhic War ) translated to Italy, he left Ptolemy in the reign of Epiros, with Ptolemy II of Egypt acting as a guarantor for his protection. As Pyrrhus in 274 BC When Ptolemy came home again, he took the island of Kerkyra with only sixty men. After that, he distinguished himself by daring action in a naval battle, and during the invasion of Macedonia he drove the enemy king Antigonos Gonatas from Thessaloniki .

In 272 BC Ptolemy accompanied his father on the campaign against Sparta . With 2000 Gauls and Chaonians he stormed against the fortifications of this city, but his attempt to break through was thwarted by Akrotatos. When Antigonus was later on the way to Sparta, Pyrrhus went against him; however, his rearguard had to fend off an attack by the Spartan King Areus I on the way . On behalf of his father Ptolemy should together with the Hetairen assist the attacked, but fell in itself ensued battle. Shortly afterwards his father fell in battle in Argos .

literature

• NGL Hammond: Which Ptolemy Gave Troops and Stood as Protector of Pyrrhus' Kingdom? In: Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte , Vol. 37 (1988), pp. 405-413.
• Hans Volkmann : Ptolemaios 16). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XXIII, 2, Stuttgart 1959, Col. 1599 f.

Remarks

1. ↑ Justin 18, 1, 3.
2. ↑ Plutarch , Pyrrhos 4; 6; 9.
3. ↑ Justin 17: 2, 15; 18, 1, 3.
4. ↑ Justin 25: 4, 8.
5. ↑ Justin 25: 3, 8.
6. ↑ Plutarch , Pyrrhos 30 ( English translation ); shorter Justin 25, 4, 9.