14. Ptolemy VIII Physcon: The Tyrant of the Last Dynasty
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, known as Physcon, ruled Egypt from 170-164 BC, 145-132/131 BC, and 127/126-116 BC. His reign was marked by extreme cruelty and political intrigue. After expelling his brother, Ptolemy VI, from Alexandria in 164 BC, Physcon’s rule was characterized by brutal purges and executions of perceived enemies, including members of his own family. He married his niece, Cleopatra III, without divorcing his sister, Cleopatra II, leading to civil unrest. In 132 or 131 BC, riots in Alexandria resulted in the royal palace being set on fire. Physcon, Cleopatra III, and their children escaped to Cyprus, while Cleopatra II had their twelve-year-old son, Ptolemy Memphites, acclaimed as king. Physcon captured and killed Ptolemy Memphites, sending his dismembered body parts to Cleopatra II. These actions left Alexandria’s intellectual community in turmoil, as many scholars and philosophers were expelled or executed (en.wikipedia.org).
