Ptolemaic Dynasty | ||||||||||||||
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Country | Ancient Egypt, Macedonia, Mauretania | |||||||||||||
Titles | Pharaoh, King of Macedonia, King of Mauretania | |||||||||||||
Founded | 305 BC | |||||||||||||
Founder | Ptolemy I Soter | |||||||||||||
Final ruler | Cleopatra VIII | |||||||||||||
Current head | extinct | |||||||||||||
Ethnicity | Greek |
The Ptolemaic dynasty /ˌtɒləˈmeɪ.ᵻk/ (Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖοι, Ptolemaioi), sometimes also known as the Lagids /ˈlædʒᵻdz/ or Lagidae /ˈlædʒᵻˌdiː/ (Ancient Greek: Λαγίδαι, Lagidai, after Lagus, Ptolemy I's father), was a Macedonian royal family, originating from Macedon, which ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 to 30 BC. They were the last dynasty of ancient Egypt.
Ptolemy, one of the seven somatophylakes (bodyguards) who served as Alexander the Great's generals and deputies, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC. In 305 BC, he declared himself Ptolemy I, later known as Sōter "Saviour".