sister Arsinoe—­Ptolemy Euergetes plunders Asia—­Egyptian temples enlarged—­Religious tolerance—­Annual tribute of the Jews—­Eratosthenes the astronomer—­Philosophy and Science—­Culmination of Ptolemaic rule—­The dynasty declines under Philopator—­Syrians invade Egypt; Philopator retaliates; visits Jerusalem—­The Jews persecuted—­The king’s follies—­Riots at Alexandria—­Inglorious end of Philopator—­The young Ptolemy Epiphanes protected by Rome—­Military revolt suppressed—­Coronation of Epiphanes—­The Rosetta Stone—­Marriage of Epiphanes and Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus the Cheat—­A second rebellion repressed—­Accession of Ptolemy Philometer under the guardianship of Cleopatra—­Antiochus Epiphanes defeats Philometer—­Euergetes seizes the throne and appeals to Rome—­Antiochus supports Philometor against his brother Euergetes—­The brothers combine against Antiochus—­Fraternal rivalry—­Philometer appeals to the Romans who adjust the quarrel—­Philometer arbitrates in a dispute between the Jews and the Samaritans—­New temples built—­Egyptian asceticism—­Philometer’s death; Euergetes reigns alone, and divorces his queen Cleopatra—­Popular tumult in Alexandria—­Euergetes flees—­Cleopatra in power—­Euergetes regains the throne; conquers Syria and makes peace with Cleopatra—­The reign of Cleopatra Cocce with Lathyrus (Ptolemy Soter II.)—­Cleopatra in the ascendent—­She helps the Jews, while Lathyrus helps the Samaritans—­Lathyrus flees to Cyprus—­Ptolemy Alexander I rules with Cleopatra—­Death of Alexander and restoration of Lathyrus—­Accession of Cleopatra Berenice—­Ptolemy Alexander II. bequeaths Egypt to Rome, murders Berenice, and is slain by his guards—­Auletes succeeds—­The Romans claim Egypt—­Pompey assists Auletes who is expelled by the Egyptians—­Cleopatra Tryphama and Berenice placed on the throne—­Grabinius and Mark Antony march into Egypt and restore Auletes—­The reign of Cleopatra—­Pompey made governor—­The Egyptian fleet aids Pompey—­Pompey is slain—­Caesar besieged by the Alexandrians—­He overcomes opposition, is captivated by Cleopatra and establishes her authority—­The Queen’s extravagance—­Defeat of Antony—­Death of Cleopatra—­Octavianus annexes Egypt.

INTRODUCTORY ESSAY

HELLENISM AND HEBRAEISM IN EGYPT UNDER THE PTOLEMIES

I.

When Alexander the Great bridged the gulf dividing Occident and Orient, the Greeks had attained to a state of maturity in the development of their national art and literature.  Greek culture and civilisation, passing beyond the boundaries of their national domain, crossed this bridge and spread over the Asiatic world.  To perpetuate his name, the great Macedonian king founded a city, and selected for this purpose, with extraordinary prescience, a spot on the banks of the Nile, which, on account of its geographical position, was destined to become a centre, not only of international