Ptolemy I, Soter
Born c. 367 B.C., Satrap (governor) of Egypt from 323 B.C., King of Egypt
304 - 284 B.C., Died 283 B.C.
Silver Tetradrachm (4-drachm piece),
28 mm, 15.1 grams.
O: Head of Alexander the Great facing right,
wearing elephant skin.
R: Athena Alkidemos walking right, holding shield and javelin, eagle at
feet.
Struck when Ptolemy was satrap, c. 310-304 B.C B.C.
Gold Triobol (3-obol piece), 11 mm,
1.75 grams.
O: Head of Ptolemy I.
R: Eagle with spread wings, monogram in field.
Struck when Ptolemy was king, c.304-284 B.C
Ptolemy I created the political and military foundations of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled Egypt for three centuries. The last of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt was the famous Cleopatra VII.
Ptolemy was a close childhood friend of Alexander the Great, and became one of his leading, most-trusted generals. Ptolemy distinguished himself in the conquest of the Persian Empire. When Alexander died in 323 BC, Ptolemy became satrap (governor) of Egypt, as his share of the divided kingdom. In 304 he declared himself king. Ptolemy acquired great wealth through trading networks linking India, East Africa, and the Mediterranean. In Egypt he was, in various ways, owner of all but temple land. He made Alexandria his capital and established the museum and the great library in that city. Ptolemy depended on Greeks and Macedonians in government and the army, settling his veterans on farms throughout Egypt. Egyptians were resentful of Greek rule despite the prevailing prosperity. Most of our knowledge of the life of Alexander is from a biography written by Ptolemy.