Agathocles (grandson of Agathocles of Syracuse)
Encyclopedia
Agathocles was an Egyptian
Greek nobleman
and through his mother was related to the Ptolemaic dynasty
.
by an unnamed father, whose name is lost and had an older sibling, whose name is also lost. His maternal grandfather was Agathocles of Syracuse the late Greek Tyrant of Syracuse, who later became King of Sicily
, while his maternal grandmother was Theoxena of Syracuse
a Greek
Macedonian
noblewoman, who was the second older maternal half-sister of the Greek Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus
, who reigned 283 BC-246 BC. He was the namesake of his maternal grandfather.
. He was born at an unknown date; either late in the reign of Ptolemy I Soter
reigned 305 BC-283 BC or sometime in the reign of his maternal great uncle Ptolemy II. Sometime in the reign of Ptolemy II, his mother was banished by her uncle to the Thebaid
, perhaps to Coptos
as she brought false accusations to Ptolemy II against parties she knew. The names of these persons are lost as they were recorded on a papyrus, which has been damaged. It can be chronologically plausible that the banishment of his mother, was connected to the exile of Arsinoe I, the first wife of Ptolemy II who was exiled in 274 BC/273 BC.
Although Agathocles was a Ptolemaic noble, little is known on his life. He married an Egyptian Greek noblewoman of obscure origins called Oenanthe
, who married him as her first husband. Oenanthe bore Agathocles four children who were: one son Agathocles of Egypt
; one daughter called Agathoclea
and another two daughters whose names are unknown.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
Greek nobleman
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and through his mother was related to the Ptolemaic dynasty
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemaic dynasty, was a Macedonian Greek royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC...
.
Family Background
Agathocles was a second child born to Theoxena of EgyptTheoxena of Egypt
For others of this name see Theoxena Theoxena, also known as Theoxena the Younger to distinguish her from her mother was a Syracusan Greek Princess and was a noblewoman of high status.-Family Background:...
by an unnamed father, whose name is lost and had an older sibling, whose name is also lost. His maternal grandfather was Agathocles of Syracuse the late Greek Tyrant of Syracuse, who later became King of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, while his maternal grandmother was Theoxena of Syracuse
Theoxena of Syracuse
For others of this name see Theoxena Theoxena was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman. Through her mother’s second marriage, she was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and through marriage was a Queen of Sicily....
a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
Macedonian
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
noblewoman, who was the second older maternal half-sister of the Greek Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BCE to 246 BCE. He was the son of the founder of the Ptolemaic kingdom Ptolemy I Soter and Berenice, and was educated by Philitas of Cos...
, who reigned 283 BC-246 BC. He was the namesake of his maternal grandfather.
Life
Agathocles was born and raised in Egypt, perhaps in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. He was born at an unknown date; either late in the reign of Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter I , also known as Ptolemy Lagides, c. 367 BC – c. 283 BC, was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty...
reigned 305 BC-283 BC or sometime in the reign of his maternal great uncle Ptolemy II. Sometime in the reign of Ptolemy II, his mother was banished by her uncle to the Thebaid
Thebaid
The Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
, perhaps to Coptos
Qift
Qift is a small town in the Qena Governorate of Egypt about 43 km north of Luxor, on the east bank of the Nile.-History:In ancient Egypt, Qift, known then as Gebtu, was an important center for administration, religion, and commerce, being the chief city of the fifth Upper Egyptian Nome of Harawî...
as she brought false accusations to Ptolemy II against parties she knew. The names of these persons are lost as they were recorded on a papyrus, which has been damaged. It can be chronologically plausible that the banishment of his mother, was connected to the exile of Arsinoe I, the first wife of Ptolemy II who was exiled in 274 BC/273 BC.
Although Agathocles was a Ptolemaic noble, little is known on his life. He married an Egyptian Greek noblewoman of obscure origins called Oenanthe
Oenanthe of Egypt
Oenanthe wine and anthos flower wineflower; flourished 3rd century BC, died 203 BC) was an Egyptian Greek noblewoman and through marriage was a relation of the Ptolemaic dynasty.Oenanthe was a woman of obscure origins...
, who married him as her first husband. Oenanthe bore Agathocles four children who were: one son Agathocles of Egypt
Agathocles of Egypt
Agathocles was a Ptolemaic minister and together with his sister Agathoclea were very close to Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator who reigned 221 BC–205 BC....
; one daughter called Agathoclea
Agathoclea
Agathoclea was the favourite mistress of the Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator who reigned 221 BC–205 BC; sister of Ptolemy IV’s minister Agathocles and through her father was a distant relation of the Ptolemaic dynasty....
and another two daughters whose names are unknown.