Ptolemy (son of Mennaeus)
- Ptolemy (son of Mennaeus)
Ptolemy or Ptolomaeus, son of Mennaeus (Mennæus) was tetrarch of Iturea and Chalcis from about 85 BCE to 40 BCE, in which year he died. He tried to extend his kingdom by warlike expeditions (Strabo, xvi. 2, § 10); and ruled the Lebanon, threatened Damascus, subjugated several districts on the Phoenician coast, and once had Paneas in his hands (Josephus, "Ant." xv. 10, §§ 1-3). In fact, the whole of Galilee had formerly been in the possession of the Itureans, and had been taken away from them in 103 BCE by Aristobulus I. ("ibid." xiii. 11, § 3).
The Jews thought themselves oppressed by Ptolemy, and hence Aristobulus II, at that time still prince and sent by his mother, Alexandra, undertook an expedition against Damascus to protect it against Ptolemy ("ibid." 16, § 3; "idem", "B. J." i. 5, § 3). Pompey destroyed Ptolemy's strongholds in the Lebanon and doubtless took away from him the Hellenistic cities, as he did in Judaea. When Aristobulus II was murdered by Pompey's party in Judea (49 BCE), his sons and daughters found protection with Ptolemy ("Ant." xiv. 7, § 4; "B. J." i. 9, § 2). It may be that the national Jewish party at that time depended for support on the Itureans in Chalcis, and perhaps the following statement has reference to that fact: "On the 17th of Adar danger threatened the rest of the "Soferim" in the city of Chalcis, and it was salvation for Israel" ("Meg. Ta'an." xii.).
Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, also supported Ptolemy in his effort to establish himself as king in Judaea ("Ant." xiv. 12, § 1). Ptolemy died just as the Parthians were invading Judaea ("ibid." xiv. 13, § 3; "B. J." i. 13, § 1). He was succeeded by his son Lysanias.
References
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PTOLEMY° — (Son of Mennaeus), king of Chalcis, in the region of the Lebanon (c. 85–40 B.C.E.). josephus relates that the inhabitants of Damascus despised Ptolemy, and preferred as king of Coele Syria the Nabatean king, Aretas. Ptolemy s position in the area … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Ptolemy (name) — The name Ptolemy or Ptolemaeus comes from the Greek Ptolemaios , which means warlike. There have been many people named Ptolemy or Ptolemaeus, the most famous of which are the Greek Egyptian astronomer Claudius Ptolemaeus and the Macedonian… … Wikipedia
Ptolémée Mennaeus — Ptolémée fils de Mennaeus (Mennæus) ou Ptolomaeus (en grec : Πτολεμαῖος), est un souverain hellenistique du proche orient ancien, aux temps de Jules César et dans les premières années de l activité de son neveu Octave, le futur empereur… … Wikipédia en Français
Iturea — is the Greek name of a province, derived from the Biblical Jetur, name of a son of Ishmael ( comp. Gen. xxv. 15, 16). The name of the province is mentioned only once in the Bible (Luke iii. 1), while in historical sources the name of the people,… … Wikipedia
ANTIGONUS II — (Mattathias), last king of the hasmonean dynasty, reigned 40–37 B.C.E.; youngest son of aristobulus ii . After the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey (63 B.C.E.) Antigonus was taken to Rome with other members of the royal family. In 57 he escaped… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
LYSANIAS° — (d. c. 36 B.C.E.), son of Ptolemy (son of Mennaeus), king of Chalcis in the region of the Lebanon. On the death of his father (c. 40 B.C.E.), Lysanias inherited the principality of Chalcis and continued to support the Hasmonean prince, Antigonus … Encyclopedia of Judaism
ALEXANDRA — ALEXANDRA, Hasmonean princess, daughter of aristobulus ii , king of Judea. Captured by Pompey, Alexandra was brought to Rome in 63 B.C.E. together with her father, her two sisters, and her brother antigonus ii . The family was released in 56… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Lysanias — est un souverain de l Abilène un petit royaume ituréen. Chez Flavius Josèphe, il est souvent qualifié de roi de Chalcis et de « roi des ituréens » chez Dion Cassius[1]. Il succède en 40 av. J.‑C. à son père Ptolémée Mennaeus[2]. Un … Wikipédia en Français
