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Area/Ruler: Egypt: Ptolemy VI Philometor
Reigned: 180-145 BC
Denomination: AE Drachm
Mint: Alexandria
Obverse: Head of Zeus-Ammon right, wearing tainia
Reverse: Two eagles standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left."ΠΤΟΛΜΑΙΟϒ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΩΣ"
Reference: Svoronos 1424, SNG Copenhagen 308-10
Weight: 23.3 gms
Diameter: 29.9 mm

Ptolemy VI Philometor

Ptolemy succeeded in 180 BC at the age of about 6 and ruled jointly with his mother, Cleopatra I, until her death in 176 BC, which is what 'Philometor', his epithet, implies; "he who loves his mother". The following year he married his sister, Cleopatra II, as it was customary for Pharaohs, for the Ptolemaic Greek kings had adopted many customs of the Pharaohs. He had at least four children with her: Ptolemy Eupator, Ptolemy Neos, Cleopatra Thea and Cleopatra III, and possibly Berenice.

In 170 BC, Antiochus IV began the sixth Syrian War and invaded Egypt twice. He was crowned as its king in 168., but he abandoned his claim on the orders of the Roman Senate.

From 169-164, Egypt was ruled by a triumvirate consisting of Ptolemy, his sister-queen and his younger brother known as Ptolemy VIII Physcon. In 164 he was driven out by his brother and went to Rome to seek support, which he received from Cato. He was restored the following year by the intervention of the Alexandrians and ruled uneasily, cruelly suppressing frequent rebellions.

In 152 BC, he briefly ruled jointly with one of his sons, known as Ptolemy Eupator, but it is thought that Ptolemy Eupator died that same year.

In 145 BC he died of battle wounds received against Alexander Balas of Syria.

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