Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Alexandreia. Ptolemy VI Philometor 163-145 BC. Second sole reign
Tetradrachm AR

28 mm, 12,06 g

Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt; no control marks.

Very Fine, Graffiti on the reverse

Svoronos 1489; SNG Copenhagen 262–8.

Ptolemy VI Philometor, part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, served as Pharaoh (King) of Egypt in two periods, from 180 to 164 BC and again from 163 to 145 BC. Born to Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I, he initially ruled under the guardianship of his mother until 176 BC, earning him the epithet "Philometor" or "Mother-loving." Subsequently, his reign was marked by a complex political landscape. Around 175 BC, Ptolemy VI married his sister Cleopatra II. His regents initiated the Sixth Syrian War (169/168 BC) against the Seleucid Empire led by Antiochus IV. With Roman support, Antiochus IV, who briefly claimed the Egyptian throne in 169 BC, was expelled in 168 BC. Declared mature at the war's outset in 170 BC, Ptolemy VI co-ruled with his wife/sister Cleopatra II and younger brother Ptolemy VIII. Internal strife unfolded in 164 BC when Ptolemy VIII ousted his older brother from Egypt, leading Ptolemy VI to seek Roman aid. Returning in 163 BC, the kingdom was divided between Ptolemy VI (core realm) and Ptolemy VIII (Cyrenaica). Ptolemy VI successfully defended Cyprus, and after Seleucid King Demetrius I's death in 150 BC, he played a role in the Seleucid succession, initially opposing, then supporting Demetrius II. His death in 145 BC, just after a decisive battle, briefly united the Syrian Seleucid Empire and Egypt under a single ruler—a rarity since Alexander the Great's era. His daughter Cleopatra Thea married Demetrius II, creating further interconnections in the intricate web of Hellenistic politics. Ptolemy VI's legacy reflects the intricate dynamics of power, alliances, and familial relationships in the Hellenistic world.