Ptolemy IV Philopator
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Ptolemy IV Philopator (sources)
- LIST OF SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Ptolemy IV Philopator (subject)
Ptolemy IV Philopator was King of Egypt, from 221 BCE to 205 BCE.
Overview
Ptolemy IV Philopator was the son and successor of Ptolemy III Euergetes. He was the fourth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Until he lived, he was able to repel the attacks of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great, whom he defeated in the battle of Raphia in 217 BCE.
At his death, he was succeeded by his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes.
Ptolemy IV Philopator and the Jews
As king of Egypt, Ptolemy IV ruled over the land of Israel.
According to 3 Maccabees, in the aftermath of the battle of Raphia Ptolemy IV visited Jerusalem, where he made an attempt to enter the Temple. Back in Alexandria the king was protagonist of a persecution against the local Jewish population. In both cases, his wishes and orders could not be carried out only because of divine intervention.