Ptolemy of Egypt

Even though Ptolemy I is a major figure of the Hellenistic period, there has never been a biography of him before this one. The unsatisfactory condition of the sources, not least the absence of a Life by Plutarch is the probable reason. Although we know a great many facts about Ptolemy, we know too little about the real man. The enthralling portrait of Ptolemy which emerges from this book will more than make up the need. The period between the death of Alexander the Great and the death of Ptolemy l is enormously complex. There were a great many powerful and ambitious men jockeying for control of Alexander's empire. Of these men, Professor Ellis argues, Ptolemy was the most important. He established the first, the most influential and the longest of all the Hellenistic dynasties. He made Alexandria, his capital, the most significant city of its day and the intellectual centre of the western world. He created the Museum, the most advanced institution of higher learning in the ancient world and founded a library with the largest collection of books until relatively recent times. Ptolemy of Egypt is the story of a leader of prophetic insight, extraordinary intellect and keen administrative ability. It provides an accessible introduction to the early Hellenistic period, the period of the Successors. It will appeal to those interested in ancient Greek history and ancient Egyptian history.

The first biography of Ptolemy in any language, Walter Ellis' study charts in detail this ancient ruler's extraordinary achievements both in and beyond Egypt and within the period between the death of Alexander the Great's empire and the birth of the Hellenistic state. It was during this time that a great number of powerful and ambitious men were jockeying for control of Alexander's fragmented empire with Ptolemy at the forefront of the struggle.
Of these figures, Walter Ellis argues, Ptolemy was the most important. He established the first, most influential and longest-lasting of all the Hellenistic dynasties. He made Alexandria, his capital, the most significant city of its day and the intellectual center of the Western world. Under his reign, the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the world, was constructed as was a library which contained a collection of books unmatched by any other.
"Ptolemy of Egypt" not only tells the story ofa leader with prophetic insight, extraordinary intellect and keen administrative ability, but provides in the process an accessible introduction to the early Hellenistic period.