Home Page (Introductory Page and to downloads of the manuscript).

Review bronze coin types of Ptolemy II Bronze denominations of Ptolemy II  

   Review the possibility of denominational indicators on coins of Ptolemy III Denominations of Ptolemy III

   Hoard data shows that two eagles were not denominational markers Hoard data of Ptolemies II, III, IV

   Two eagles were not denominational markers in time of Ptolemy VI Denominations of Ptolemy VI

   Corrections to the literature that are developed in Part 1 Index to Part 1

Evidence for two eagles as symbols of co-regency Two eagles as symbols of co-regents

   Two eagles coincide with times of co-regency Concurrence of eagles/co-regency

   Additional evidence that indicates two eagles represent co-regency Additional evidence

Apparent origin of a widely held but incorrect view Origin of a current incorrect view

Summary of the website and conclusions obtained for two different hypotheses Summary

Difficulties in attempts to publish a manuscript Attempted publication

Options to read and/or print manuscript Read / download manuscript

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

List of interesting web sites Links

email the author Contact

   HOME - Introduction  

   SUMMARY - and conclusions  

   OTHER TOPICS - at this web site  

Two Eagles on Ptolemaic Coins as Representations of Co-Regency

Concurrence of two eagles with times of co-regency - Review co-regencies

 

        Historical review   of major co-regencies. Investigate   Correlations   of two eagles / co-regency.

  Summary of results   from investigation of correlations.

Co-regencies of Ptolemaic royalty have been indicated by names and dating formulas on papyri,  from evidence on building decorations that denote joint building projects, and from names (cartouches) or figures on monuments and stelae.W. J. Murnane, 'Ancient Egyptian Coregencies'  In early studies of Ptolemaic coins, the two eagles were taken to be symbolic of co-regency;  however,  this possibility is currently not generally accepted (see Part 3).

A wide variety of co-regencies occurred among the Ptolemaic royalty.  The various and complex combinations include examples of two kings, two kings and one queen, two queens and a king, a queen and a son, a king and a daughter.  Marriage alone did not qualify a king and queen as co-regents.

These co-regencies were sometimes established in order to delineate a desired succession and to smooth the transition on the death of a senior regent.  However,  it has been pointed out that "the frequent co-regencies of the Ptolemaic house seem to have been more a response to exceptional conditions than a regular, well-established means of transmitting power - by which they often failed".W. J. Murnane, 'Ancient Egyptian Coregencies'  Many of the Ptolemaic co-regencies were greatly troubled by difficult family relationships that definitely went contrary to a smooth transmission of power.  The longer term co-regencies are given in the table below (click on the references in the last column for information on these reigns).  The shorter co-regencies, even more turbulent, were often terminated by murder. Short term co-regencies

   Move table up 

Major Ptolemaic Co-Regencies

Names

  Dates, BC  

Relationships
 Ptolemy I,  Ptolemy II 285 - 282 father, son Short co-regencies before the death of a king
Ptolemy II,  Ptolemy the "son" 267 - 259 adopted son Co-regency of Ptolemy the "Son"
Ptolemy IV,  Ptolemy V 209 - 204 father, son Short co-regencies before the death of a king
 Cleopatra I,  Ptolemy VI 180 - 176 mother, son Co-regency of Cleopatra I with her son Ptolemy VI
Ptolemy VI,  Cleopatra II 176 - 170 siblings Regency of Ptolemy VI and Cleopatra II
Ptolemy VI, Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VIII 170 - 164 siblings Various regencies of Ptolemy VI, Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VIII
Ptolemy VI,  Cleopatra II 164 - 145 siblings Various regencies of Ptolemy VI, Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VIII
Ptolemy VIII, Cleopatra II, Cleopatra III 145 - 132, 124-116 brother, sister, daughter of sister Triple regency of Ptolemy VIII, Cleopatra II, and Cleopatra III
Cleopatra II, Cleopatra III, Ptolemy IX 116 mother, daughter, son of daughter Triple regency of Cleopatra II, Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX
Cleopatra III,  Ptolemy IX 116 - 107 mother, son Co-regencies of Cleopatra III with her sons Ptolemy IX and Ptolemy X
Cleopatra III,  Ptolemy X 107 - 101 mother, son Co-regencies of Cleopatra III with her sons Ptolemy IX and Ptolemy X
Cleopatra VII,  Caesarion 44 - 30 mother, son Co-regency of Cleopatra VII with Caesarian, son of Caesar

  Go to top  

 

To determine whether or not two eagles might indicate shared regency,  the times of various co-regencies given in the table should be compared to the times of production of two-eagle coinage.

 

Click   Correlations   to determine if there is relationship between two-eagle coinage and times of co-regency.

    PtI   PtII   PtIII   PtIV   PtV   PtVI   PtVIII   PtIX   PtX   PtXII   CleoVII   
 

 

  go to 2 - Review of two-eagle coinage go to 2b - Additional evidence for the two-eagle co-regent correlation

to Introductory Page