Map of Alexander's Empire

Alexandria becomes new capital

Wadi Daliyeh Papyri (belonged to rebels against Alexander)  Cf. Samaria Papyri above.

Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim 4th century BCE

Marseilles Tariff COS 1.98; pp. 305-309 4/3 c.

Alexander the Great 333-323

Battle of Issus against Persians 333

Physical geography of Alexander's Empire

Alexander--made 40 years after his death

Ptolemies

Onias I high priest known from Josephus

Ptolemy I Soter son of Lagos and Arsinoe 306-282

married to Berenice I d. 279; invaded Palestine in 312 with help of Seleucus I.  Founded library at Alexandria

Manetho, high priest and Chronicler 305-285 organized kings of Egypt into "dynasties" and wrote Aegytpiaca, under sponsorship of Ptolemy II

Hecataeus of Abdera, first Greek historian to mention the Jews

Ptolemy II Philadelpus 282-246; married to Arsinoe II his sister; fought against Antiochus II

    
                     Ptolemy II and Arsinoe

Septuagint--Greek Translation of Torah--made during his reign

Letters of Zenon (steward of Apollonius, the financial officer of Ptolemy II) dealing with Palestine in the  third century.  259 and later

Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-222 invaded Syria and conquered Babylon.  Married to Berenice II.  Invaded Syria because of the murder of his sister Berenice, the wife of Antiochus II

Picture of Ptolemy III on coin minted by Ptolemy IV

Ptolemy IV Philopator 222-204; married to Arsinoe III; defeated Antiochus III at Raphia.  Married his sister Arsinoe III in 217. 3 Maccabees tells how he was thrown to the ground when he tried to enter Jerusalem temple

Ptolemy IV; coin minted by Ptolemy V

Horwennefer, king of a rival state

Ptolemaic Empire end of 3c

Ptolemy V Epiphanes 204-180 his name appears on Rosetta stone. Married to Cleopatra I, the daughter of Antiochus III.  Lost Palestine at battle of Panium (Dan 11:13-16).  Sired Ptolemy VI, VII, and Cleopatra II.

Rosetta Stone 195 BCE and Ptolemy V

Seleucids

Seleucus I 312-280, married Apama; satrap of Babylon. Defeated Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus in 301 and incorporated Syria

Seleucus I Nicator

Onias I high priest

Simon I high priest

Eleazar high priest

Antiochus I Soter 280-261

Antiochus II Theos 261-246--married Berenice the daughter of Ptolemy II.  They were murdered by Laodice, former wife of Antiochus II.  Ptolemy III avenged murders of Antiochus II and Berenice in Third Syrian War 

Manasseh high priest

Seleucus II, Kallinikos  246-226; died in fall from a horse. 

Onias II high priest
Antiochus Hierax 246-227.  Rival of Seleucus II.

Seleucus III Soter 226-223
 

Antiochus III the Great 223-187 (brother of Seleucus II); defeated Ptolemy III

Defeated by Ptolemies in battle of Raphia (near Gaza) in 217

Simon II high priest 220-190

201 Seleucids take control of Palestine

Berossus wrote history of Mesopotamia 280 Babyloniaka
Introduction to Berossus