Hi there, you're listening to the Hellenistic Age podcast.

Episode 63, Ptolemaic Egypt, Bernice-Lock, and the Gates of Babylon. Having spent the last few months combing over the finer details of Hellenistic Egypt,

it is now time to return where we left off in our last narrative episode dealing with the Ptolemies,

way back in episode 35.

Much of the third century was dominated by the lengthy career of Ptolemy II,

Philadelphus, who built upon the institutions laid out by his father, Ptolemy I Sotere,

turning Egypt into an economic superpower and cultural capital of the Mediterranean world.

His reign did have issues. His controversial

marriage to his sister, Arsinaway II, his unproductive wars against the Salucid kings

Antiochus I and second, and the loss of Kairini to the machinations of King Magas.

Since it has been a considerable amount of time since our last narrative episode, let me give

a brief recap of events. Kyrene was a prosperous Greek settlement in modern-day Libya,

the larger region known in antiquity as Kyrinaika. Its considerable wealth was supplied by the

sale of local products like fine horses, flowers used in aromatics and perfumes, and the

wonder plants known as ciliphyam, a now extinct species that was used for seasoning and

contraceptives. After Alexander's death, chiroinica had passed into the hands of Ptolemy I,

until a rebellion in about 300 forced him to dispatch his stepson Magas to quell it.

For nearly 25 years, Magas acted as governor for his stepfather and later his stepbrother, Ptolemy the second.

But by 276, he felt confident enough to wrestle independence away and declare himself king,

treating Kyrene as his own personal Alexandria.

Despite a failed invasion of Egypt on Magas' part, and a failed counter-invasion of Ptolemy,

both mutually refrained from openly challenging one another thereafter.

...