Ptolemaios VIII 'Physcon' was king of Ptolemaic Egypt no less than three times; from 69-164 BC with siblings Ptolemy VI & Cleopatra II, from 144-131 BC with sister-wife Cleopatra II and niece / step-daughter-wife Cleopatra III, and finally from 126-116 BC with sister-wife Cleopatra II and niece-wife Cleopatra III.
While his official epithet was Euergetes, he was popularly known as "Physkōn" meaning sausage, potbelly or bladder, due to his obesity.
Physcon died in 116 BC. He left the throne to Cleopatra III and one of her sons, whichever she preferred.
While his official epithet was Euergetes, he was popularly known as "Physkōn" meaning sausage, potbelly or bladder, due to his obesity.
Physcon died in 116 BC. He left the throne to Cleopatra III and one of her sons, whichever she preferred.
Epithet: Physcon ("the Sausage")
(1)
Ptolemy VIII
145 - 116 BC
Obverse:
Bearded head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean lion scalp headdress
Reverse:
PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed
(2)
Ptolemy VI
|
Ptolemy VIII
180-173? BC
AE
80? Drachm
Alexandria
Obverse:
diademed head of Zeus-Ammon
Reverse:
2 eagles standing on lightning left; ΠTOΛEMAIOY_ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ, cornucopia left
(3)
Ptolemy VI
|
Ptolemy VIII
171-163 BC
AE
30? Drachm
Alexandria
Obverse:
Head of Zeus right with Amon's horns
Reverse:
Two eagles standing on lightning, cornucopiae before them ΠΤΟΛEMAIOY ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ