Ptolemy

Ptolemy, name of the Macedonian kings of Egypt. The first, a son of Lagos, was called Soter ('Saviour') by the Rhodians, whom he defended against Demetrius Poliorcetes. He became one of the greatest of the generals of Alexander the Great (q.v.), and on Alexander's death became ruler of Egypt. For the other Ptolemies, his successors, see EGYPT, Vol. IV. p. 241; and for their patronage of literature, ALEXANDRIAN SCHOOL.