Ptolemy XI

Ptolemy XI (Ptolemy Auletes) (tol'umē ôlē'tēz) [key], d. 51 B.C., king of ancient Egypt (80–58 B.C., 55–51 B.C.), of the Macedonian dynasty, illegitimate son of Ptolemy VIII. He is also called Ptolemy Neos Dionysus. He succeeded Ptolemy X to the throne, but his violent misrule and reprehensible life caused the Alexandrians finally to rebel and unseat him in 58 B.C. He sought Roman aid and with the help of Pompey paid Aulus Gabinius, proconsul of Syria, a huge sum to put him back on the throne. He made the Roman senate executor of his will and Pompey the guardian of his son Ptolemy XII.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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