IV. CLEOPATRA, the Sister and Wife of Ptolemy Physcon. She, after the death of her Husband Ptolemy was desirous to place Alexander the youngest of her two Sons upon the Throne of Egypt: But the great Men of the Kingdom having obliged her to follow the Law of Nature, and make Lathyrus King, she so embroiled his affairs, that he was compelled to retire to Cyprus. This Princess had a particular confidence in the Jews of Egypt, and gave the command of her Troops to Chelcias and Ananias, who were both of this Nation:1 She pursued her Son Lathyrus into the Isle of Cyprus, whither he had fled. He went into Palestine, to which Country he had been invited by the Inhabitants of Ptolemais, that they might have the benefit of his assistance against Alexander Jannæus King of the Jews, who was then besieging them. We shall have occasion to say more of this Princess in the Articles of Ptolemy Physcon, and Ptolemy Lathyrus.
In the year of the World 3901, and 3902. In the year of the World 3902 before J. C. 98, before the vulg. Æra 102. Antiq. l. iii. c. 21.Alexander Jannæus, who knew how ill disposed Cleopatra was to Lathyrus, invited this Princess to enter into an alliance with him against Lathyrus. The Queen was easily induced to do so2, and sometime after, sent her Army under the command of Ananias, against the City of Ptolemais. Thither she came soon after in person; and having taken the City, Alexander Jannæus visited her there, and brought presents for her. The Enemies of Alexander would have persuaded her to possess herself of the Country of the Jews; but Ananias diverted her from it, by remonstrating to her, that if she were guilty of so perfidious an action, all the Jews in the World would be her Enemies. Cleopatra therefore made an alliance with Jannæus in the City of Scythopolis. She died in the year of the World 3916, before J. C. 84, before the vulgar Æra 88. As she had formed a design to rid herself of her Son Alexander King of Egypt, he prevented her, and put her to death3. This Alexander reigned eighteen years with his Mother. See Ptolemy Lathyrus.
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