Ptolemy III Euergetes

Ptolemy III Euergetes succeeded his father Ptolemy II in 246 BC, reigning until his death in 222 BC; his dates are secure within a year. His accession was immediately followed by war against the Seleucid Empire, leading military expeditions deep into Syria and Mesopotamia. These campaigns brought vast spoils and recovered sacred Egyptian statues previously carried off by Persian armies, earning him his royal epithet.

Domestically, Ptolemy III reinforced traditional Egyptian religion and carried out major building projects across the country. In 237 BC, he began construction of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved religious monuments from the ancient world. At Karnak, he erected the large monumental stone portal known as the Bab el-Amara. In Alexandria, he extended the Serapeum dedicated to Serapis and Isis. He also convened the synod of native priests that produced the Decree of Canopus in 238 BC, which proposed a leap-year calendar reform.

Scholars know his reign through bilingual inscriptions including the Canopus stelae, hieroglyphic reliefs at Edfu and Karnak, and numerous papyri.

Monuments

• Temple of Horus at Edfu foundation
• Bab el-Amara at Karnak
• Serapeum of Alexandria extension

Explore further

Try the name on the Cartouche Desk, or see where the reign falls on the timeline.