Name unknown1, son of Ptolemy I and Eurydice2, possibly to be identified with Meleager3, executed by Ptolemy II for plotting rebellion in Cyprus4 probably year 1/4 (Mac.) = 282/15.
[1] Not in PP. His existence is given by Pausanias 1.7.1.
Given that Eurydice had sons named after their father and his grandfather, it is tempting to speculate that she also had a son named after one of his grandfathers -- Lagus or Antipater. Since Ptolemy already had a son called Lagus Antipater is perhaps a little more likely. However, this is a pure guess. Ý
[2] Pausanias 1.7.1 describes him as brother of Ptolemy II and son of Eurydice. Ý
[3] Pausanias 1.7.1 is a list of the crimes committed by Ptolemy II against his siblings, including the execution of this prince. It is generally assumed that the list is ordered chronologically, in which case his execution is dated to after the marriage of Ptolemy II with Arsinoe II, which would date it to the late 270s or 260s. In this case it is possible that this prince is identical with Meleager, whose death date is unknown. However, R. A. Hazzard (Phoenix 41 (1987) 140) has suggested that Pausanias did not list the events listed in this text chronologically but in order of the iniquity of the crimes committed by Ptolemy II, and that the murder of this prince in fact occurred in the interval between the death of Ptolemy I and the rapprochement initiated by Ptolemy Ceraunus at the time of his accession to the Macedonian throne (Justin 17.2). This has the great advantage of providing a plausible motive for the execution. But if this date is correct then this son cannot be identified with Meleager, who was certainly alive in 279.
In suport of this date, Hazzard further argues the visit of Kallias of Sphettos to Ptolemy II in Cyprus (SEG 28.60 = SEG 29.102) is almost certainly dated to his first year (T. L. Shear, Kallias of Sphettos and the Revolt of Athens in 286, 26), since Kallias was in a position to make the visit on behalf of the Athenians because he was in Athens when the succession was announced. Hazzard suggests Ptolemy II's presence in Cyprus was connected to the execution of his brother. Ý
[4] Pausanias 1.7.1. Ý
Update Notes:
8-9 Feb 2002: Added individual trees
16 Feb 2002: Split out into separate entry
23 Aug 2003: Added Xref to online Justin
6 Dec 2004: Added guess that his name might be Antipater
27 June 2007: Modify death discussion to state
correctly why it is most likely the first year
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