The Divinization of the Ptolemies and the Gold Octadrachms Honoring Ptolemy III

Abstract

ONE OF THE MOST PERPLEXING ASPECTS of Hellenistic kingship is the divine status of the king. Both the Seleucids and the Ptolemies were worshipped as gods by their subjects, but the nature of this divinization and the attitude of the kings themselves and of their subjects varied from reign to reign. The Ptolemaic dynasty underwent a number of stages of divinization, which can be traced through the official documents of their bureaucracy and, in particular, through their coinage. The coins issued by Ptolemy Iv in honor of his father Ptolemy III exemplify one aspect of the development of Hellenistic divine kingship.' This coin series will be considered with particular reference to divine nomenclature and iconography, with the intention of shedding some light on the nature of Ptolemaic divine kingship. The gold octadrachms honoring Ptolemy III are among the most remarkable of all the series of Ptolemaic coinage. Whereas scholars are in agreement that these coins portray Ptolemy III, there is uncertainty whether they were issued by Ptolemy III himself or by his son Ptolemy Iv.2 The inscription on this series is generic, BAIIAEC2 FITOAEMAIOY, which precludes any closer identification.3 Ptolemy III is portrayed on the obverse bearing a number of divine symbols: the aegis of Zeus, the trident of Poseidon, and the radiate crown of Helios (fig. 1). In this article we will investigate the nature and meaning of this iconography and its relationship to Ptolemaic divine image and titulature. Scholarly opinion has varied about the nature of this iconography, but it has been generally agreed that these symbols show that Ptolemy III was being portrayed as a god, or as a syncretic version of three gods. According to Head, Ptolemy III figures in the triple guise of Zeus, Helios, and Poseidon.4 Seltman takes this identification one step further: