Ptolemaiose

Ptolemaiose is a term that refers to the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Hellenistic royal house that ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC. The dynasty was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian general who was appointed as the satrap of Egypt by Alexander the Great after Alexander's conquest of Egypt in 332 BC. Ptolemy I Soter then declared himself pharaoh and established the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which became a major center of Hellenistic culture and learning.

The Ptolemaic dynasty is known for its contributions to science, mathematics, and astronomy, particularly through the work of astronomers like Claudius Ptolemy, after whom the Ptolemaic system of astronomy is named. The Ptolemaic system, also known as the geocentric model, was the prevailing scientific description of the universe for over a thousand years, until it was replaced by the heliocentric model proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century.

The Ptolemaic dynasty also played a significant role in the history of the ancient world, serving as a buffer between the Hellenistic kingdoms of the east and the Roman Republic. The dynasty's rule came to an end with the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, after which Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire. The Ptolemaic dynasty is often studied in the context of ancient Egyptian and Greek history, as well as the broader history of the ancient Mediterranean world.