Ptolemy

(tälə mē)

noun

  1. name of a Macedonian dynasty of Egypt founded by Ptolemy I and ruling from 323 to 30
  2. pl. Ptolemies a member of this dynasty

  1. (L. name Claudius Ptolomaeus) 2d cent. ; Alexandrian astronomer, mathematician, & geographer
  2. 367?-283 ; general of Alexander the Great: 1st king of the Ptolemaic dynasty (323-285): called Ptolemy Soter (“Savior”)
  3. 309-246 ; king of Egypt (285-246): son of Ptolemy I: called Ptolemy Philadelphus

See Ptolemy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

An Egyptian dynasty of Macedonian kings (323-30 B.C.). The Ptolemies included Ptolemy I (367?-283?), a general in Alexander the Great's army who succeeded him as ruler of Egypt (323-285), and Ptolemy XV (47-30), who ruled as coregent (44-30) with his mother, Cleopatra.

Alexandrian astronomer, mathematician, and geographer who based his astronomy on the belief that all heavenly bodies revolve around the earth.

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