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The
name Macedonian
is sometimes applied to the Argead
dynasty, which must be distinguished from that of the Ptolemies, though both
were of Macedonian origin. This 31 (32) Dynasty of Egypt consisted of three
kings. The first was Alexander III of Macedonia (Alexander the Great), whom the
Egyptians recognized as a legitimate universal lord, child of the creator god, a
sovereign destined by the latter to rule the world, as was every pharaoh. This
divine quality was automatically transmitted to his successors, his half
brother, Philip Arrhidaeus, and his posthumous son, Alexander Aegos, who were
called on to rule, if only nominally, Macedonia and the empire built by
Alexander. Pharaoh Alexander (I)
spent less than six months in Egypt.
Pharaoh Philip
and the second Pharaoh Alexander
never visited the land; they were mere puppets dangling between Asia and Europe,
hostages in the hands of the diadochi (successors), and were quickly eliminated.
Philip, a mentally disabled youth, and Alexander II, a little boy, were depicted
on the walls of Egyptian temples as adult, virile pharaohs making offerings to
the gods. |
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