Ptolemy VII

Preceded by: Ptolemy VI (?)	Pharaoh of Egypt Ptolemaic Dynasty	Succeeded by: Ptolemy VIII (?)
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
Koine Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Νέος Φιλοπάτωρ Romanized: Ptolemaios Neos Philopator Latin: Ptolemaeus Novus Philopater
Reign
145 BC or 131–130 BC (?)
Royal Titulary Praenomen Panetjerhunu-Meriyitef The Divine Youth, Beloved of his Father Nomen Ptolemaios
Legacy
Father	Ptolemy VI or VIII
Mother	Cleopatra II
Born	before 4 April 152 BC or August 143 BC
Died	130 BC or before 118 BC
Burial	Alexandria (?)

For other pages by this name, see Ptolemy.

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (Koine Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Νέος Φιλοπάτωρ, meaning: "Ptolemy, the New Father-Lover"), was ostensibly a pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Dynasty during the Hellenistic Period of ancient Egypt. His identity and reign are controversial, and it is likely that he did not rule at all, but was only granted royal dignity posthumously as a deified prince. He was integrated into the dynastic cult in 118 BC. His listing in the dynastic cult (in order of death and deification, not reign) before Ptolemy Euergetes Tryphon led to the numbering Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Tryphon.

Depending on the historical reconstruction, Ptolemy VII was a son of Queen Cleopatra II of Egypt by either Ptolemy VI Philometor or Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Tryphon, with current scholarship leaning toward the second option.

Identification

The identity of Ptolemy VII is unclear since there are two possible candidates:

• Ptolemy, the younger of the two sons of King Ptolemy VI and Queen Cleopatra II.
• Ptolemy Memphites, the only son of Ptolemy VIII by Queen Cleopatra II.

Bibliography

• Chauveau, M., 1990: Un été 145. Post-scriptum. BIFAO 90.
• Dodson, A./Hilton, D., 2004: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, London.

Predecessor: Ptolemy VI (?)

Pharaoh of Egypt Ptolemaic Dynasty

Successor: Ptolemy VIII (?)