List of Ptolemaic governors of Cyprus


The Ptolemaic governors of Cyprus ruled the island on behalf of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, from the abolition of the traditional kingdoms on the island in 312 BC until the conquest of the island by the Romans.

First period (312–306 BC)

The governors in this period are referred to as strategos in literary sources, but as basileus on their coinage.
NameHeader textKing
Nicocreon of Salamis312–310 BCPtolemy I Soter
Menelaus, son of Lagus310–306 BCPtolemy I Soter

Ptolemy lost Cyprus to Demetrius Poliorcetes after the Battle of Salamis in 306 BC.

Second period (287–217 BC)

Cyprus was regained by Ptolemy after the death of Demetrius Poliorcetes in 287, but there is no certain evidence for a governor of Cyprus for the rest of his reign, or during the reigns of his successors, Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Ptolemy III Euergetes. The office may or may not have existed.

Third period (217–58 BC)

During this period, the governors of Cyprus bore the title of strategos kai archiereus. After 142 BC, they also bore the title of nauarchos. Governors usually held the rank of syngenes in the aulic titulature. The order and dates are according to Roger Bagnall.
NameDatesKing
Pelops, son of Pelops217–203 BCPtolemy IV Philopator
Polycrates of Argos203–197 BCPtolemy V Epiphanes
Ptolemy, son of Agesarchos197–180 BCPtolemy V Epiphanes
Ptolemy Macron180–168 BCPtolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes
unknown168–164 BCPtolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes
Archias163–158 BCPtolemy VI Philometor
Xenophon?158–152 BCPtolemy VI Philometor
Andromachus?152–145 BCPtolemy VI Philometor
Seleucus, son of Bithys144–ca. 130 BCPtolemy VIII Euergetes
Crocusca. 130–124 BCPtolemy VIII Euergetes
Theodorus, son of Seleucus123–118 BCPtolemy VIII Euergetes
Helenus of Cyrene 118–117 BCPtolemy VIII Euergetes
Ptolemy IX Soter117–116 BCPtolemy VIII Euergetes
Ptolemy X Alexander116–114 BCPtolemy IX Soter
Helenus of Cyrene 114 BC–106 BC-
King Ptolemy IX Soter 105–88 BChimself
Potamon 105–88 BCPtolemy IX Soter
Chaereas?88–80 BCPtolemy IX Soter
King Ptolemy of Cyprus 80–53 BChimself

Fourth period (40s–30 BC)