# Ptolemy IV Philopator

> 4th Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt (r. 221–204 BC)

**Wikidata**: [Q39595](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39595)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_IV_Philopator)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ptolemy-iv-philopator

## Summary
Ptolemy IV Philopator was the fourth Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in ancient Egypt, reigning from 221 to 204 BC. As a sovereign and member of the human species, he is defined by his leadership of the Hellenistic kingdom established in 305 BC. His rule marked a specific era in the dynasty, situated directly between the reigns of his predecessor Ptolemy III Euergetes and his successor Ptolemy V Epiphanes.

## Biography
- Born: [Date and place not provided in source material]
- Nationality: Egyptian (Citizenship of the Ptolemaic Kingdom)
- Education: [Not provided in source material]
- Known for: Serving as the 4th Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt from 221 to 204 BC.
- Employer(s): [Not applicable; served as sovereign ruler]
- Field(s): Sovereignty, Ancient Egyptian Governance, Hellenistic Leadership

## Contributions
Based strictly on the provided source material, specific concrete outcomes such as papers, products, companies founded, or patents are not listed. The primary contribution recorded is his tenure as the sovereign leader of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. He maintained the continuity of the dynasty by succeeding Ptolemy III Euergetes and preceding Ptolemy V Epiphanes during the period of 221–204 BC. His role was to lead the Hellenistic kingdom in ancient Egypt during his specific reign.

## FAQs
**Who were the rulers immediately before and after Ptolemy IV Philopator?**
Ptolemy IV Philopator was preceded by Ptolemy III Euergetes, who was also an Egyptian pharaoh. He was succeeded by Ptolemy V Epiphanes, who became the fifth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.

**What was the political entity Ptolemy IV Philopator ruled?**
He ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which was a Hellenistic kingdom located in ancient Egypt. This kingdom existed from 305 BC until 30 BCE.

**What is the primary historical classification of Ptolemy IV Philopator?**
He is classified as a sovereign, defined as a leader of a country, and as a human being, which is the unique extant species of the genus Homo.

## Why They Matter
Ptolemy IV Philopator matters because he represents a specific link in the chain of the Ptolemaic dynasty, bridging the gap between the reigns of Ptolemy III and Ptolemy V. Without his leadership during the years 221–204 BC, the continuity of the fourth ruler in this specific Hellenistic lineage would be broken. His existence as the fourth Pharaoh defines the chronological structure of the Ptolemaic Kingdom's history during the late 3rd century BC.

## Notable For
- Serving as the 4th Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt.
- Holding the title of sovereign leader of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
- Ruling during the specific timeframe of 221–204 BC.
- Being a member of the human species (Homo sapiens).
- Preceding Ptolemy V Epiphanes as the fifth ruler of the dynasty.
- Succeeding Ptolemy III Euergetes as the Egyptian pharaoh.
- Leading the Hellenistic kingdom in ancient Egypt during his tenure.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
Ptolemy IV Philopator is fundamentally identified as a human, representing any single member of *Homo sapiens*, the unique extant species of the genus *Homo*. Within the context of governance, he is categorized as a sovereign, which denotes a leader of a country. His specific national affiliation is with the Ptolemaic Kingdom, a Hellenistic kingdom situated in ancient Egypt. This kingdom was established in 305 BC and continued until 30 BCE.

### Reign and Chronology
The primary temporal marker for Ptolemy IV Philopator is his reign as the 4th Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt. This period is strictly defined as lasting from 221 BC to 204 BC. During these years, he held the highest office within the kingdom. His position in the royal lineage is fixed as the fourth ruler, placing him chronologically after the third ruler and before the fifth.

### Dynastic Succession
The source material explicitly details the succession chain involving Ptolemy IV Philopator. He succeeded Ptolemy III Euergetes, who is described as an Egyptian pharaoh. Ptolemy III Euergetes held the same occupation and citizenship as his successor. Following the death or end of Ptolemy IV's rule, the throne passed to Ptolemy V Epiphanes. Ptolemy V Epiphanes is identified as the fifth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, with a reign spanning from 209–179 B.C. The data confirms that Ptolemy III Euergetes and Ptolemy V Epiphanes are the direct predecessors and successors, respectively, establishing the immediate historical context of Ptolemy IV's rule.

### Historical Context and Affiliations
Ptolemy IV Philopator's entire political existence was contained within the Ptolemaic Kingdom. This entity is defined as a Hellenistic kingdom in ancient Egypt, with an inception date of 305 BC. His role as a sovereign was exercised exclusively within this framework. The data indicates that his citizenship was tied to the Ptolemaic Kingdom and his occupation was that of an Egyptian pharaoh. These classifications align him with the broader group of Egyptian pharaohs and the specific lineage of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

### Data Metrics and Sources
In terms of data representation, Ptolemy IV Philopator is associated with a sitelink count of 54. The Wikipedia title for this entry is "Ptolemy Philopator." The Wikidata description succinctly summarizes his role as the "4th Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt (r. 221–204 BC)." While related entities such as "human" and "sovereign" have higher sitelink counts (273 and 23 respectively), Ptolemy IV's specific entry maintains a distinct count of 54, reflecting his specific historical footprint. The related entities "Ptolemy III Euergetes" and "Ptolemy V Epiphanes" each have a sitelink count of 57, indicating a similar level of documentation density for the adjacent rulers in the dynasty.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20020508100505/http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemies.htm)
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20040603183032fw_/http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/ptolemy_iv.htm)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. CERL Thesaurus