Torso of a Ptolemaic King, Inscribed with Cartouches of a Late Ptolemy

myminifactory

The figures inscribed on this magnificent torso are likely those of either Ptolemy XII or his successor, Ptolemy XV. In its final years, the Ptolemaic Dynasty teetered on the brink of collapse, relying heavily on Rome for support. As if attempting to rise above the turmoil of the era, Ptolemy XII assumed the title Neos Dionysus, "the New Dionysus/Osiris," a name that conveyed his desire for renewal and rejuvenation. Several sculptures exist depicting him as an energetic young man. The most plausible alternative, Ptolemy XV, also known as Caesarion, was a brief but remarkable figure, the son of Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar.