Pothinus was a powerful politician and advisor who served as the regent of Egypt during the reign of the young Pharaoh Ptolemy XV, also known as Caesarion (the son of the famous Cleopatra and Julius Caesar), in the 1st century BCE. The regent was a eunuch and held a high position in the court. Pothinus was known for his cunning and political savvy, which he used to exert control over the young PharaohPharaoh and maintain his power.
He is remembered for heavily disliking Julius Caesar as well as for his support of Mark Antony, Cleopatra’s last husband. He was executed for planning to kill the queen and for fueling people to start a civil war.
Although he had success in the beginning at maintaining control over the kingdom, his actions ultimately led to destruction. His opposition to Julius Caesar’s plans for Egypt and his support for Cleopatra’s new love, Mark Antony, led to a civil war that weakened the kingdom and made it possible for it to be fused into the Roman Empire.
In the end, Pothinus was unable to prevent the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and was eventually executed by Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus, at Julius Caesar’s command. Nowadays, Christians use him as an example of what it means to live your life, angering God.
Was Pharaoh Ptolemy XV Cleopatra’s Son?
Although people in modern times love to talk about Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, it is essential to remember their not-so-famous son, who was also the last PharaohPharaoh of ancient Egypt. Ptolemy XV Caesar, also known as Caesarion by most people, was the last PharaohPharaoh of ancient Egypt, ruling from 44 BCE to 30 BCE.
The last Pharaoh was the son of exceptionally famous parents. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, was his mother, and Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general and politician, was his father. Caesarion’s reign was short-lived, and he ended up being killed by his step-brother, Octavian.
Pharaoh Ptolemy XV was captured and executed by the Roman general Octavian (later known as Augustus) following the Battle of Actium. Octavian was actually the adopted son of Julius Caesar. It is said in history that even though Cleopatra claimed Ptolemy XV was the biological son of the Roman General, Julius Caesar never recognized him as his son. It is essential to remember that in those times, Cleopatra had high hopes that Ptolemy XV, her son, would become the next Julius Caesar. This way, Egypt and the Roman Empire would be fused forever, and her family could rule over all.
However, the Roman general was stabbed to death by the Roman Senate before Ptolemy got the chance to be a ruler. After Caesar’s death, Cleopatra and her son returned to Egypt, where she made her son Pharaoh. Later in life, things started to get rough between Octavian and Cleopatra.
Cleopatra and Mark Anthony ended up being defeated at the Battle of Actium. Octavian’s mission was to wipe out the pharaohs. He successfully killed his step-brother. Ptolemy’s death marked the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Roman Empire.
What Is a Regent?
It is mentioned that Pothinus was a regent. Before we jump into any details, we must understand what a regent is to grasp what this person was hired to do fully. A regent is a person appointed to govern a kingdom, state, or empire in the name of a monarch who is either a minor, absent, disabled or incapacitated.
The regent also acts as a representative of the monarch and has the power to make decisions on behalf of the ruler. Given that the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt was a child, he desperately needed counseling.
However, his regent was not of a pure heart. Instead of carefully guiding Ptolemy XV and making sure he ended up being a good ruler, he took advantage of the power, manipulating the young Pharaoh so that everything turned out in his favor. He wanted to be the ruler of Egypt, and he knew the Pharaoh’s mother stood in his way.
Therefore, the regent started plotting Cleopatra’s death. But because his greed and selfishness got the best of him, he ended up failing. His hate for Julius Caesar also did not help him, and he was “sentenced” to death by Octavian’s hand.
In the Bible, this regent is mentioned as a leader of the Jewish community in the city of Lydda during Paul’s travels. According to the book of Acts, Paul, the apostle, was brought before Pothinus to be judged for his preaching but was eventually sent to Caesar in Rome for further trial.
We understand from this passage in the Holy Bible that Pothinus was involved in the persecution of the early Christians. Remember being a Christian was challenging. In biblical days, you could’ve been killed just by admitting to being Christian.
What Is There to Learn from Pothinus?
Even though this character is not exactly loved by anyone and is considered to be pretty evil, both in the Bible and throughout history, there is a multitude of things that we can learn from him. First of all, we can remember his selfishness and evilness and try to study his actions so that we never become like that.
Yes, in the beginning, he wanted to help the young Pharaoh, and he loved being his regent, but as time passed, he became more and more power-thirsty and tried everything he could so that he could rule Egypt.
He should also be remembered for his cruel ways, for the times when he persecuted the early Christians. He proves that there is nothing and nobody above God. And no matter how much you try to come into power, you will never get what you wish for if you are fighting for it against God’s Will and wishes.
Remember, everyone has a journey that only God created, and He is the only one who can steer you off it. Therefore, it is futile to fight against the waves that God put in your way. This is where the saying “if it’s meant to be, it will be” comes from.
