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 ancient Romans.

First period (312–306 BC) The governors in this period are referred to as strategos (general) in literary sources, but as basileus (king) on their coinage. Name Dates King Nicocreon of Salamis 312–310 BC Ptolemy I Soter Menelaus, son of Lagus 310–306 BC

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 (283–246 BC) and Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–222 BC). The office may not have existed.

Third period (217–58 BC) During this period, the governors of Cyprus bore the title of strategos kai archiereus (general and high priest). After 142 BC, they also bore the title of nauarchos (admiral). Governors usually held the rank of syngenes (royal kinsman) in the aulic titulature. The order and dates are according to Roger Bagnall. Name Dates King Pelops, son of Pelops 217–203 BC Ptolemy IV Philopator Polycrates of Argos 203–197 BCPtolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy, son of Agesarchos 197–180 BC Ptolemy Macron 180–168 BC Ptolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Unknown 168–164 BC Archias 163–158 BCPtolemy VI Philometor Xenophon? 158–152 BC Andromachus? 152–145 BC Seleucus, son of Bithys 144 BC – Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Crocus – 124 BC Theodorus, son of Seleucus 123–118 BC Helenus of Cyrene (1st time) 118–117 BC Ptolemy IX Soter 117–116 BC Ptolemy X Alexander 116–114 BC Ptolemy IX Soter Helenus of Cyrene (2nd time) 114–106 BC King Ptolemy IX Soter (direct rule) 105–88 BC himself Potamon (deputy governor) 105–88 BC Ptolemy IX Soter Chaereas? 88–80 BC King Ptolemy of Cyprus (direct rule) 80–53 BC himself

Fourth period (40s–30 BC) Name Dates OverlordSerapion ca. 43–41 BCMark Antony and Cleopatra VII Diogenes, son of Noumenios 40 BCDemetrius? 39 BC

See also Hellenistic Cyprus

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