Potheinos ((link)) Jun 2026

When Ptolemy XII Auletes died, he left his kingdom to his eldest children, Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII, instructing them to rule jointly. Initially, Pothinus served as a guardian and regent for the young boy-king, Ptolemy XIII. But rather than facilitating a shared rule, Pothinus sought to consolidate total power for himself. He recognized that Cleopatra, intelligent and assertive, was a threat to his influence over the young Pharaoh. Consequently, he orchestrated a campaign to marginalize her, eventually driving her into exile in Syria.

Potheinos was largely responsible for the decision to execute the Roman general Pompey the Great when he fled to Egypt, an act intended to win Caesar's favor that ultimately backfired.

In the secular history of the first century BC, Potheinos (often Latinized as Pothinus) was one of the most influential figures in the Ptolemaic Kingdom. As a eunuch and the regent for Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII, he played a pivotal role in the Roman Civil War between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. potheinos

Yet, Pothinus represents a specific archetype of the Ptolemaic era: the powerful courtier who ruled from the shadows. In a dynasty marred by incest, murder, and intrigue, Pothinus was a master player. His downfall was not a lack of skill, but a failure to understand the man he sought to manipulate. By underestimating Julius Caesar and overplaying his hand, Pothinus inadvertently paved the way for the most famous romance in history, ensuring that Egypt would fall not to his faction, but to Cleopatra and, eventually, Rome.

The Alexandrian War had begun. While Caesar was besieged in the palace, Cleopatra famously smuggled herself into his quarters, likely in a carpet or bedroll, aligning her fate with his. This alliance sealed Pothinus's doom. When Ptolemy XII Auletes died, he left his

Contributors to Ancient Egypt Wiki 2:41 Ptolemy XIII (Pharaoh) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... Pothinus, a powerful advisor, helped Ptolemy XIII rule because Ptolemy XII was too young. Ptolemy XIII and Pothinus later tried to... Wikipedia Pothinus - Wikipedia Pothinus or Potheinos (Ancient Greek: Ποθεινός; early 1st century BC – 48 or 47 BC), a eunuch, was regent for Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII... Wikipedia Pothinus | Assassin's Creed Wiki | Fandom Behind the scenes. Pothinus is a historical figure featured as an antagonist and assassination target in the 2017 video game Assas... Assassin's Creed Wiki

Pothinus remained in the palace as a "guest" of Caesar, acting as a mole and continuing to send intelligence to the Egyptian forces outside. His treachery, however, was eventually discovered. The historian Cassius Dio recounts that Pothinus's servants were intercepted carrying messages to the enemy. He recognized that Cleopatra, intelligent and assertive, was

: When asked by the governor who the God of the Christians was, Pothinus famously replied, "If you are worthy, you shall know."

: He steered the young Ptolemy XIII’s policy.

The name takes on a drastically different tone in the second century AD. Saint Pothinus (Potheinos) was the first Bishop of Lyon and a primary figure in the "Martyrs of Lyon" (177 AD).

"Potheinos (Greek): not just loved, but longed for . The kind of beloved the heart aches for in silence. Tag your potheinos. 🖤"