Ptolemy of Cyprus is the king of Cyprus c. 80-58 BCE.
He is the younger brother of Ptolemy XII Auletes, king of Egypt, and, like him, an illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX Lathyros.
He appears to have been acknowledged king of Cyprus at the same time that his brother Auletes obtained the possession of the throne of Egypt, 80 BCE.
He neglects the precaution of obtaining confirmation of his sovereignty at Rome, and makes the additional error of offending Publius Clodius Pulcher, by failing to ransom him when he had fallen into the hands of Cilician pirates.
When Clodius becomes tribune (58 BCE), he enacts a law to deprive Ptolemy of his kingdom, and reduce Cyprus to a Roman province.
Cato, who is entrusted with carrying out this decree, advises Ptolemy to submit, offering him his personal safety, with the office of high-priest at Paphos and a generous pension.
Ptolemy refuses, and, wholly unprepared to resist Roman power and deciding to die a king, puts an end to his own life, 58 BCE.
