Ptolemy V Epiphanes (210–180 bc). Fifth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt; son and successor of Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III.

Ptolemy V came to the throne at the age of five following his father’s death. Taking advantage of the child-king and turmoil in Egypt, the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great launched the Fifth Syrian War (ca. 202–200 bc). Egypt lost control of territory they held in Asia Minor, the Aegean, as well as Palestine, and Antiochus succeeded at his attempt to expand the Seleucid empire into the Sinai Peninsula. As part of the peace pact and to strengthen an alliance against the growing Roman threat, Antiochus III gave his daughter, Cleopatra I, to Ptolemy V (see Dan 11:13–18). However, Cleopatra was loyal to Ptolemy V and encouraged an alliance between Egypt and Rome against her father.

After the Fifth Syrian War, the Ptolemies never had permanent possession of Syria-Palestine again. However, near the end of his reign, Ptolemy V did regain control of Upper Egypt, which had seceded under his father.