From Haw Haw's derided Wikipedia--which nevertheless covers the etymology quite well for our purposes here:
Ptolemy, namePtolemy is an originally Greek name, (what isn't originally Greek in western culture?) the most famous holder of which is the Macedonian founder and ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter.
Ptolemy himself was Greek/Egyptian. (I am partial to a hybrid myself) The name means 'war-like' which could describe an attitude, a comparison or just a plain lust for blood.
I just love military history, so educational. Same old battles, played over endlessly, for much the same reasons, and always something new to learn.
Another Alexander worthy of study for Ptolemy 101 is Pope, who famously said that a little learning is a dangerous thing, wayback in the 1600's
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2011 08:40PM by Stoic.