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Lagus

380 BC – 301 BC

Ancestor of the Ptolemaic dynasty

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About Lagus

Lived 380 BC – 301 BC (aged 78–79). Lagus was a military personnel.

Lagus of Eordaia (, Lagos; lived 4th century BC) was a Macedonian courtier and the father of Ptolemy, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of the Argead dynasty and a concubine of Philip II, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, forming the basis of Ptolemy as the son of Philip; but it is possible that this is a later myth fabricated to glorify the Ptolemaic dynasty. From an anecdote recorded by Plutarch, it is clear that Lagus was a man of obscure birth; hence, when Theocritus calls Ptolemy a descendant of Heracles, he probably means to represent him as the son of Philip. Lagus and Arsinoe also were parents to Menelaus.

Misreading Lagus is believed by some to have subsequently married Antigone, niece of Antipater, by whom he became the father of Berenice, afterwards the wife of Ptolemy, but this is based on a misreading of a corrupt scholium; her father's name was almost certainly Magas.

Lagus (Lykaionike) Lagus (son of Ptolemy), winner in Synoris Arcadian Lykaia 308 BC, may be a relative of the Lagus family.

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Important facts

Born
380 BC
Birth century
Died
301 BC
Occupation

Family & relationships

Spouse
Arsinoe of Macedon
Child
Ptolemy I Soter

People in Lagus's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Lagus's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lagus?

ancestor of the Ptolemaic dynasty

When was Lagus born?

Lagus was born in 380 BC.

When did Lagus die?

Lagus died in 301 BC.

What was Lagus's occupation?

Lagus was a military personnel.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lagus

· Wikidata: Q718154

· DBpedia: Lagus

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lagus. https://biography.guide/lagus/

MLA: "Lagus." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lagus/.

Chicago: "Lagus." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lagus/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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