Ptolemy (Ptolemy I Soter)

Ptolemy I Soter was a Greek general and mathematician who became the ruler of Egypt after Alexander the Great's empire fragmented. He founded the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which lasted nearly 300 years, and established Alexandria as a major cultural and scholarly center. Ptolemy was also a noted astronomer and geographer; his most famous work, the "Almagest," compiled and systematized astronomical knowledge, influencing science for centuries. His leadership helped preserve Greek culture in Egypt and fostered advances in science, navigation, and learning, making him a significant figure in the Hellenistic world.