Myths, Mysteries, & Legends

Myth:

A Ptolemaic Connection

As with all history, nothing creates more intrigue than a good story even if its one that is fantastical. An old story of the origins of the Tolmie sept span from the name Ptolemy, a name which is not only recorded in the histories of ancient Egypt, but also one that is connected with the broader clan of Tolmie. How did the name Ptolemy come about? It has been suggested, as all good mysteries and myths are down through the ages, that the Ptolemys were linked to the ancients of Egypt and then later to Scotland.

To help perpetuate myths like this, historical accounts are peppered with unconfirmed links between ancient Scotland (purportedly coined etymologically from the Persian term Scythia) and Egypt, the earliest ancient arrivals to what is now the United Kingdom as purported by the Declaration of Arbroath. As with most myths and legends, the veracity of their accounts are long lost to the dusty annals of unrecorded histories. Some might narrate a story about the Egyptian and Scythia/ Scottish link, having its origins in the last Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which history tells us was none other than the infamous Queen Cleopatra. History also tells us of this dynasty's connection to Rome and Roman Emperors and the Roman histories lengthy connection to what is now the United Kingdom.

scottish declaration of arbroath

With the increasing expansion, influence, and power of an ever hungry Roman empire, Cleopatra commissioned a large portion of the wealth of Egypt's Ptolemaic Pharaohs to be hidden. This wealth said to include wondrous and lost treasures from the conquests of Alexander the Great and others. Where else to better hide this family's extensive wealth collated over centuries and sought by the Roman empire, than in the lands of such a hungry empire.

The myth purports that the faithful 'disciples of Ptolemy' took this wealth to different parts of the then known Roman world, including what was then called Scythia, now known as Scotland. These disciples of Ptolemy hid this extensive wealth in plain sight by integrating themselves into these new and emerging societies. To complete such a fantastical story, one would then need to infer that these hidden disciples of Ptolemy over the passage of time have either used this wealth to further causes unknown, or maybe as the ever faithful disciples of Ptolemy - they keep watch over and guard this extensive and ancient hidden wealth and knowledge of the Ancient Pharaohs, including Egypt's lost Museum and the Library of Alexandria; founded by none other than the Ptolemaic Pharaoh, Ptolemy II Philadelphus (283-246 bc) himself the great great grandfather of Cleopatra.

This fantastical myth unfolds shortly before the death of Cleopatra. She foresaw the ending of the era of the Pharaoh as the God-King, coupled with the increasing power and spread of Rome. History tells us that the Ptolemaic dynasty began with Ptolemy I Soter (c.376-282 bc), the Macedonian General of Alexander the Great and spanned several hundred years to the final ruler of this dynasty Cleopatra VII Philopator (c.69-30 bc), known as Queen Cleopatra. History does indeed records her as the the last Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Is it coincidence that the Tolmie crest incorporate the symbol of the Grpyhon and the call Audeo? Could this ancient sept itself be linked to an ancient Egypt? Egyptian antiquity does record the Gryphon as a Pharaonic symbol, for guarding treasures and priceless possessions. Likewise the Latin term Audeo has several translations including 'I dare', or 'I venture', or 'I risk'. What did these early Ptolemaic disciples venture, dare, or risk to do? And what role might ancient Egypt's most lauded astronomer, mathematician, and father of cartography Claudius Ptolemy play in securing the safe location of these ancient pharaonic treasures?

Fast forward several thousand years to the modern world, where the Gryphon is considered the heraldic symbol of divine power and its bearers as guardian of the divine. Indeed what divine treasure, priceless possessions, ancient and arcane knowledges from these ancient Pharaonic times might these disciples of Ptolemy, this Ptolemaic society, this Society of Tolmie be guarding and where?

As with all good stories of myth and legend the inability to prove makes them that much more enjoyable. Alternatively we could take the account that the name change from Tolmie to Ptolemy occurred at a time in history when these families were being hunted down as Jacobites and changed their names as such. Or in the 18th century, where it is purported that people altered their surnames to align with important times and figures from history. Not as fun or intriguing, but that's what makes a good myth or legend, one that is both intriguing and somewhat fantastical! The good thing about myths, is that you the reader get to decide what is myth, legend, or mystery.