Why were epicycles necessary in ptolemy’s model of the universe?

Because Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn each appear to slow down, stop, move backwards for a while, then again slow down, stop, and start moving forward again. Each plant does this at some time during each year.

If they were simply moving in circles around the Earth, they couldn't do any of this. They would need to be moving on small circles attached to the big circles. The small ones are the 'epicycles'.