Philotera

Philotera (Greek: Φιλωτέρα, born 315/309 BC-probably after 282 BC and before 268 BC[1]) was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman and a Greek Egyptian princess of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Philotera was the daughter of Ptolemy I Soter and Berenice I of Egypt.[2] She had one older sister, Arsinoe II, and a younger brother, the future Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus.[3] From her parents' previous marriages, Philotera had various half-maternal and half-paternal siblings.

Little is known of her life. Philotera died sometime after the accession of Ptolemy II to the Ptolemaic throne and before Arsinoe II died.[4] The fact that Philotera died before her sister did is demonstrated by a hymn written by Callimachus on the death of Arsinoe II.[5]

After Philotera died, Ptolemy II deified her as a goddess. Ptolemy II erected a temple in her honor in Alexandria. Greeks and Egyptians worshipped her along with Arsinoe II, and Ptolemy II created a religious cult in her honour.[6][7] Ptolemy II also founded a port town in the Red Sea called Philotera, which is modern Safaga.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera
  2. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera
  3. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Berenice I
  4. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 5
  5. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 3
  6. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 5
  7. ↑ Ptolemaic Genealogy: Arsinoe II, Footnote 17
  8. ↑ The Maritime Incense Route Nabataea: Philotera

Sources

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