Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
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published on 26 July 2016
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The stela, from a chapel in the royal couple's honors, shows Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II in a deified form. Their staffs are attribnbutes of Egyptian gods, as is the emblem of life (ankh) held by the queen. Yet, unusually, the King wields a lightening bolt; a non-Egyptian motif that identifies him with Zeus, the Greek supreme god of Sky and thunder. This reveals the Greek origins of the Ptolemy ruling dynasty. The Greek equated Zeus with Amun, "king of the gods", outside whose temple in Tanis this stela was displayed. Ptolemaic Period, reign of Ptolemy II, circa 285-246 BCE. From San el-Hagar (Tanis), temple of Ptolemy II, and Arsinoe II, Egypt. (The British Museum, London).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2016, July 26). Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5359/ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified July 26, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5359/ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 26 Jul 2016. Web. 22 Feb 2025.

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