Statue of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (Villa Albani 558): Study of the Inscription and Problem of the Dating

Abstract

The article presents a newly commented translation of the hieroglyphic inscription on the statue of Ptolemy II Philadelphos from Bubastis, created several years after a countrywide Egyptian cult dedicated to Arsinoe II had been established. A new interpretation of the text provides evidence for Ptolemy II erecting an additional statue in honor of his deceased sister, and adds one more spelling of Arsinoe’s name based on the wordplay ‘Arsinoe = his sister’ to the already known variants. A victorious military journey to the coastal settlements of Asian countries at the beginning of the Second Syrian War (259-257 BCE), accordingly provides an opportunity to reconsider and improve the current reconstruction of the military activities. The historical source under discussion along with the papyri from Zenon’s archive and other Egyptian documents dating to the same period not only show quite clearly that Ptolemy himself took part in that campaign, but also enables the correct dating of the end of the war to the spring of 257 BCE.

Keywords

• Ptolemaic Egypt
• Egyptian names for Arsinoe
• the Second Syrian War
• dioiketes Apollonios
• Bubastis