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]

  1. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  2. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  3. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Berenice I". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  4. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 5". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  5. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 3". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  6. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Philotera, Footnote 5". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  7. ^ "Ptolemaic Genealogy: Arsinoe II, Footnote 17". Archived from the original on 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2011-09-17.