Ptolemy II Philadelphus
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Ptolemy II Philadelphus (sources)
- LIST OF SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Ptolemy II Philadelphus (subject)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus was King of Egypt, from 283 BCE to his death in 246 BCE.
Overview
Ptolemy II Philadelphus was the son and successor of Ptolemy I Soter. He was associated to the kingdom already in c290 BCE, when his father was still alive.
Under his rule, the Ptolemaic kingdom was at his height. He continued the tradition inaugurated by his father, as patron of science, letters, and arts. He made Alexandria and his library the cultural center of the ancient world.
He died in 246 BCE and was succeeded by his son Ptolemy III Euergetes.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus and the Jews
As King of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus ruled over the land of Israel. He consolidated his power in the region, defeating any military challenge from the Seleucids.
Ptolemy II is praised in Jewish sources for freeing the slaves ("a hundred and twenty thousand people") brought by his father from Jerusalem into Egypt.
The translation of the Torah into Greek (the Septuagint), of which the Letter of Aristeas preserves a legendary account, was most likely completed under Ptolemy II's reign.