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 a daughter born to 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 parent’s previous marriages, Philotera had various half-maternal and half-paternal siblings.

Little is known on her life. Philotera died sometime before 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 alongside with Arsinoe II and Ptolemy II created a religious cult in her honor.[6] [7] Ptolemy II also founded a port town in the Red Sea called Philotera, which is modern Safaga.[8]

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