Ptolemy II Philadelphus (TAH-leh-mee theh-SEHK-ond fee-lah-DEL-foos)
Librarian
Born in Cos, Ptolemy II was the son of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander’s generals who secured Egypt after the empire’s division. Unlike his father, Ptolemy II was less a soldier and more a patron of learning and administration. He vastly expanded the Library of Alexandria, importing texts, commissioning translations, and offering stipends to scholars. His reign gave Alexandria its character as a city of knowledge.
Ptolemy II became central to the preservation crisis. When Demetrius of Macedon threatened Egypt with a naval strike, the Library of Alexandria narrowly escaped destruction. Ptolemy II used this close call to call for allies and advocates to safeguard cultural memory. Though not present at Antioch, his policies directly inspired the convening of the council. Without his ambition to make Alexandria the “navel of knowledge,” the urgency for preservation might never have been recognized.
Later remembered as both a visionary and a cautious ruler, Ptolemy II’s reign reinforced the idea that Egypt was not merely a kingdom of grain and monuments, but a keeper of wisdom for all peoples. His legacy lived on in the Accord, as Egypt’s delegate Tahara carried the weight of his vision.
Date of Birth
14 Sankofa 28 bz (Shifa)
Date of Death
29 Āsha 34 bz (Bauen)
Life
28 bz
34 bz
-6 years old
Birthplace
Cos, Ptolemaic Egypt
Place of Death
Alexandria, Egypt
Children
Belief/Deity
Kemetic/Egyptian + Zoroastrianism (influence)
Classical scholar; revives Egyptian temple-library tradition with Persic rationalism.
Other Affiliations
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