Ektheósis Arsinoes: the cult of Arsinoe II Philadelphus / Ekthéosis Arsinóes: o culto a Arsinoe II Filadelfo

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

This research, entitled - Ektheósis Arsinoes: Arsinoe II Philadelphus cult, has as its aim to analyze the reasons, the shape and the diffusion of the religious cult created by Ptolemy II Philadelphus to honor his sister-wife. It is well known that the historical character of Queen Arsinoe II has been controversial since the beginning of studies on Ptolemaic Egypt. From ambitious queen to dedicated wife, there are few documents regarding her life in Egypt in the decade of 280/270 B.C. when she became queen during her brother s reign. The majority of the testimonies are dated to the period after her death. Who was Arsinoe II Philadelphus? Why did Ptolemy II established a cult in memory of his sister-wife? Arsinoe s II importance seems to reside on the image of popular devotion created around her, which ended up favoring and giving prestige to the Lagid dynasty. Our research is based, first of all, on the analysis of material sources, as well as on the written sources both from the 2nd century B.C. and from later centuries. We begin with the discussion of the historical background of the ptolemaic monarchy. Next, we briefly establish some thoughts on the role and the status of the Hellenistic and Pharaonic queens in antiquity. In the last chapter, using Colin Renfrew s theoretical and methodological principles regarding cult archaeology, we make a long digression over the reasons that led Ptolemy II to establish a cult for Arsinoe II both within the Greek and the Egyptian population.

ASSUNTO(S)

realeza ptolomaica arqueologia do culto hellenistic egypt queen cult egito helenístico arsinoe philadelphus ptolemaic royalty arsinoe filadelfo culto à rainha cult archaeology

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados