Ptolemy II is called Philadelphus (which means "Brother/Sister Loving"), probably due to the fact that he married his full sister, Arsinoe II. He had a joint reign with her, and during their time as rulers, the Ptolemaic empire reached its greatest size. Trade was enhanced by a chain of towns he founded along the coast which supported trade with India and Arabia.

Ptolemy II was the pharaoh responsible for the Pharos Lighthouse, which was finished during his reign (about 280) and it may have been him, instead of his father who was responsible for the creation of the original Museion and Library. He commissioned Jewish scholars from Jerusalem to translate the Pentateuch into Greek for the Library collection, continuing his father's efforts to make Alexandria a cultural center in the region.

Every four years, Ptolemy II sponsored a celebration in honor of his father, patterned after the Olympic games of Rome. He also built a canal from the Nile to the Gulf of Suez.

Despite the cultural advances of Ptolemy II's rule, he remained at war with Syria until he married off his daughter Berenice to the SYrian king, Antiochus II to cement a political peace. There is some evidence that his first wife, Arsinoe, was repudiated so he could marry his sister, who was also named Arsinoe.

During his reign, a general register of Egypt was produced, listing all the fields, canals, and agricultural areas. The register was designed to allow for accurate tax collecting -- the income used to develop foreign trade and support foreign politics.

Ptolemy II started temples at the Island of Philae, adding temples to Elephantine, and fragments of temples at Thebes. Other structures from his reign exist in Saqqara, and the Fayoum oasis.

pharaohs

Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy III Euergeter
Ptolemy IV Philopater
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Cleopatra I
Ptolemy Eupator
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Cleopatra II
Ptolemy VII Neos Philpator
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X Alexander
Cleopatra Berenice
Ptolemy XI Alexander
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos
Berenice IV
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIV
Ptolemy XV Cesarion

monuments

Pharos Lighthouse, Alexandria
Biblioteka Alexandrina
Museion, Alexandria