Arsinoe II and her portraits

Under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, a tradition of royal power emerged that differed from Greek customs, where marriages between siblings within the royal family were increasingly common. Endogamy became a symbol of the power of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and one of the most famous examples of sibling rulers was Ptolemy II, who married his sister, Arsinoe II. This marked the first such occurrence within the dynasty. During her life, Arsinoe II was depicted wearing both local Egyptian and Greek goddess attire. Festivals held in her honor, temples dedicated to her, and public celebrations all served as visible symbols of royal power. In depictions of her reign, we can also see representations of her as a queen ruler, emphasizing her position in both the Egyptian and Greek traditions. Arsinoe II was worshiped not only in Egypt but across a wide geographical area. She lived a divine life, and her honors extended to various regions. She was honored in places such as Samothrace and Boeotia, and inscriptions dedicated to her have been found in Amargos, Thera, Lesbos, Delos, Cyrene, Cyprus, and Oropos. Sculptures of her, often depicted with a cornucopia, and relief vases have been discovered. New cities founded in her name include ancient Cilicia, Cyprus, Kleopatris, Koresia, Marion, Patara, Taukheira, and Trogodytike. All the iconographic representations we examine reflect the intersection of Hellenistic Egypt art, with many depictions of the queen emphasizing royal symbolism. A detailed study of 12 royal steles, 17 temple reliefs, 15 portraits, 6 sculptures, 17 coins, and 8 faience fragments have been analyzed, comparing and explaining these works. Additionally, 18 other artworks related to the subject have been included in the discussion.