---
title: Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II
author: The British Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8209/bronze-statues-of-ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2023-05-02
---

# Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II

_Authored by The British Museum_

## Image File

[![Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8209.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8209.jpg)

## Image Caption

These early 3rd-century BCE [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) statues from [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/), [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/), portray the royal Ptolemaic couple [Ptolemy II Philadelphus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus/) ("The Sibling-Loving") and [Arsinoe II Philadelphus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Arsinoe_II_Philadelphus/). [Ptolemy II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus/) is wearing the scalp of an elephant, possibly symbolic of [Ptolemaic Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemaic_Egypt/)'s relations with [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) or intended to imitate similar portraits of [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/). [Arsinoe II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Arsinoe_II_Philadelphus/) holds a cornucopia, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, and associating her with [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/).

The British Museum, London.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Museum, T. B. (2018, February 27). Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8209/bronze-statues-of-ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/>
### Chicago
Museum, The British. "Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 27, 2018. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8209/bronze-statues-of-ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/>.
### MLA
Museum, The British. "Bronze Statues of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Feb 2018, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8209/bronze-statues-of-ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/>.

## License & Copyright

© Trustees of the [British Museum](http://www.britishmuseum.org/). Republished under the British Museum [Standard Terms of Use](http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_this_site/terms_of_use.aspx) for non-profit educational purposes. [Original image](http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=121736&partId=1) by [**The British Museum**](http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=121736&partId=1). Submitted by [Arienne King](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/ava.spartan.117/ "User Page: Arienne King"), published on 27 February 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.