Figure 68 Obverse of gold coin minted by and showing in profile Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II. Ottilia
Buerger Collection of Ancient and Byzantine Coins, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI.
Source: Ottilia Buerger Collection of Ancient and Byzantine Coins, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI.
Inv. 91.098.
“What amazing power did Ptolemy the son of Lagus acquire from his ancestors! A power to
accomplish any great deed that he set his mind to – a mind that could conceive what no other man’s
can imagine. Father Zeus made him equal in honor even to the blessed gods, and for him a golden
throne is established in the halls of Zeus. Beside him is seated Alexander, the god with the intricate
diadem, whose thoughts are friendly toward him but hostile toward the Persians. Facing them a seat
made of solid adamant is set, the throne of Heracles the slayer of centaurs, where he feasts with the
other Olympian gods. His joy is unbounded over the sons of his sons, for the son of Cronus has
relieved their limbs of old age and they, his own descendants, are spoken of as immortal gods.”
(Theocritus, Idyll 17.13–25)The effect of the creation of these Macedonian kingdoms was to spread Greek language, culture, and
religion among many non-Greek regions as well as to expose Greeks and Macedonians to a great variety
of non-Greek religions, cultures, and languages. Alexander had founded a number of new cities, often
filling them with Macedonian and Greek settlers, and his successors continued the practice. Each of these