Character Descriptions

[The Celtic Viking]

Philadelphos Ptolemaios

Background:

Philadelphos Ptolemaios was not the eldest son of his father; what he was was his favoured son, and that turned out to be the superior quality. Because he was viewed by his father Ptolemaios Soter to surpass his elder brothers and his half-brother in skill, he was named heir. While he was serving as Kleronomos Basileus, he was taught by Philetas the poet and Zenodotos the grammarian. At age 24 he was crowned king, and his father, who would live on for the first two years of Philadelphos' rule, served as an on-and-off unofficial advisor when Philadelphos wished it. During his reign Philadelphos has focused his attention on encouraging the growth of knowledge, vying - successfully - to make Alexandreia the most learned city in the world.

On the strategic level, his ambitions can be seen as modest by his detractors. Though he is no stranger to battle and praises Megas Alexandros for his military genius and tactical accomplishments, he holds the opinion that the empire he carved up was doomed to fail. His ambition lays first and foremost in Alexandreia and Aigyptos, keeping what his father left for him to rule and at best expanding it slowly. Creating a large empire is useless if it only lasts a day, and in Philadelphos' view, an empire expanded too far too fast won't last.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Secondary characters:

Hermokrates - a young nobleman serving in Philadelphos' army mostly as a scout and messenger.

Links to stories:
N/A