Who Was Alive
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Unknown author, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Ptolemy II Philadelphus

Pharaoh

Born 308 BC · died 28 January 246 BC, aged 61 or 62
Also known as Ptolemy Philadelphus

Who was alive at the same time as Ptolemy II Philadelphus?

  1. Chanakya, 375–283 BC
  2. Mencius, c. 372 – c. 289 BC
  3. Theophrastus, c. 371 – 287 BC
  4. Zhuang Zhou, c. 369 – c. 288 BC
  5. Pytheas, c. 359 – c. 289 BC
  6. Seleucus I Nicator, 358–281 BC
  7. Qu Yuan, 343–278 BC
  8. Epicurus, 342–270 BC
  9. Chandragupta Maurya, 340–297 BC
  10. Zeno of Citium, c. 334 – 263 BC
  11. Pharnavaz I, 326–234 BC
  12. Pyrrhus of Epirus, 318–272 BC
  13. Aristarchus of Samos, c. 310 – c. 230 BC
  14. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, 308–246 BC
  15. Ashoka, 304–232 BC
  16. Apollonius of Rhodes, c. 293 – 215 BC
  17. Archimedes, c. 287 – 212 BC
  18. Han Fei, c. 280 – 233 BC
  19. Eratosthenes, 276–194 BC
  20. Apollonius of Perga, c. 262 – c. 190 BC
  21. Qin Shi Huang, 259–210 BC
  22. Emperor Gaozu of Han, 256–195 BC
  23. Plautus, 250–184 BC
  24. Hannibal, 247–183 BC

Drag across the timeline, or use the arrow keys, to see who was alive in any year and the age each person reached that year. Dashed lines mark world events. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.

When Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born, Pyrrhus of Epirus was 9 or 10, Pharnavaz I was 17 or 18, Qu Yuan was 34 or 35, Apelles was 61 or 62 and Bindusara was 11 or 12.

When Ptolemy II Philadelphus died, Qin Shi Huang was 12 or 13, Ashoka was 57 or 58, Hannibal was about a year old, Eratosthenes was 29 or 30 and Plautus was 3 or 4.

Born during Ptolemy II Philadelphus’s lifetime: Archimedes, Qin Shi Huang, Ashoka, Hannibal, Eratosthenes, Plautus, Apollonius of Perga and Han Fei.

Not quite contemporaries: Aristotle died about 14 years before Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born, Alexander the Great died about 15 years before Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born, Diogenes died about 13 years before Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born and Demosthenes died about 14 years before Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born.

Where Ptolemy II Philadelphus’s contemporaries were born

Ptolemy II Philadelphus is labelled; the others are the best-known people we track who lived at the same time. Each dot is a birthplace from Wikidata (49 of 55 placed); tap one to open that person.
Birthplaces as a list

Compare Ptolemy II Philadelphus

The 54 best-known contemporaries

54 of the people we track were surely alive at the same time as Ptolemy II Philadelphus. All of them are listed here. See also everyone alive in 277 BC.

  1. Archimedes c. 287 – 212 BC
  2. Qin Shi Huang 259–210 BC
  3. Ashoka 304–232 BC
  4. Epicurus 342–270 BC
  5. Chanakya 375–283 BC
  6. Hannibal 247–183 BC
  7. Eratosthenes 276–194 BC
  8. Mencius c. 372 – c. 289 BC
  9. Plautus 250–184 BC
  10. Theophrastus c. 371 – 287 BC
  11. Zhuang Zhou c. 369 – c. 288 BC
  12. Zeno of Citium c. 334 – 263 BC
  13. Chandragupta Maurya 340–297 BC
  14. Pyrrhus of Epirus 318–272 BC
  15. Apollonius of Perga c. 262 – c. 190 BC
  16. Aristarchus of Samos c. 310 – c. 230 BC
  17. Seleucus I Nicator 358–281 BC
  18. Han Fei c. 280 – 233 BC
  19. Emperor Gaozu of Han 256–195 BC
  20. Pharnavaz I 326–234 BC
  21. Apollonius of Rhodes c. 293 – 215 BC
  22. Qu Yuan 343–278 BC
  23. Pytheas c. 359 – c. 289 BC
  24. Livius Andronicus c. 280 – c. 200 BC
  25. Hamilcar Barca 275–228 BC
  26. Chrysippus 281–208 BC
  27. Ptolemy III Euergetes 284–222 BC
  28. Apelles 370–306 BC
  29. Bindusara 320–273 BC
  30. Antigonus I Monophthalmus 382–301 BC
  31. Antiochus I Soter c. 324 – c. 262 BC
  32. Li Si 280–208 BC
  33. Lysippos c. 390 – c. 300 BC
  34. Lysimachus c. 357 – 281 BC
  35. Cleanthes 331–232 BC
  36. Aratus c. 315 – c. 240 BC
  37. Antiochus II Theos 286 – c. 247 BC
  38. Gnaeus Naevius 275–201 BC
  39. Aristoxenus c. 360 – c. 300 BC
  40. Agathocles of Syracuse 361–289 BC
  41. Cassander 355–296 BC
  42. Demetrius of Phalerum 350–283 BC
  43. Seleucus II Callinicus 265–225 BC
  44. Demetrius I Poliorcetes c. 337 – 283 BC
  45. Arsinoe II 316 – c. 269 BC
  46. Arcesilaus 315–240 BC
  47. Hiero II of Syracuse 308–215 BC
  48. Ctesibius c. 284 – c. 221 BC
  49. Attalus I 269–197 BC
  50. Strato of Lampsacus c. 335 – c. 269 BC
  51. Herophilos 335–280 BC
  52. Berenice II c. 266 – 221 BC
  53. Nearchus 356–300 BC
  54. Hasdrubal the Fair 270–221 BC