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THE NEW EPIGRAMS of Posidippus, published as P. Mil. Vogl. VIII 309, cast a sudden dazzling light on an array of important topics in Hellenistic studies ranging from Ptolemaic patronage of the arts to the early form of the poetry-book.1 Not least among the scroll's attractions are previously unknown poems about Kallikrates of Samos and his famous foundation, the shrine of Arsinoe-Aphrodite Zephyritis at Cape Zephyrion near Alexandria. These provide fresh insight into the interests of this prominent Ptolemaic courtier, and so oblige us to consider anew some aspects of his career and objectives. That is what I propose to do in this paper. In light of both new evidence and old, Kallikrates will emerge as a figure who promoted a consistent agenda in his actions on behalf of his sovereigns, Ptolemy II and Arsinoe Philadelphus: an exponent of that "intercultural poetics" most recently described by Susan Stephens,2 he sought to mediate between old Hellas and the sometimes strange new world of Ptolemaic Egypt, bridging the gap between the two whether by bringing Greek tradition to bear on his Egyptian milieu, or by spreading abroad his rulers' novel cultural policies.
To start with what is known of his life: Kallikrates of Samos, son of Boiskos, was a man of power and influence.3 "Supreme commander of the Ptolemaic navy," or nauarch, for some twenty years from the 270s into the 250s B.c.,4 he belonged to the inner circle of the court and was described by Philadelphus himself as one of the philoi (Welles, Royal Cones. 14.9). His achievements and faithful devotion to the crown were such that Ptolemy chose him to be the first eponymous priest of the dynastic cult of Alexander and the Theoi Adelphoi in 272/1 (P.Hibeh II 199.ii.12), a signal honor. At Olympia Kallikrates made a lavish dedication to Zeus Olympios in honor of his king and queen, setting up statues of each atop a pair of ionic columns ten meters high (cf. infra). A new detail furnished by the Milan Posidippus is the information that Kallikrates was active also at another Panhellenic shrine, at Delphi, where, as we shall see, his colts won the chariot race. In consequence, Kallikrates made a grand statuary dedication to the Theoi Adelphoi (XI.33-XII.7 = 74 A.-B.)....