Cyprus was the main base of the Ptolemaic navy outside of Alexandria for almost 200 years, it was where the Ptolemies sourced their timber to build their warships. Nea Paphos in south-west Cyprus was a centre of Ptolemaic administration, possessed a major harbour, and the city and the surrounding region. Its importance as a major shipbuilding location in Ptolemaic times when Ptolemy II Philadelphos had two very large ships built there by the naval architect Pyrgoteles son of Zoes. Paphos became the Ptolemaic capital of Cyprus around 200 BC, and the headquarters of the Ptolemaic strategos. Ephesus was established as a naval base in 262 BC. After the Ptolemaic navy was defeated at the Battle of Ephesus (ca. 258 BC) the base was retaken by the Seleucid Empire. In 246 BC Seleucid forces abandoned the base leaving the Ptolemies to move in again. Ephesos remained as a military base until 197 BC when Antiochus III seized the city. Samos was first established as a naval base between 280 and 270 BC. It remained an important naval base for the Ptolemies until 201 BCE when Philip V of Macedon conquered the island. In 197 BC the base was recaptured by, shortly after that, the island regained its freedom. As with Itanos, Patroclus had built a military facility on the island of Thera in 267/6 BC whilst on his way to Attica leading Ptolemaic forces during the Chremonidean War. Patroclus then appointed Apollodotos as the base commander. After Ptolemy VIII ascended to the throne in 145 BC he withdrew all Ptolemaic forces from Thera.