Cleopatra Eurydice of Macedon
Eurydice (Greek: Ευρυδίκη), born Cleopatra (Greek: Κλεοπάτρα) was a mid. 4th century BCE Macedonian noblewoman, niece of Attalus, and last of the seven wives[1] of Philip II of Macedon.
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Biography[edit]
Cleopatra was a maiden whom Philip married either in 338[2] or 337[3] BCE.[4] As Philip's wife, Cleopatra was given the name "Eurydice". Although Philip was a polygamist, his marriage to Cleopatra greatly upset Olympias, and threw Alexander the Great's heirship into question.
According to both Justin[5] and Satyrus[6], Cleopatra Eurydice and Philip produced two children, Europa, a girl, and Caranus, a boy.[7]
Following Philip's assassination, Europa and Caranus were murdered by Olympias, whereupon Cleopatra took her own life[8]. Peter Green strongly suggests that Alexander ordered the death of Caranus, but that the deaths of Europa and Cleopatra were the result of Olympias's vindictiveness.
References[edit]
- Green, Peter; Alexander of Macedon: 356-323 B.C. A Historical Biography; Berkeley & Los Angeles; University of California Press; 1991.
Notes[edit]
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Constructs such as ibid., loc. cit. and idem are discouraged by Wikipedia's style guide for footnotes, as they are easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated title. (October 2010) |
- ^ Green, Peter. Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C: A Historical Biography
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Tarn
- ^ Plutarch, The Life of Alexander, 9
- ^ Junianus Justinus, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, ix. 7
- ^ Satyrus of Athens (13.557e)
- ^ William Woodthorpe Tarn ignores Europa entirely and disputes even the existence of Caranus.
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, viii. 7. 7; Justin, ibid.; Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander" x. 4
