Berenice (Seleucid queen)

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There are many other women named Berenice.

Berenice, also called Berenice Syra, was the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and his first wife Arsinoe I of Egypt.

In ca. 250 BC she married the Seleucid monarch Antiochus II Theos, who, following an agreement with Ptolemy (249 BC), had divorced his wife Laodice I and transferred the succession to Berenice's children.

In 246 BC, when Ptolemy died, Berenice took Regency and conquered Soloia with her army, but Antiochus repudiated Berenice and took back Laodice, who, however, at once poisoned him and murdered Berenice and her son. Her brother Ptolemy III Euergetes succeeded their father and set about to avenge his sister's murder by invading Syria and having Laodice killed. This is also mentioned in the Book of Daniel 11:6.

[edit] References

"Women in power 500 - C.E. 1" URL accessed 03/20/06