Berenice I (c. 340 BC-between 279-268 BC) was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman and through her marriage to Ptolemy I Soter, became the first Queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt.
Family
Berenice was originally from Eordeaea. She was the daughter of obscure local noblemen called Magas and Antigone.[1] Her maternal grandfather was a nobleman called Cassander who was the brother of Regent Antipater[1] and through her mother was a relation to his family.
First Marriage
In 325 BC, Berenice married an obscure local nobleman and military officer called Philip.[1] Philip was previously married and had other children. Through her first marriage, she bore Philip: son King Magas of Cyrene, daughter Antigone who married as one of the wives of King Pyrrhus of Epirus and a daughter called Theoxena.[1]
Magas dedicated an inscription to himself and his father, when he served as a Priest of Apollo.[2] Pyrrhus gave her name to a new city called Berenicis. Philip had died.
Second Marriage to Ptolemy
Head of Ptolemy II and his mother Berenice I
After the death of her first husband, Berenice travelled to Egypt with her children as a lady-in-waiting for her mothers first cousin Eurydice who was the wife of Ptolemy I. Ptolemy I was one of the generals of King Alexander the Great and founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Egypt. Berenice caught the eye of Ptolemy I who married her in 317 BC. Berenice bore Ptolemy I: two daughters Arsinoe II, Philotera and a son Ptolemy II Philadelphus.[2]
In an unknown Olympiad, she was a victor in the chariot races. Ptolemy II was recognized as his father's heir in preference to Eurydice's children to Ptolemy I. A port was built in the Red Sea and it was named Berenice. After she died, Ptolemy II and later Ptolemy IV Philopator decreed divine honors to her (Theocritus, Idylls xv. and xvii.)
(1) Zij is getrouwd met Ptolemaeus I Soter I van Egypte.
Zij zijn getrouwdBron 1
Kind(eren):
(2) Zij is getrouwd met Philip van Cyrene.
Zij zijn getrouwdBron 2
Kind(eren):