Cleopatra II
Title: Cleopatra II of Egypt
Location: Egypt
Born: 185 BCE
Died: 116 BCE
Occupation: Queen of Egypt
Relationships:
- Mother: Cleopatra I Syra
- Father: Ptolemy V Epiphanes
- Sibling(s): Ptolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VIII Physcon
- Spouse/Lover(s): Ptolemy VI Philometor, Ptolemy VIII Physcon
- Children: Ptolemy Eupator, Ptolemy, Cleopatra Thea, Berenice, Cleopatra III of Egypt (by Ptolemy VI) Ptolemy Memphites (by Ptolemy VIII)
Biography:
Cleopatra II was a long-ruling Queen of Egypt from 173 BCE until the death of her second husband, Ptolemy VIII, in 116 BCE (Havelock 1982, 272). She was first married to Ptolemy VI and, as Queen, she was extremely capable, fierce, and loved by her subjects (Havelock 1982, 274-275).
Cleopatra II first came to power in marriage to her older brother Ptolemy VI Philometer, though she was also married to her younger brother Ptolemy VIII Euergetes (Havelock 1982, 275). Chronologically speaking, she was on the throne with Ptolemy VI, then for a short time with Ptolemy VIII, and subsequently five years with both of them (Havelock 1982, 275). She reigned alone in Alexandria from 131 BCE until 127 BCE when her subjects rallied to her side to force the exile of Ptolemy VIII, though he returned in 127 BCE. At the end of her rule, Cleopatra II reigned jointly with Ptolemy VIII Euergetes and his own wife, her daughter Cleopatra III, until 116 BCE (Havelock 1982, 275). As such, Cleopatra II ruled for an unusually long period of 57 years and maintained the support of her people throughout her reign (Havelock 1982, 275).
Bibliography:
Havelock, Christine Mitchel. “A Portrait of Cleopatra II(?) In the Vassar College Art Gallery.” Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens 51 (1982): 269-276.