Oenanthe of Egypt
Encyclopedia
Oenanthe was an Egyptian
Greek noblewoman
and through marriage was a relation of the Ptolemaic dynasty
.
Oenanthe was a woman of obscure origins. She had married at an unknown date Agathocles
an Egyptian
Greek nobleman
, the grandson of Agathocles of Syracuse the late Greek Tyrant of Syracuse, who later became King of Sicily
and Theoxena of Syracuse
a Greek
Macedonian
noblewoman, who was the second older maternal half-sister of the Greek Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus
. Oenanthe bore Agathocles four children who were: one son Agathocles of Egypt
; one daughter called Agathoclea
and another two daughters whose names are unknown.
Agathocles died at an unknown date. Oenanthe later remarried to Theogenes, sometimes known as Theognetos or Diognetos. Theogenes was a prominent Egyptian Greek who was a Dioiketes, a manager of a private estate.
Oenanthe was an ambitious and avaricious character. Oenanthe introduced Agathoclea and Agathocles to the Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator
reigned 221 BC–205 BC. Through her children she was able to possess the greatest influence in Ptolemaic government in the reign of Ptolemy IV. Agathoclea became the favourite mistress of Ptolemy IV and later, Agathocles became the regent and guardian Ptolemy IV’s child Ptolemy V Epiphanes
.
Oenanthe’s influence only lasted until Ptolemy IV died. In 205 BC after the accession of the young Ptolemy V, the citizens of Alexandria rose up against Oenanthe, her family and their party. Oenanthe, her family and their party fled for refuge to the temple of the Thesmophorium
and they hoped with the aid of the goddesses and their enchantments would drive away the threats and curses some noble ladies who had come to console her.
The next day Oenanthe, her family and their party, were dragged out from the altar by the Alexandria
ns and having been brought naked on horse-back to the stadium where they were delivered. The Alexandrians in fury had them all murdered being torn in pieces.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
Greek noblewoman
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and through marriage was a relation of the Ptolemaic dynasty
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemaic dynasty, was a Macedonian Greek royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC...
.
Oenanthe was a woman of obscure origins. She had married at an unknown date Agathocles
Agathocles (grandson of Agathocles of Syracuse)
Agathocles was an Egyptian Greek nobleman and through his mother was related to the Ptolemaic dynasty.-Family Background:Agathocles was a second child born to Theoxena of Egypt by an unnamed father, whose name is lost and had an older sibling, whose name is also lost...
an Egyptian
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
Greek nobleman
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, the grandson of Agathocles of Syracuse the late Greek Tyrant of Syracuse, who later became King of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Theoxena of Syracuse
Theoxena of Syracuse
For others of this name see Theoxena Theoxena was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman. Through her mother’s second marriage, she was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and through marriage was a Queen of Sicily....
a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
Macedonian
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
noblewoman, who was the second older maternal half-sister of the Greek Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BCE to 246 BCE. He was the son of the founder of the Ptolemaic kingdom Ptolemy I Soter and Berenice, and was educated by Philitas of Cos...
. Oenanthe bore Agathocles four children who were: one son Agathocles of Egypt
Agathocles of Egypt
Agathocles was a Ptolemaic minister and together with his sister Agathoclea were very close to Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator who reigned 221 BC–205 BC....
; one daughter called Agathoclea
Agathoclea
Agathoclea was the favourite mistress of the Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator who reigned 221 BC–205 BC; sister of Ptolemy IV’s minister Agathocles and through her father was a distant relation of the Ptolemaic dynasty....
and another two daughters whose names are unknown.
Agathocles died at an unknown date. Oenanthe later remarried to Theogenes, sometimes known as Theognetos or Diognetos. Theogenes was a prominent Egyptian Greek who was a Dioiketes, a manager of a private estate.
Oenanthe was an ambitious and avaricious character. Oenanthe introduced Agathoclea and Agathocles to the Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator
Ptolemy IV Philopator
Ptolemy IV Philopator , son of Ptolemy III and Berenice II of Egypt was the fourth Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt...
reigned 221 BC–205 BC. Through her children she was able to possess the greatest influence in Ptolemaic government in the reign of Ptolemy IV. Agathoclea became the favourite mistress of Ptolemy IV and later, Agathocles became the regent and guardian Ptolemy IV’s child Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Ptolemy V Epiphanes , son of Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III of Egypt, was the fifth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He became ruler at the age of five, and under a series of regents the kingdom was paralyzed.-Regency infighting:Ptolemy Epiphanes was only a small boy when his father, Ptolemy...
.
Oenanthe’s influence only lasted until Ptolemy IV died. In 205 BC after the accession of the young Ptolemy V, the citizens of Alexandria rose up against Oenanthe, her family and their party. Oenanthe, her family and their party fled for refuge to the temple of the Thesmophorium
Thesmophoria
Thesmophoria was a festival held in Greek cities, in honor of the goddesses Demeter and her daughter Persephone. The name derives from thesmoi, or laws by which men must work the land. The Thesmophoria were the most widespread festivals and the main expression of the cult of Demeter, aside from the...
and they hoped with the aid of the goddesses and their enchantments would drive away the threats and curses some noble ladies who had come to console her.
The next day Oenanthe, her family and their party, were dragged out from the altar by the Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
ns and having been brought naked on horse-back to the stadium where they were delivered. The Alexandrians in fury had them all murdered being torn in pieces.