Cleopatra Selene II | |||||
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Queen consort of Numidia Queen consort of Mauretania |
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Coin of the ancient kingdom of Mauretania. Juba II of Numidia on the obverse, Cleopatra Selene II on the reverse.
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Born | 40 BC (presumed, exact date unknown) Alexandria, Egypt |
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Died | 6 BC Caesarea, Kingdom of Mauretania |
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Burial | Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania | ||||
Spouse | Juba II of Numidia | ||||
Issue |
Ptolemy, King of Mauretania Drusilla |
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House | Ptolemaic dynasty | ||||
Father | Mark Antony | ||||
Mother | Cleopatra VII Philopator |
Full name | |
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Cleopatra Selene |
Cleopatra Selene II (Greek: Κλεοπάτρα Σελήνη; late 40 BC – c. 6 BC), also known as Cleopatra VIII of Egypt or Cleopatra VIII, was a Ptolemaic Princess and was the only daughter to Greek Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman triumvir Mark Antony. She was the fraternal twin of Ptolemaic prince Alexander Helios. Her second name in ancient and modern Greek means moon, also meaning the Titaness-Goddess of the Moon Selene, being the counterpart of her twin brother‘s second name Helios, meaning sun and the Titan-God of the Sun Helios. She was of Greek and Roman heritage. Cleopatra was born, raised and educated in Alexandria, Egypt. In 36 BC in the Donations of Antioch and in late 34 BC during the Donations of Alexandria, she was made ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya.
Cleopatra had two full brothers, Alexander Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphos. Her mother also had an older son, Caesarion, and her father had five children with previous wives.
Her parents, Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, were defeated by Octavian (future Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus), during a naval battle at Actium, Greece in 31 BC. In 30 BC, her parents committed suicide as Octavian and his army invaded Egypt. Octavian captured Cleopatra and her brothers and took them from Egypt to Italy. Octavian celebrated his military triumph in Rome by parading the three orphans in heavy golden chains in the streets. The chains were so heavy that they could not walk, eliciting sympathy from many of the Roman onlookers. Octavian gave the siblings to Octavia Minor to be raised in her household in Rome. Octavia Minor, who became their guardian, was Octavian's second eldest sister and was their father's former wife.