Warrior Queens of the Hellenistic World
Publication date
2023-02-07
Authors
Strootman, R
Editors
Dirven, Lucinda
Icks, Martijn
Remijsen, Sofie
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Part of book
Metadata
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License
taverne
Abstract
In the Hellenistic period, royal women played key roles in dynastic representation and rule with a frequency that is unique in ancient history. What is more, royal women also often had leading roles in warfare, the most male-dominated public domain according to the normative texts of Antiquity. This chapter examines why and how royal women were able to cross this ultimate boundary between male and female spheres. It is argued that royal women could become military leaders because of their pivotal roles as the representatives of monarchies that were essentially military organizations.
Keywords
Ancient History, Hellenistic World, Ancient Macedonia, Ancient Greece, Ptolemaic Egypt, Court Culture, Ancient Warfare, Hellenistic Warfare, Hellenistic Kingship, Gender, Ancient Africa, Taverne
Citation
Strootman, R 2023, Warrior Queens of the Hellenistic World. in L Dirven, M Icks & S Remijsen (eds), The Public Lives of Ancient Women (500 BCE-650 CE). Mnemosyne, Supplements, vol. 468, Brill, Leiden, pp. 18–45. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004534513_004