Cleopatra Selene II

Cleopatra Selene II

Cleopatra Selene II, also known as Cleopatra VIII, was a Ptolemaic princess. She was the daughter of the famous Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII and the Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. After her parents faced difficulties and died in Egypt in 30 BC, Selene and her brothers went to live in Rome with Octavia the Younger, the sister of Octavian.

Selene later married Juba II of Mauretania, and they ruled together. She helped with important decisions, especially in trade and building projects, which made Mauretania very rich. They had a son named Ptolemy of Mauretania, who took over after them. Through their granddaughter Drusilla, the Ptolemaic family stayed connected to Roman noble families for many years.

Early life

Cleopatra Selene was born around 40 BC in Egypt. She was the only daughter of Queen Cleopatra VII and Roman leader Mark Antony. Her name means "moon" in Ancient Greek. Her twin brother was Alexander Helios, and his name means "sun." She grew up in Alexandria and received a royal education.

In 34 BC, during a ceremony called the Donations of Alexandria, Antony declared Selene the ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya, even though she was too young to govern. Later, Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by the Roman leader Octavian. Selene and her brothers were captured and taken to Rome. There, they lived under the care of Octavia, Octavian's sister.

Marriage and issue

Cleopatra Selene married King Juba II. He grew up in Caesar's home. They married around 25 BC and were sent to rule Mauretania together. A poem praised them as rulers of Egyptian and Libyan lands.

They had one son named Ptolemy of Mauretania, born in 10 BC. They might have had a daughter, but her name is not known. Some think she could be Drusilla, but historians believe she was probably someone else.

Queen of Mauretania

In 25 BC, the Roman leader Augustus chose Juba II and Selene to be co-rulers of the client kingdom of Mauretania. They renamed their capital Caesarea, now known as Cherchell in Algeria, in honor of the Emperor.

Cleopatra Selene had a strong influence on the policies of her husband, Juba II. She brought many important advisers, scholars, and artists from her mother's royal court in Alexandria to help develop Mauretania. Under their rule, the kingdom grew and prospered.

Economy

Cleopatra supported trade in Mauretania. The kingdom exported many goods throughout the Mediterranean region, especially to Spain and Italy. These goods included fish, grapes, pearls, figs, grain, wooden furniture, and purple dye made from shellfish. Tingis, now Tangier, became a major trading center. Mauretanian coins were highly valued across the Roman Empire.

She made her own coins with the name 'Queen Cleopatra' along with coins made by Juba and joint coins as rulers.

Building projects

Cleopatra encouraged many building projects that mixed different styles of architecture. Buildings in Caesarea and Volubilis showed a blend of Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman designs. These included a lighthouse like the famous Pharos of Alexandria, a royal palace by the sea, and many temples for Roman and Egyptian deities.

Death

Cleopatra Selene ruled Mauretania for almost 20 years. She died when she was 35. We do not know the exact date of her death. Some think it may have happened during a lunar eclipse, perhaps in 5 BC. She was buried in the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania in modern Algeria. She built this tomb with her husband, Juba II. The tomb still stands, but their bodies were not found, maybe because of old robberies.

Legacy

Cleopatra Selene II was survived by her husband Juba II and their son Ptolemy. After Juba II died in AD 23, Ptolemy ruled Mauretania alone until AD 40. Her grandson, Emperor Caligula, later took control of Mauretania and split it into two Roman provinces, Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana.

Today, Cleopatra Selene II is remembered in space science. One of the satellites of the asteroid (216) Kleopatra is named Cleoselene in her honor.

In fiction

Cleopatra Selene has appeared in many books and shows. She is mentioned in novels by Robert Graves and is a key character in The Legate's Daughter by Wallace Breem. Other books like Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran and Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter tell her story from childhood to marriage. She also appears in television series like Rome and in the docudrama Queens of Ancient Egypt.