A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

5. Daughter of Ptolemy Auletes, and eldest sister of the famous Cleopatra (Strab. xii. p.558), was placed on the throne by the Alexandrines when they drove out her father, B. C. 58. (D. C. 39.12, &c.; Liv. Epit. 104; Plut. Cat. Mi. 35; Strab. xvii. p.796.) She married first Seleucus Cybiosactes, brother of Antiochus XIII. (Asiaticus) of Syria, who had some claim to the throne of Egypt through his mother Selene, the sister of Lathyrus. Berenice, however, was soon disgusted with the sordid character of Seleucus, and caused him to be put to death. (Strab. l.c.; D. C. 39.57; comp. Sueton. Vespas. 19.) She next married Archelaus, whom Pompey had made priest and king of Comana in Pontus, or, according to another account, in Cappadocia; but, six months after this, Auletes was restored to his kingdom by the Romans under Gabinius, and Archelaus and Berenice were slain, B. C. 55. (Liv. Epit. 105; D. C. 39.55_58; Strab. xvii. p.796, xii. p. 558; Hirt. de Bell. Alex. 66; Plut. Ant. 3; comp. Cic. Fam. 1.1-7, ad Q. Fr. 2.2.)

II. Jewish Berenices.