Article
Cleopatra Selene II
Born: c. 40 BCE, Alexandria, Egypt
Died: c. 5 BCE, Mauretania
Parents: Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony
Spouse: Juba II of Mauretania
Children: Ptolemy of Mauretania
Background
Cleopatra Selene II was the only daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. After the defeat and deaths of her parents, she was taken to Rome and later married to Juba II, King of Mauretania. Together, they ruled Mauretania and transformed its capital, Caesarea, into a center of Hellenistic culture.
Legacy
Cleopatra Selene II continued her mother's legacy by promoting Greek and Egyptian culture in North Africa. She imported scholars, artists, and advisors from Alexandria, and named her son Ptolemy in honor of her Ptolemaic heritage. Her descendants were the last known monarchs of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Cultural Impact
Cleopatra Selene II is a symbol of cultural fusion and survival, bridging the worlds of Egypt, Rome, and North Africa. Her life illustrates the enduring influence of Cleopatra VII's lineage and the spread of Hellenistic ideals beyond Egypt.
For more on her mother, see Cleopatra VII. For her impact on cultural ideals, see Cultural Ideals.