Amastris (daughter of Oxyathres) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amastris
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Didrachm of Amastris. Amastris was the first woman to issue coins in her own name. British Museum.
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| Died | c. 284 BC |
| Spouse(s) | Craterus Dionysius Lysimachus |
| Children | Clearchus II and Oxyathres |
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Amastris, also known as Amastrine, was a powerful Persian princess. She ruled the city of Heraclea from about 300 BC until her death around 284 BC. Amastris was the daughter of Oxyathres, who was the brother of the famous Persian King Darius III.
Life of Amastris
Amastris's life was full of important political marriages. First, the famous leader Alexander the Great arranged for her to marry Craterus. But Craterus later chose to marry Phila, another important woman. Before that, Craterus made sure Amastris had a good marriage to Dionysius. Dionysius was the ruler, or tyrant, of Heraclea Pontica. They married in 322 BC and had two sons, Clearchus and Oxyathres.
Ruling Heraclea
After Dionysius passed away in 306 BC, Amastris became the guardian of their children. She helped manage the city with others. Amastris then married Lysimachus in 302 BC. However, he left her soon after to marry Arsinoe II, a daughter of Ptolemy I Soter. Ptolemy I Soter was the first Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt.
After her marriage to Lysimachus ended, Amastris went back to Heraclea. She ruled the city on her own. She also founded a new city around 300 BC. This city was named Amastris, after herself. It was built on the sea-coast of Paphlagonia. She created it by joining four smaller towns: Sesamus, Cromna, Cytorus, and Tium. Tium later became independent again. But the other three towns stayed part of the city of Amastris.
Amastris was killed around 284 BC.
Images for kids
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A Stater coin issued by Queen Amastris. It shows the lunar god Men on the left and the goddess Aphrodite on the right.
See also
In Spanish: Amastris (princesa persa) para niños
