Olympias II of Epirus facts for kids

Olympias (in Greek Ὀλυμπιάς) was a powerful queen and a regent of Epirus in ancient Greece. She lived in the 3rd century BC.

Olympias was the daughter of Pyrrhus, who was the king of Epirus. Her mother was Antigone. Olympias later married her own paternal half-brother, Alexander II of Epirus. This was sometimes done in royal families long ago to keep power within the family.

Becoming a Regent

After her husband, Alexander II, passed away, Olympias became the ruler of Epirus. She was a "regent," which means she ruled the kingdom for her two young sons, Pyrrhus II and Ptolemy of Epirus. They were too young to rule by themselves.

To make her kingdom stronger, Olympias made an important political move. Before 239 BC, she arranged for her daughter, Phthia, to marry Demetrius II. He was the king of Macedonia. This marriage created a strong alliance, or partnership, between Epirus and Macedonia.

Ruling Epirus

This alliance helped Olympias keep control of her kingdom. She continued to rule Epirus until her sons grew up and were ready to take over. When her oldest son, Pyrrhus II, was old enough, she gave the rule of the kingdom to him.

Sadly, both Pyrrhus II and his brother Ptolemy passed away not long after. Olympias was very sad about losing both of her sons so quickly. She died from her grief.

See also

In Spanish: Olimpia II de Epiro para niños