Queen Glaphyra was the second Queen of King Juba II of Mauretania. He married her after his first wife, Queen Cleopatra Selene, passed away. Queen Glaphyra was also a widow. Her first husband, Prince Herod Alexander, was executed by his father, King Herod the Great. Queen Glaphyra and King Juba II of Mauretania’s marriage would prove to be unhappy and short-lived.[1]
In circa 36 B.C.E., Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania was born in Cappadocia.[2] Her father was King Archelaus of Cappadocia. Her mother was an Armenian Princess. She had a younger brother named King Archelaus of Cilicia. She may have been named after her grandmother, Glaphyra, who was most famous for her love affair with Mark Antony.[3]
In 17 B.C.E., Princess Glaphyra married Prince Herod Alexander. He was the son of King Herod the Great and Queen Mariamne I. Because Glaphyra was a Princess, she drew envy and hate from all of the women in the Herodian court.[4] It was said that Glaphyra constantly bragged about being a “king’s daughter.” [5] Prince Herod Alexander was also proud of her royal lineage and often boasted of it.[6] This made them very unpopular in King Herod’s court.[7] Their unpopularity would largely contribute to Prince Herod Alexander’s downfall.[8] Princess Glaphyra bore Prince Herod Alexander two sons named Tigranes (who would later become King of Armenia) and Alexander.[9] She also had an unnamed daughter.
In 7 B.C.E., Prince Herod Alexander and his brother, Prince Herod Aristobulus, were accused of treason.[10] They were executed by King Herod the Great.[11] King Herod the Great also imprisoned Princess Glaphyra.[12] However, he released her and sent her back to Cappadocia along with her royal dowry.[13] Princess Glaphyra left her three children in Judea.[14]
Princess Glaphyra returned to Cappadocia. She met the widowed King Juba II of Mauretania.[15] King Juba II of Mauretania was captivated by Princess Glaphyra.[16] He married her.[17] Glaphyra became Queen of Mauretania. The marriage proved to be very unhappy.[18] Queen Glaphyra divorced King Juba II of Mauretania and returned to Cappadocia.[19]
Once Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania arrived in Cappadocia, she became reacquainted with her former brother-in-law, Prince Herod Archelaus. He was the son of King Herod the Great and Queen Malthace. He was also the Ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea.[20] They fell in love. Prince Herod Archelaus divorced his first wife, Princess Mariamne, to marry Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania.[21] Many Jews strongly urged Prince Herod Archelaus not to marry Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania.[22] This was because she had married his brother and had children with him.[23] However, Prince Herod Archelaus was deeply in love with Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania.[24] He ignored the Jewish protestations and married her.[25]
It was said that shortly after Princess Glaphyra married Prince Herod Archelaus, she had a dream about her first husband, Prince Herod Alexander.[26] Prince Herod Alexander reproached her for being unfaithful and that he would reclaim her as his wife.[27] Princess Glaphyra told her dream to her friends.[28] She died two days later in 7 C.E.[29] It is unknown if Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania ever converted to Judaism.[30] Her two sons renounced their Jewish faith.[31]
Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania was said to be “so charming and desirable” [32] that she managed to catch the eye of three powerful royals.[33] She was said to be very proud, and she attracted the hatred of the women in the Herodian court.[34] She married and divorced King Juba II of Mauretania. Yet, Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania was not criticised for divorcing her kingly husband.[35] Instead, she was criticised for marrying her former brother-in-law.[36] Josephus believed that Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania received her just desserts when she died shortly after she married Prince Herod Archelaus.[37] It is clear that Queen Glaphyra of Mauretania was a very powerful client Queen and Princess in the early Roman Empire.[38]
Sources:
Ilan, T. (31 December 1999). “Herodian Women.” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Jewish Women’s Archive. Retrieved on 26 October 2023 from https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/herodian-women#pid-13801.
Lightman, M., Lightman, B. (2008). A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women. NY: Facts On File, Incorporated.
Salisbury, J. E. (2001). Encyclopedia of Women in The Ancient World. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
[1] Salisbury, 2001
[2] Salisbury, 2001
[3] Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[4] Salisbury, 2001
[5] Salisbury, 2001, p. 137
[6] Salisbury, 2001
[7] Salisbury, 2001
[8] Salisbury, 2001
[9] Lightman and Lightman, 2008; Ilan, 31 December 1999
[10] Salisbury, 2001
[11] Salisbury, 2001
[12] Salisbury, 2001
[13] Salisbury, 2001; Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[14] Salisbury, 2001
[15] Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[16] Salisbury, 2001
[17] Salisbury, 2001
[18] Salisbury, 2001
[19] Salisbury, 2001; Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[20] Salisbury, 2001; Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[21] Salisbury, 2001
[22] Salisbury, 2001
[23] Salisbury, 2002; Lightman and Lightman, 2008; Ilan, 31 December 1999
[24] Salisbury, 2001
[25] Salisbury, 2001
[26] Salisbury, 2001; Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[27] Salisbury, 2001
[28] Salisbury, 2001
[29] Salisbury, 2001; Lightman and Lightman, 2008
[30] Ilan, 31 December 1999
[31] Ilan, 31 December 1999
[32] Salisbury, 2001, p.137
[33] Salisbury, 2001
[34] Salisbury, 2001
[35] Ilan, 31 December 1999
[36] Ilan, 31 December 1999
[37] Salisbury, 2001
[38] Salisbury, 2001
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