Cleopatra II

Cleopatra II was one of the longest-serving rulers of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, active between 175 BC and 116 BC, with dates uncertain by about a year. The daughter of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I, she first married her brother Ptolemy VI Philometor and ruled jointly with him. Following his death in 145 BC, she married her younger brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon, leading to decades of bitter factional strife, open civil war, and political reconciliations within the royal family.

During her long career, Cleopatra II demonstrated extraordinary political resilience, commanding armies and ruling Alexandria independently during a civil war in the 130s BC before eventually negotiating a shared peace with Ptolemy VIII and her daughter Cleopatra III. Her name appears prominently in dedications at Kom Ombo and on an obelisk from Philae. She was buried in the royal tombs of Alexandria, which are now lost. Scholars reconstruct her life from administrative papyri, monumental inscriptions, and classical historical records.

Monuments

• Kom Ombo Temple dedications
• Philae obelisk

Explore further

Try the name on the Cartouche Desk, or see where the reign falls on the timeline.