Warrior Queens of the Hellenistic World

Abstract

In the Hellenistic period, royal women played key roles in dynastic representation and rule with a frequency that is unique in ancient history. What is more, royal women also often had leading roles in warfare, the most male-dominated public domain according to the normative texts of Antiquity. This chapter examines why and how royal women were able to cross this ultimate boundary between male and female spheres. It is argued that royal women could become military leaders because of their pivotal roles as the representatives of monarchies that were essentially military organizations.