Erikso ( other Greek Ἐρυξώ ; VI century BC) is an ancient Greek aristocrat from the Battiad family. Wife of King Cyrene Arkesilaus II and mother of Batt III .
Biography
Her mother was Princess Critola , daughter of Arkesilaus I , and her father was a Cyrene Greek from a noble family. In addition to Erickso, several more children were born in this marriage.
Erickso became the wife of her cousin Arkesilaus II. The spouses had a son, who was named Batt in honor of his paternal grandfather. Around 550 BC e. Arkesilaus II was killed in a conspiracy of his brother (or close) Learch . Learch announced that until the juvenile Butt came of age he would protect his interests, but, according to Polien , showed himself to be a tyrant , "having committed all kinds of lawlessness against citizens."
Then the regent fell in love with the dowager queen, who also had many powerful relatives and was universally respected as a “wise and fair woman,” and decided to embrace her. Erikso with the help of cunning managed to ensure that Learch came to her without protection. Here he was awaited in ambush by the elder brother Erikso Polyarch and several young men whose father had previously been killed by order of the regent. They pierced Learch with swords. Then the conspirators, “having brought Batt, declared him king and returned the paternal order to the Kirens”.
At that time, there were many Egyptian warriors in Cyrene, whom Learch had previously brought with him. They reported the events to Pharaoh Amasis II . He, according to Plutarch , “very angry, conceived the war against Cyrene, and only concern for the funeral of the deceased mother made him postpone military action.” Polyarch decided to come to the court of the pharaoh to present his explanations. Together with him, his sister went to Egypt, “who wished to share work and danger”, and the elderly Critola. Amasis, after hearing them, completely justified all, recognizing the wisdom and courage shown by Erickso, after which he "honored the Polyarch and both women with gifts and royal guides to Cyrena."
Literature
- Primary sources
- Herodotus . History (IV, 160.)
- Plutarch . Morales . On the valor of women (xxv.)
- Polien '. Strategies. (VIII.41.)
- Research
- William Smith [one]