Deidameia (daughter of Aiakides)

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Deidameia ( Greek  Δηιδάμεια ; † probably 298 BC ) was a daughter of King Aiakides of Epiros and a sister of King Pyrrhos of Epiros from the Aiakids dynasty .

Arranged by her aunt Olympias , Deidameia was born as a child in 317 BC. Married to King Alexander IV. Aigos , son of Alexander the Great . The marriage did not last long, however, since as early as spring 316 BC. Chr. Kassander the Macedonian royal family, including Deidameia in Pydna besieged and captured shortly thereafter. King Alexander IV. Aigos stayed until his assassination around 310 BC. Chr. In arrest, whether Deidameia was at his side is unclear, at least she survived her husband.

On the occasion of a Hera celebration in Heraion of Argos in 303 BC. Deidameia was married to the ruler of Greece, Demetrios Poliorketes . How she got out of Kassander's sphere of influence is unclear; in any case, her marriage was based on a political motive. Her brother Pyrrhos had been ousted from the rule of Epiros by Cassander , which is why he was now looking for an alliance with Demetrios Poliorketes, who in turn was Cassander's worst enemy in Europe, following the principle "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". She was already the third official wife of the polygamous Demetrios. A son named Alexander († probably around 246/240 BC) emerged from the marriage.

After the defeat at the Battle of Ipsos in 301 BC. The rule of Demetrios in Greece collapsed. Deidameia was at this point in Athens (with the Parthenon as a residence), where the Democrats, supported by Demetrios, were overthrown by an oligarchic counter-movement. The new rulers expelled Deidameia from the city, but in accordance with their royal dignity led them to Megara , which was still with Demetrios. From there she traveled around 299 BC. BC to Cilicia , which Demetrios had recaptured from Pleistarchus , where she probably died shortly afterwards.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Plutarch , Pyrrhus 4, 2.
  2. ↑ Diodorus 19, 35, 5.
  3. ↑ Plutarch, Demetrius 25, 2 and Pyrrhus 4, 2.
  4. ^ Plutarch, Demetrius 30, 3.
  5. ↑ Plutarch, Demetrius 32, 3.

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personal data
SURNAME Deidameia
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Δηιδάμεια
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Daughter of Aiakides of Epirus, wife of Alexander IV Aigos and Demetrios I Poliorketes
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH uncertain: 298 BC Chr.
Place of death Cilicia