Pheretima (Cyrenaean Queen)

Pheretime (also Pheretima; Greek Φερετίμη, Φερετίμα ) was a queen of Cyrene in the 6th century BC

Pheretime was the wife of Battus III. and mother of Arcesilaus III. After this the king reclaimed rights and was distributed to 520/515, Pheretime fled to King Euelthon to Salamis in Cyprus and called on him in vain military assistance. Herodotus reported that they have received many gifts that promise military aid was, however, denied her. Finally Euelthon got her a spindle made ​​of gold, a distaff and wool bestowed with the remark that these are appropriate gifts for a woman. After the reconquest of Cyrene by her son and his escape to bark she ruled as queen with seat in the Council. After Arcesilaus ' murder in bark she avenged him in a campaign against the city with the help of the Persian satrap of Egypt Aryandes where he gave a cruel punishment. She died in Egypt on a rotting disease. Main source for the history of Herodotus is Pheretime with its histories (4, 162-167; 200-205 ). The unusual political role this woman quickly led to the creation of legends under the Topics of clever, vengeful queen.