Cynane

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Cynane (in Greek Kυνανη or Kυνα, Kynane; killed 323 BC) was half-sister to Alexander the Great, and daughter of Philip II by Audata, an Illyrian woman.

Audata trained her daughter in riding, hunting, and fighting in the Illyrian tradition. Her father gave her in marriage to her cousin Amyntas, by whose death she was left a widow in 336 BC. In the following year Alexander promised her hand, as a reward for his services, to Langarus, king of the Agrianians, but the intended bridegroom became ill and died.

Cynane continued unmarried, and employed herself in the education of her daughter, Adea or Eurydice, whom she is said to have trained, after the manner of her own education, in martial exercises. When her half brother Philip Arrhidaeus was chosen king in 323 BC, Cynane determined to marry Eurydice to him, and crossed over to Asia accordingly.

Her influence was probably great, and her project alarmed Perdiccas and Antipater, the former of whom sent his brother Alcetas to meet her on her way and put her to death. Alcetas did so in defiance of the feelings of his troops, and Cynane met her doom with an undaunted spirit. Eurydice's wedding took place, but both daughter and son-in-law were eventually killed by Olympias. In 317 BC, Cassander, after defeating Olympias, buried Cynane with Eurydice and Arrhidaeus at Aegae, the royal burying-place.¹

Further information: When she went on a military campaign with her father, she killed Caeria, an Illyrian leader, in hand to hand combat.

Contents 1 Cynane as fictional character 2 References 3 Note 4 External Links

[edit] Cynane as fictional character

She appears as a character in the historical novel Funeral Games by Mary Renault. Renault calls her Kynna.

[edit] References

• Leon, Vicki. (1995) Uppity Women of Ancient Times. Publishers Group West. Page 182-183. ISBN 1-57324-010-9

• Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Cynane", Boston, (1867)

[edit] Note