The hellenistic royal families, from Alexander the Great to the last Cleopatra, took part in dynastic in-fighting that was vicious, colourful and instructive. In this they anticipated by centuries the better-known excesses under Roman potentates such as Claudius and Nero.

This new enhanced and revised edition of a major study explores the intricate quarrels and violence within the ruling hellenistic families. A main theme is the role of 'amphimetric' disputes, competition between a ruler's offspring from different women, and especially between the women themselves. The book also includes a full exploration of the role of courtesans in the political and sexual intrigues of the hellenistic courts.

Contents

List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
Argument
Part I. Polygamy and Death in the Macedonian and Hellenistic Courts
1. Argead Macedon
2. Alexander
3. Cassander and Lysimachus
4. The Ptolemies
5. The Seleucids
6. The Antigonids
7. The Attalids
Part II. Hellenistic Royal Courtesans
8. Methodology and Evidence
9. Status and Career
10. Courtesans at Work
Part III. Supplement for the Second Edition
11. A Quarter of a Century of Polygamy
Appendix 1. Women's Quarters in Hellenistic Royal Palaces
Appendix 2. Repertorium of Sources for Hellenistic Royal Courtesans
Appendix 3. King Lists of the Argead and Hellenistic Dynasties
Bibliography
Index