Woman in history-Cleopatra I Syra

Lately, I've been wondering why people always think only of Cleopatra, played by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963. After all, before her there was not one, but several rulers named Cleopatra. That's why today I present Cleopatra I also known as Cleopatra I Syra.

Cleopatra I Syra was born about 204 years before Christ. Her parents were Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III from Seleucid Empire (only her father's bust in the Louvre Museum survives)(the bust is below)

In 197 BC her father Antiochus III the Great had captured a number of cities in Asia Minor previously under the control of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. (as you can see in map, it is much of what is now Turkey)

After negotiations in 193 BC Cleopatra I Syra Ptolemy V Epiphanes from the Ptolemaic dynasty (his image is below)

During their wedding Ptolemy V was about 16 years and Cleopatra I about 10 years old.

During their marriage Cleopatra I Syra for Ptolemy V Epiphanes gave birth to three children: Ptolemy VI Philometor, Cleopatra II, Ptolemy VIII. Thei all was born between 186-184 BC.

In December 180 BC her husband died at the age of only 30. Her son Ptolemy VI Philometor was crowned as the king (his image is below).

Bet Cleopatra I Syra's son Ptolemy VI Philometor was just six years old. For this reason she became a co-regent and ruled Egypt the years between December 180-178 or 177 or 176 BC. I mean or 178 or 177 or 176 because her death date is not known exactly. Some date her dead at the 176 BC when her son was about 10 years old. But other dates her death between 178-177 BC when her son Ptolemy VI was about 8-9 years old.

I think that Cleopatra I Syra's life story is as interesting as it is Cleopatra VII Philopator which is simply known as Cleopatra and which is embodied in the cinema by actresses like Elizabeth Taylor, Leonor Valera.