Aretaphila of Cyrene

Who is Aretaphila of Cyrene?

Aretaphila of Cyrene was a Cyrenean noble woman who according to Plutarch in his work De mulierum virtutes, deposed the tyrant Nicocrates.

Aretaphilia was compelled to marry the tyrant Nicocrates after he had killed her husband, Phaedimus. She first tried to poison Nicocrates but was discovered and tortured. She then, arranged a marriage of her own daughter to the tyrant's brother, Leander. She was then able to convince Leander to murder Nicocrates.

She went on to manoeuvre Leander into a war with the native Libyans, which ended with his capture and execution.

Seen as a heroic liberator, Aretaphila was invited to join the new government of her country, but she declined, and returned to a domestic life.