Artakama

Who is Artakama?

Artakama was the second wife of Ptolemy I Soter. Artakama married Ptolemy in April 324 BC at the Susa marriage festival as ordered by Alexander the Great. Artakama is called Apama by Plutarch, but this is likely an error. Ptolemy had no known children by Artakama.

Artakama was a daughter of Artabazus of Phrygia, a grandson of king Artaxerxes II and queen Strateira. Her father was a Satrap of Daskyleion under Artaxerxes III and Darius III, and a Satrap of Bactria under Alexander. Her mother was most likely the only known wife of Artabazus, an anonymous sister of the Rhodian generals Memnon and Mentor, who were in Persian service in the late 340 BCs and the 330 BCs.