Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia – Mark Antony’s mistress before Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt

Before Mark Antony’s and Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt’s famous meeting at Tarsus (which began their famous love affair), Mark Antony had another passionate love affair earlier that year.^[1] His mistress was Glaphyra of Cappadocia.^[2] His love affair with Glaphyra was said to have made his Roman wife, Fulvia, so jealous that she asked Octavian to engage in sexual relations with her.^[3] Mark Antony was so taken with Glaphyra that he made her son, Archelaus IV, the King of Cappadocia.^[4] Mark Antony also honoured Glaphyra by bestowing on her the title of queen.^[5] Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia’s origins are obscure.^[6] She has often been called a prostitute by ancient chroniclers.^[7] However, modern historians believe that she may not have been a prostitute.^[8] Instead, they believe she may have been a minor wife of the deposed prince, Archelaus III of Comana.^[9]

Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia was born sometime in the first century B.C.E.^[10] Her origins are unknown.^[11] According to Cassius Dio, Glaphyra was “a hetaira.”^[12] However, modern historians are beginning to doubt that Glaphyra was actually a prostitute.^[13] According to Duane W. Roller, Cassius Dio’s meaning of “a hetaira”^[14] may have meant that she was a minor wife of Prince Archelaus III of Comana.^[15] Nevertheless, Glaphyra married Prince Archelaus III of Comana.^[16]

Princess Glaphyra’s husband, Prince Archelaus III of Comana, had an illustrious heritage.^[17] His grandfather, Archelaus I, was a general of King Mithridates VI of Pontos’s army.^[18] He fought in the Mithridatic Wars in 89 B.C.E.^[19] Archelaus I later surrendered to the Romans.^[20] 

Prince Archelaus III of Comana’s father was Prince Archelaus II of Comana.^[21] Pompey made Prince Archelaus II the High Priest of Bellona at Comana.^[22] Pompey also made Archelaus II a prince and made him ruler of Comana.^[23] In 56 B.C.E., Prince Archelaus II of Comana became the second husband of Queen Berenice IV of Egypt (Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt’s older sister).^[24] Therefore, Queen Berenice IV of Egypt became Prince Archelaus III of Comana’s stepmother and Glaphyra’s stepmother-in-law.^[25] However, King Archelaus II of Comana and Queen Berenice IV of Egypt were both murdered once King Ptolemy XII of Egypt was restored to his throne.^[26] Mark Antony gave both King Archelaus II and Queen Berenice IV of Egypt a royal burial that befitted a King and Queen of Egypt.^[27] Therefore, Prince Archelaus III of Comana had a very prestigious background.^[28]

Prince Archelaus III of Comana inherited the high priesthood of Bellona.^[29] He also inherited his father’s princely title and his rulership of Comana.^[30] Princess Glaphyra gave birth to two sons.^[31] They were Prince Archelaus IV and Prince Sistenes.^[32] In 47 B.C.E., Julius Caesar stripped Prince Archelaus III of his high priesthood of Bellona.^[33] He also deposed Prince Archelaus III as ruler of Comana and stripped him of his princely title.^[34] There is no mention of Prince Archelaus III of Comana’s fate after his deposition.^[35] However, it is generally assumed that he died before 41 B.C.E.^[36]

In 41 B.C.E., Mark Antony arrived at Comana.^[37] It was there that he met Glaphyra.^[38] Glaphyra was renowned as a celebrated beauty.^[39] Mark Antony and Glaphyra immediately had a passionate love affair.^[40] Because Mark Antony was infatuated with Glaphyra, he made her son, Archelaus IV, the King of Cappadocia in 41 B.C.E.^[41] Even though Mark Antony had officially installed Archelaus IV as King of Cappadocia, it would take him five years to actually assume kingship.^[42]

It was said that Mark Antony’s wife, Fulvia, was very jealous of Glaphyra.^[43] Fulvia’s jealousy suggests that Glaphyra must have wielded immense political influence over Mark Antony.^[44] Fulvia obviously saw Glaphyra as a threat to her own position.^[45] It was said that Fulvia wanted to cheat on Mark Antony with Octavian but was rejected.^[46] Octavian wrote a famous vulgar poem about Antony and Glaphyra’s love affair.^[47] In the poem, it said that since Mark Antony was cheating on Fulvia with Glaphyra, Fulvia wished to get revenge on Mark Antony by sleeping with Octavian.^[48] However, Octavian found Fulvia so repulsive that he rejected her.^[49]

In 41 B.C.E., Glaphyra was made queen, for she was given the title of “basilissa.”^[50] By giving her a queenly title, Queen Glaphyra was honoured as the queen mother of Cappadocia.^[51] The city of Magnesia would also honour her as their queen mother.^[52] Shortly after Glaphyra was given a queenly title, Mark Antony ended his love affair with Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia.^[53]

In October of 41 B.C.E., Mark Antony began the famous love affair with Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt at Tarsus.^[54] After Queen Glaphyra’s love affair with Mark Antony, her life afterwards is unknown.^[55] Her death date and cause of death remain unrecorded.^[56] However, her son, King Archelaus IV of Cappadocia, would name his daughter after her.^[57] Her granddaughter, Glaphyra, would eventually become the second wife of King Juba II of Mauretania.^[58] King Juba II of Mauretania was the widow of Queen Cleopatra Selene, who was the daughter of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt.^[59]

Aside from Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia’s love affair with Mark Antony, very little is known about her.^[60] However, modern historians have admired how Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia rose from obscure origins to become one of the most powerful women of the ancient world.^[61] She managed to capture the eye of the powerful Mark Antony.^[62] Because of his passionate love affair with Glaphyra, he made her son a king and gave Glaphyra a queenly title.^[63] Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia has been largely overshadowed by Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and has been a largely forgotten historical figure.^[64] However, Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia achieved great success through her association with Mark Antony.^[65] Queen Glaphyra of Cappadocia was given many honours and was deeply respected as the queen mother of King Archelaus IV of Cappadocia.^[66] 

Sources:

Hale, S. J. B. (1876). Biography of Distinguished Women: Or, Woman’s Record, from the Creation to A. D. 1869. Arranged in Four Eras. With Selections from Authoresses of Each Era. New York: Harper.

Jones, P. J. (2006). Cleopatra: A Sourcebook. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Lightman, M., Lightman, B. (2008). A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women. New York: Facts On File, Incorporated.

Roller, D. W. (2021). Cleopatra’s Daughter: And Other Royal Women of the Augustan Era. New York: Oxford University Press.