Berenice II and the Golden Age of Ptolemaic Egypt (Women in Antiquity)
"Berenice II was a major influence on the cultural and intellectual life of the Ptolemaic court at its zenith. In this first full-scale biography, Dee L. Clayman has brought together historical, material, and literary sources to tease out the remarkable story of this queen's crafting of her own position of power through court intrigue, manipulation of artistic and religious imagery, and close alliance with literary figures such as Callimachus and Apollonius of Rhodes, who celebrated their queen both overtly and covertly in still famous works of poetry." --Kathryn Gutzwiller, University of Cincinnati"Full of interesting and perceptive readings of poems and the intent of poets... While Clayman's strength certainly lies in analysis of poetry and poets, she often employs that knowledge to good effect in topics not narrowly poetic, as in her fascinating discussion of the context for Cynisca of Sparta's victory and the inscriptions created to commemorate it." --Bryn Mawr Classical Review"A cornucopia of a book, brimming over with the fruits of deep research and perceptive reading." --Peter M. Green,The Classical Journal