Abstract

This chapter examines the phenomenon of consanguineous marriages in the royal dynasties of the Hellenistic period. Brother–sister marriage is the most typical pattern, but other marital unions, such as uncle–niece, also appear. The Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt is our best example of continuous consanguineous marriages, but royal incest did not originate with the Ptolemies, nor were they the only Hellenistic dynasty to engage in it. This chapter not only traces the patterns of extreme endogamy among royals in the Hellenistic age, it also explores possible rationales for the practice of royal consanguineous marriage, and the impact it had on royal women in particular.

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