Cleopatra Selene II -39 – -4

Biography

Cleopatra Selene II was born on December 23, 39 BC in Alexandria, Egypt, during a time of great dynastic change in the Mediterranean world. Her life bridged two powerful civilizations and cultures, as she would eventually become queen consort of Mauretania, the North African kingdom that lay along the western coast.

From 25 BC to 5 BC, Cleopatra Selene II served as queen consort of Mauretania, a position that reflected the diplomatic alliances of her era. During these two decades, she lived in Cherchell, the kingdom’s important coastal city, where she maintained her royal household and responsibilities.

On January 1, 4 BC, Cleopatra Selene II passed away in Cherchell at an advanced age. Though the specific circumstances of her death were not recorded, her legacy was honored through her burial at the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania in Sidi Rached, Algeria—a fitting tribute to a woman who had lived between worlds and served as a bridge between Egypt and the kingdoms of North Africa.