Laodice III known as Laodika, was a princess of Pontus and a Seleucid queen.
18 Facts About Laodice III
1.
2.
Laodice III was regent for her first born son, Antiochus, during the Anabase expedition of her husband, Antiochus III the Great, between 212 and 206 BC.
3.
Antiochus III created a royal cult dedicated to her in 193 BC.
4.
Laodice III was a daughter of King Mithridates II of Pontus and his wife Laodice.
5.
Laodice III's sister was Laodice of Pontus and her brother was Mithridates III of Pontus.
6.
Laodice gave birth to her eldest child, Antiochus, while her husband Antiochus III set out his expedition against Molon.
7.
Laodice III bore Antiochus III eight children who were: Antiochus, Seleucus IV Philopator, Ardys, a daughter, name unknown, who was engaged to Demetrius I of Bactria, Laodice IV, Cleopatra I Syra, Antiochis and Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
8.
In 192 BC Antiochus took a second wife, Euboea of Chalcis, which led to Laodice III being pushed to the periphery of Antiochus' court.
9.
In 210 BC, Antiochus, the king's eldest son, was made co-ruler with his father, at the age of 10 or 11 years old, in order to keep the throne secure while Antiochus Laodice III went on campaign in the east.
10.
Philanthropic action was typical of Hellenistic queens as a way to further their power and assert their position, particularly in the religious sphere, but Laodice III was unusually active and her donations addressed political problems and targeted depopulation and poverty by focusing on food and marriage.
11.
Laodice III's donations are evidenced in inscriptions of her honours, and her letters to the towns.
12.
In Teos in 203 BC, Laodice III was thanked for helping the city, alongside her husband.
13.
In 196 BC Laodice III donated 10000 medimnus of wheat, the profits of which were to be used to ensure each woman getting married had a dowry of three hundred Antiochian drachmai.
14.
In Sardis, an altar was made and dedicated to Laodice III, and there was an annual festival with a sacrifice for the queen, king and children.
15.
In 192 BC, more than 10 years after his return from conquest, Antiochus III declared a cult dedicated to Laodice.
16.
Laodice III had already created a cult for himself in 209 BC, and this new cult was envisioned as a parallel to his own cult, with priestesses which mirrored his priests.
17.
In Nehavend, Laodice, daughter of Antiochus III and Laodice III was named the priestess of the cult of Laodice III, in order to help introduce her into her public role, and advance her position as consort and co-ruler with their son Antiochus.
18.
Rather than include the cult in legal acts, or writing to local governors to spread the cult, Antiochus Laodice III wrote directly to the satraps to spread the cult, such as Anaximbrotos in Phrygia and Menedemos in the east.