Amastris

Life

Little is known about Amastris' life before her first marriage. From her paternal namesake, it can be concluded that she did not have brothers. As a Persian royal woman, she would have been trained in managerial duty. However, in 322 BC, she married Dionysius, tyrant of Heraclea Pontica, in Bithynia and Craterus married Phila, one of the daughters of Antipater. The instigator of this separation is unclear, with some sources claiming it was instigated by Craterus, while others argue the opposite. Through this marriage, Dionysius was able to greatly increase his wealth, expand his power, and improve the welfare and loyalty of his subjects. Several notable individuals joined her administration, including Antigonus I Monophthalmus temporarily. She also founded a city named after herself, Amastris, shortly after 300 on the sea-coast of Paphlagonia through the fusion (synoecism) of four smaller towns: Sesamus, Cromna, Cytorus, and Tium. Tium later regained its autonomy, but the other three remained part of the city and Amastris' territory. She was involved in the city's resettlement and likely received religious honors as its founder and protector. but the matricide was avenged by Lysimachus, who made himself master of Heraclea and put both Clearchus and Oxyathres to death.