Biography.guide
Home › People › Wet nurse › Lanike
Portrait of Lanike

Lanike

380 BC – 339 BC

Nurse of Alexander the Great

Wet nurseNurse
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Lanike

Lived 380 BC – 339 BC (aged 40–41). Lanike was a wet nurse and nurse, known for Alexander the Great.

Lanike or Lanice pronounced (Lan iss) (Greek: ), also called Hellanike or Alacrinis, daughter of Dropidas, who was son of Critias, was the sister of Cleitus the Black, and the nurse of Alexander the Great. She was born, most likely, shortly after 380 BC; for she is named as the mother of Proteas and two other sons who died in the Siege of Miletus in 334 BC. Her husband may have been Andronicus of Olynthus.

Lanike in fiction She is referenced in Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut by Oliver Stone. Clitus asks Alexander, "Who planned the Asian invasion while you were still being spanked on your bottom by my sister Lanike?" In a rage Alexander proceeds to kill Clitus, but while mourning his actions, Alexander weeps about what he has done to Lanike, i.e. killing her brother. She also appears in numerous dramatic and fictional accounts of Alexander's life, such as the novel Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
380 BC
Birth century
Died
339 BC
Occupation
Wet nurse, nurse
Nationality
Macedonia, Ancient Macedonians
Known for
Alexander the Great
Employers
Philip II of Macedon

Family & relationships

Spouse
Andronicus of Olynthus
Child
Proteas of Macedon

People in Lanike's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Lanike's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lanike?

nurse of Alexander the Great

When was Lanike born?

Lanike was born in 380 BC.

When did Lanike die?

Lanike died in 339 BC.

What was Lanike's occupation?

Lanike was a wet nurse and nurse.

What was Lanike known for?

Lanike was known for Alexander the Great.

What nationality was Lanike?

Lanike's recorded nationality: Macedonia, Ancient Macedonians.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lanike

· Wikidata: Q3409034

· DBpedia: Lanike

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lanike. https://biography.guide/lanike/

MLA: "Lanike." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lanike/.

Chicago: "Lanike." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lanike/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:32 UTC