Cypros (d. aft. 29 BCE)

mother of Herod & siblings.

Daughter of Hellenized Nabatean (Jordanean) aristocrats who became Antipater's wife & mother of his five children. This marriage cemented Antipater's alliance with king Aretas III, whose aid he enlisted in driving Aristobulus II from Jerusalem. Cypros may have been a relative of the king since Antipater left his children (& wife?) with Aretas at Petra while he was off fighting Jewish forces loyal to Aristobulus. She became an ally of her daughter (Salome) in undermining Herod's confidence in his 2nd wife, the Hasmonean heiress, Mariamne.

Reference: Josephus, Antiquities 14.121-122.
                 ______, War 1.438
             

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