A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Aretaphila
ARETAPHILA,
Of Cyrene, wife of Phædimus, a nobleman of that place, lived about, B. C. 120. Nicocrates, having usurped the government of Cyrene, caused Phædimus to be slain, and forcibly espoused his widow, of whose beauty he had become enamoured. Cyrene groaned under the cruelty of the tyrant, who was gentle and kind only to Aretaphila. Determined to free her country from this cruel yoke, Aretaphila obtained several poisons in order to try their strength. Her drugs were discovered, and her design suspected, and she was put to the torture, but resolutely refused to confess. Her husband afterwards, moved by her sufferings, entreated her forgiveness, which she refused.
Aretaphila had one daughter by her first marriage, whom she had united to Lysander, brother of Nicocrates, and through whom she persuaded Lysander to rebel against the tyrant. He was successful in his attempt, and Nicocrates was deposed and assassinated. But alter Lysander's accession to the throne, he neglected Aretaphila's advice, and imitated the craeltics and the tyranny of his brother.
Disappointed in her son-in-law, she sent secretly to Anabus, a prince of Lybia, to ask him to invade Cyrene, and free it of its oppressors. When Anabus had arrived near Cyrene, Aretaphila, in a secret conference with him, promised to place Lysander in his hands, if he would retain him prisoner as a tyrant and usurper For this service, she promised him magnificent gifts and a present in money. She then insinuated into the mind of Lysander, suspicions of the loyalty of his nobles and captains, and prevailed on him to seek an interview with Anabus, in order to make peace.
This he did, and was made prisoner, and eventually destroyed by drowning. It was then decreed that the administration of the government should be given to Aretaphila, assisted by a council of the nobles. But she declined the honour; preferring the privacy of domestic life, she retired to her own habitation amidst the prayers and blessings of the people.