Meda of Odessos (Ancient Greek: Μήδα, romanized: Mḗda), died 336 BC, was a Thracian princess, daughter[1] of the king Cothelas[2] a Getae,[3] and wife of king Philip II of Macedon. Philip married her after Olympias.

According to N. G. L. Hammond, when Philip died, Meda committed suicide so that she would follow Philip to Hades. The people of Macedonia, who were not used to such honours to their kings by their consorts, buried her with him at the Great Tumuli of Vergina, in a separate room. The second larnax found in the tomb might belong to her[4] as well as the gold myrtle wreath.[5]

Honours

Meda Nunatak in Antarctica is named after Meda of Odessos.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Readings in Greek History: Sources and Interpretations by D. Brendan Nagle and Stanley M. Burstein,2006,page 244: "... Also when he conquered Thrace, Cothelas, the king of the Thracians, came to him with his daughter Meda..."
  2. ^ Atlas of Classical History by R. Talbert,1989,page 63,"Getae under Cothelas"
  3. ^ Alexander the Great (Greece and Rome: Texts and Contexts) by Keyne Cheshirepage 2: "... the north-west, Philinna and Nicesipolis from Thessaly to the south, Meda of the Thracian Getae north-east of Macedonia, and Z Introduction ..."
  4. ^ Elizabeth Donnelly Carney, Women and monarchy in Macedonia, p. 236-237.
  5. ^ Willis, Gray. Splendors of the Dead, The New York Review of Books, December 10, 2015
  6. ^ Meda Nunatak. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer

Sources


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