Olympias
| Olympias | |
|---|---|
Roman medallion with Olympias, Museum of Thessaloniki | |
| Queen of Macedon | |
| Tenure | c. 357–316 BC |
| Born | 375 BC Molossia, Epirus, Tepelena |
| Died | 316 BC (aged 59) Macedonia, Ancient Greece |
| Spouse | Philip II of Macedon |
| Issue | Alexander the Great Cleopatra of Macedon |
| Ancient Greek | Ολυμπιάς |
| House | Molossians |
| Father | Neoptolemus I of Epirus |
| Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
Olympia (Ancient Greek: Ὀλυμπιάς; c. 375–316 BC) was a Greek princess of the Molossians, the eldest daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the sister of Alexander I of Epirus, the fourth wife of Philip II, the king of Macedonia and the mother of Alexander the Great. She was extremely influential in Alexander's life and was recognized as de facto leader of Macedon during Alexander's conquests. According to the 1st century AD biographer, Plutarch, she was a devout member of the orgiastic snake-worshiping cult of Dionysus, and he suggests that she slept with snakes in her bed.
After her son's death, Olympias fought on behalf of Alexander's son Alexander IV, successfully defeating Adea Eurydice. After she was finally defeated by Cassander, his armies refused to execute her, and he finally had to summon family members of those Olympias had previously killed to end her life.