entombed at Heliopolis as part of the rites there. Images
of the Bennu were found on tomb walls from the earliest
eras. A date palm on the Nile bore the same name. The
Bennu was depicted as a heron and was the incarnation
ofthe sun, creating itself out of a fire at the top of the
Persea Tree. The creature originally sprang from the heart
of OSIRIS, but it was a form of the god ATUM. The name
translates as “to rise in brilliance.”
Bent Pyramid See PYRAMID.
Bentresh See TARSET.
Bentresh Stela This is a stela dating to 300 B.C.E.,
relating a story concerning RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224
B.C.E.) at THEBES. The story details the arrival of the
princess of Bekhtan (identified as the land of the HIT-
TITES). She was given to Ramesses as a wife and her
name is listed in the stela as Bentresh, although she was
probably MA’AT HORNEFRURÉ. In the legend promoted by
the Bentresh Stela, the princess was possessed by a
demon when she arrived in Egypt. She was so lovely
that the pharaoh made an effort to free her of her evil
spell. Finally, when all else failed, an image of the god
KHONSwas brought into her presence and the demon
fled. The story appears to have been a commemorative
fancy concerning the marriage of Ramesses II to a Hittite
princess during his reign. The legend appeared in other
variations as well and was probably fostered by the
priests of Khons in an attempt to bolster the reputa-
tion of their god, by linking him with the glories of
Ramesses II.
See also HITTITE ALLIANCE.
Berenib (Berner-ib)(fl. 30th century B.C.E.) Royal
woman of the First Dynasty
Berenib was supposedly the ranking consort of AHA
(Menes; r. 2920 B.C.E.),although she was not the mother
of the heir. When she married Aha, she was probably the
ranking Memphite heiress of the time, the woman bear-
ing the aristocratic titles and privileges. Her marriage to
Ahawould have provided legitimacy to his claims and
stabilized the reign. Her name meant “Sweet of Heart.”
She was provided with a tomb in ABYDOS, and her name
was found on articles discovered in NEITHHOTEP’s tomb as
well.
Berenice (1) (Berenike)(d. 275 B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Ptolemaic Period
She was the consort of PTOLEMY I SOTER(r. 304–284
B.C.E.) and the mother of PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUSand
ARSINOE(2).Awidow from Macedonia, Berenice was
also the mother of MAGASof Cyrene and a daughter
who became the wife of Pyrrhus of Epirus. She was
reportedly a stepsister of Ptolemy I and arrived in Egypt
in the entourage of Queen EURYDICE, the daughter of
King Antipater of Macedonia, given to Ptolemy I as part
of an alliance. Ptolemy I married Berenice around 317
B.C.E., deposing Eurydice and inventing a legendary
royal genealogy to support his choice. Berenice gave
birth to the heir in 308 B.C.E. Eurydice’s children were
removed from the lines of succession as a result.
Berenice died c. 275 B.C.E. and was posthumously dei-
fied by Ptolemy I.Berenice (2) (Berenike Syra)(fl. third century B.C.E.)
Royal woman of the Ptolemaic Period
The daughter of PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246
B.C.E.) and ARSINOE(2), she was given to the Seleucid
ruler ANTIOCHUS II (Theos) in marriage. Antiochus
renounced his queen, Laodice, and established Berenice’s
court at Antioch. When Antiochus II died, Berenice and
her son were killed by Queen Laodice to clear the way for
her offspring. PTOLEMY III EUERGETES(r. 246–221 B.C.E.),
her brother, started the Third Syrian War to avenge
Berenice and invaded the lands of Laodice and her son,
Seleucus II Callinicus.Berenice (3) (Berenike)(fl. third centuryB.C.E.)Royal
woman of the Ptolemaic Period
She was the consort of PTOLEMY III EUERGETES(r. 246–221
B.C.E.) and the daughter of King Magas of Cyrene (mod-
ern Libya) who married Ptolemy III as part of an alliance.
When Demetrius the Fair, a Macedonian prince, was
brought in by some Cyrenian courtiers to thwart the mar-
riage, Berenice arranged his murder. She became Ptolemy
III’s queen in 246 B.C.E.
When Ptolemy set out to avenge the death of his sis-
ter Berenice (2) in Syria, Berenice dedicated a lock of her
hair for his safe return. This lock was transferred to
heaven, according to court astronomical priests, and
became the new constellation, coma berenices,“the Hair
of Berenice.” She gave birth to four children: PTOLEMY IV
PHILOPATOR,MAGAS,ARSINOE(3), and BERENICE(6), who
died as a child. After Ptolemy III died, Berenice served as
regent for five years but was linked to a plot to regain
prominence. Ptolemy IV had her poisoned at the insis-
tence of the courtier Sosibius. Magas was scalded to
death.Berenice (4)(Berenike) (d. c. 80 B.C.E.) Royal woman
of the Ptolemaic Period
Berenice was the daughter of PTOLEMY IX SOTER II (r.
116–110, 109–107, 88–80 B.C.E.)and Queen CLEOPATRA
SELENE. She married her uncle, PTOLEMY X ALEXANDER I(r.
107–88 B.C.E.), and became the queen of Egypt. Ptolemy
X was forced to flee from Egypt because the people
believed that he had killed Queen CLEOPATRA (3).
Recruiting a mercenary army, Ptolemy X retook EgyptBerenice 69