Berenice was born in Telmessos in Lycia possibly between 214 BC-209 BC, during the reign of her paternal grandfather Lysimachus of Telmessos, who ruled from February 240 BC until his death in 206 BC. She was raised in the city. She was born at the time, when her distant paternal relative Arsinoe III of Egypt was an Egyptian Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom from 220 BC until July or August 204 BC. When her paternal grandfather died, her father Ptolemy II ruled as the third and final Ptolemaic Client King of Telmessos, as he ruled from 206 BC until at least 181 BC. Her father was also the fourth and final ruler from the Lysimachid dynasty, which is also known as the Ptolemaic/Lysimachid dynasty in Lycia to rule the city. Berenice was named in honor of Berenice II, the first maternal cousin of her paternal great-grandfather who was also a paternal second cousin to her paternal grandfather. Berenice II was an Egyptian Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, was the wife of her paternal first cousin Pharaoh Ptolemy III Euergetes and mother ofArsinoe III and Ptolemy IV Philopator. She was also named after another Berenice, another daughter of Berenice II and Ptolemy III who was the sister to Arsinoe III. It seems likely that her family had relative autonomy from Ptolemaic control increased. As Ptolemaic power declined rapidly and dramatically outside of Egypt after the death of Ptolemy III Euergetes in 222 BC, probably Berenice's family with her relatives had the motive and opportunity for divorcing themselves from Ptolemaic suzerainty. At an unknown date during her paternal grandfather's reign, Berenice's family and relatives were enjoying excellent cordial relations with the Seleucid monarchAntiochus III the Great. Antiochus III reigned from 222 BC until 187 BC, was an enemy of the Ptolemies who was at the time expanding Seleucid power in Asia Minor. In 197 BC, the region of Lycia was no longer under Ptolemaic control as it was under the occupation of Antiochus III. Her father, Ptolemy II became a Client King of Telmessos under Seleucid rule. By this time Ptolemy II with his family having excellent relations with Antiochus III reveals they had broken away from Ptolemaic influence, however there is a possibility their family connections with the Ptolemaic dynasty wasn't wholly broken. The friendly relations between Ptolemy II and his family with Antiochus III is attested when in 193 BC Berenice, was appointed by Antiochus III as chief-priestess of the Carian Satrapy, of the Seleucid Royal Cult of Laodice. Laodice was a Seleucid Queen and the cousin-wife of Antiochus III. According to an intact stone inscription found in NahavandIran dated in 193 BC, Berenice's father is described as a relative of Antiochus III. This reflects his court title and in fact, Ptolemy II and Antiochus III are distantly related. Below are two surviving letters translated from Greek regarding Berenice's chief-priestess appointment. The letters reveal her family's relations and status with Antiochus III. The first letter is from Antiochus III addressed to the Strategos of the Carian Satrapy and is the above-mentioned stone inscription from Nahavand, Iran: The second letter is addressed to the Hyparch of the district from the Strategos of the Carian satrapy: After her chief-priestess appointment, not much more is known on Berenice.
