Jezebel (fl.

9th century BCE) is a princess, identified in the Hebrew Book of Kings as the daughter of Ethbaal, King of Tyre (Phoenicia) and the wife of Ahab, king of north Israel.

According to genealogies given in Josephus and other classical sources, she is the great-aunt of Dido, Queen of Carthage.

Jezebel is a power behind the throne.

Ahab and Jezebel allow temples of Baal to operate in Israel, and that religion receives royal patronage.

After Ahab's death, Ahaziah and Jehoram, his sons by Jezebel, accede to the throne.

The prophet Elisha has one of his servants anoint Jehu as king to overthrow the house of Ahab.

Jehu kills Jehoram as he attempts to flee in his war chariot.

Jehu confronts Jezebel in Jezreel, where he incites her court officials to murder the queen by throwing her out of a window and leave her corpse to be eaten by dogs.

Jezebel becomes associated with false prophets.

In some interpretations, her dressing in finery and putting on makeup before her death leads to the association of use of cosmetics with "painted women" or prostitutes.