This constellation owes its name to Berenice (Veronica), the wife of the Egyptian king Ptolemy III Evergetus. She cut off her beautiful hair and placed it in the temple of Aphrodite in gratitude to the goddess for the victory over the Assyrians granted to her husband. The next day the astronomer priest Conon informed the royal couple that the sacrifice had been accepted, and he observed new stars in the form of women's hair at night