People > Arsinoe III
Arsinoe III
Background
Arsinoe III (235-204 BCE) was the daughter of Queen Berenice II and Ptolemy III Euergetes who ruled over the Ptolemaic Kingdom based out of the former satrapy of Egypt. She later would marry her brother Ptolemy IV Philopater and become the Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Powerless to arrest the decline of the Ptolemaic kingdom under her debauched husband’s rule, the popular queen was eventually murdered by the royal ministers.In 217 Arsinoe accompanied her brother to Raphia in Palestine, reputedly encouraging the Egyptian troops before their victorious encounter with the army of the Middle Eastern Seleucid kingdom. Married to Ptolemy after the battle, she gave birth to the future Ptolemy V Epiphanes about 210. Thereafter she was sequestered in the palace, while Ptolemy’s depraved male and female favourites ruined both king and government. Although Arsinoe apparently disapproved of the sordid state of the court, she was unable to exert any influence. Ptolemy IV Philopator died in 205, and his ministers, fearing retribution from Arsinoe, arranged her murder about a year later. Neither the king’s nor the queen’s death was announced until the child Ptolemy had been enthroned. Arsinoe had attained some popularity, and rioting followed the news of her assassination.Arsinoe III Thea PhilopatorQueen of EgyptOktadrachmon Arsinoe III.jpgBornc. 246–245 BCDied204 BCSpousePtolemy IVIssuePtolemy V EpiphanesFull nameArsinoe III Thea PhilopatorDynastyPtolemaicFatherPtolemy IIIMotherBerenice IIArsinoe III Philopator (Ancient Greek: Ἀρσινόη ἡ Φιλοπάτωρ, which means "Arsinoe the father-loving", 246 or 245 BC – 204 BC) was Queen of Egypt (220 – 204 BC). She was a daughter of Ptolemy III and Berenice II.[1]Between late October and early November 220 BC she was married to her brother, Ptolemy IV. She took active part in the government of the country, at least in the measure that it was tolerated by the all-powerful minister Sosibius. She rode at the head of infantry and cavalry to fight Antiochus the Great at the battle of Raphia in 217 BC. She was the mother of Ptolemy V. In summer, 204 BC she was murdered in a palace coup, shortly after the death of her husband.[2] Eratosthenes wrote a manuscript called the Arsinoe, which is lost, the subject being a memoir of the queen. It is quoted by many ancient scholars.[citation needed]Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt
King | Title | Meaning | Reign | Wife/Co-Ruler | Reign |
Ptolemy I | Soter | Savior | 305-285 BCE | Berenice I | Reign |
Ptolemy II | Philadelphus | Sister-loving | 285-246 BCE | Arsinoe I | Reign |
Ptolemy III | Euergetes I | The Benefactor | 246-221 BCE | Berenice II | Reign |
Ptolemy IV | Philopater | Father-loving | 221-204 BCE | Arsinoe III | Reign |
Ptolemy V | Epiphanes | The Illustrious | 204-180 BCE | Reign | |
Ptolemy VI | Philometor | Mother-loving | 180-145 BCE | Cleopatra I Cleopatra II & Ptolemy VIII Ptolemy Eupator | 180–176 BCE 170–163 BCE 153–150 BCE |
Ptolemy VII | Neos Philopator | Father-loving | 145 BCE | Cleopatra II | Reign |
Ptolemy VIII | Euergetes II | The Benefactor | 170–116 BCE | Cleopatra II | 145–131/130 BCE |
Cleopatra II | 124–116 BCE | ||||
Ptolemy VIII | Euergetes II | The Benefactor | 170–116 BCE | Cleopatra II | 124–116 BCE |
Ptolemy IX | Soter II | The Savior | 116-107 BCE | Cleopatra III | 107–101 BCE |
Ptolemy X | Alexander I | 107-88 BCE | Cleopatra III | 107–101 BCE | |
Ptolemy IX | Soter II | The Savior | 88-80 BCE | ||
Ptolemy XI | Alexander II | 80 BCE | Berenice III | 80 BCE | |
Ptolemy XIII | Neos Dionysos/Auletes | New Dionysus/Flute Player | 80–51 BCE | Berenice IV | 58–55 BCE |
Cleopatra VII | 51-30 BCE | Reign | |||
Ptolemy XIII Physcon | Dionysos | 51-47 BCE | Reign | ||
Ptolemy XIV | Philopator | Father-loving | 47-44 BCE | Reign | |
Ptolemy XV | Caesarion | Little Caesar | 44-30 BCE | Reign |