Arsinoe

ARSINOE, the (Greek) name of four Egyptian princesses of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The name was introduced into the Ptolemaic dynasty by the mother of Ptolemy I. This Arsinoe was originally a mistress of Philip II. of Macedon, who presented her to a Macedonian soldier a short time before Ptolemy was born. It was, therefore, assumed by the Macedonians that the Ptolemaic house was really descended from Philip (see I. Daughter of Lysimachus, king of Thrace, first wife of Ptolemy II., Philadelphus (285-247 B.c.). Accused of conspiring against her husband, who perhaps already contemplated marriage with his sister, also named Arsinoe, she was banished to Coptos, in Upper Egypt. Her son Ptolemy was afterwards king under the title of Euergetes (see BERENICE III.).

2. Daughter of Ptolemy I. Soter and Berenice. Born about

316 B.C., she married Lysimachus, king of Thrace. To secure the suc cession for her own children she brought about the murder of her stepson Agathocles. Lysandra, the wife of Agathocles, took refuge with Seleucus, king of Syria, who made war upon Lysim achus and seized his kingdom (281) . After her husband's death Arsinoe fled to Ephesus and afterwards to Cassandreia in Mace donia. Seleucus was murdered in 281 by Ptolemy Ceraunus (half brother of Arsinoe), who thus became master of Thrace and Macedonia. To obtain possession of Cassandreia, he offered his hand in marriage to Arsinoe, and being admitted into the town, killed her two younger sons and banished her to Samothrace. Escaping to Egypt, she became the wife of her full brother Ptolemy II., the first instance of the practice of the Greek kings of Egypt of marrying their sisters. She was a woman of a mas terful character and won great influence. Her husband, though she bore him no children, was devoted to her and paid her all possible honour after her death in 271.

3. Daughter of Ptolemy III. Euergetes, sister and wife of Ptolemy IV. Philopator. She seems to be erroneously called Eurydice by Justin (xxx. 2), and Cleopatra by Livy (xxvii. 4) . Her presence encouraged the troops at the battle of Raphia (217) , in which Antiochus the Great was defeated. Her husband put her to death to please his mistress (between 210 and 205). She was worshipped as Thea philopateris ; she and her husband as Theoi philopatores (Polybius v. 83, 84; xv• 4. Youngest daughter of Ptolemy XIII., Auletes, and sister of the famous Cleopatra. During the siege of Alexandria by Julius Caesar (48) she was recognized as queen by the inhabitants; her brother, the young Ptolemy, being then held captive by Caesar. Caesar took her with him to Rome as a precaution, but after his triumph she was allowed to return to Alexandria. After the battle of Phillipi she was put to death by order of Mark An tony, at the request of Cleopatra (Dio Cassius xlii. 39; Caesar, Bell. civ., iii. I I 2 ; Appian., Bell. civ., v. 9).

BIBLIOGRAPHY.-For general authorities see article PTOLEMIES. The Bibliography.-For general authorities see article PTOLEMIES. The article "Arsinoe" in Pauly-Wissowa's Realencyklopadie contains a full list of those who bore the name, and also of the numerous towns which were called after the various princesses.