ARSIN'OE (Gk. 'Apciroli). A Greek femi nine name which was especially popular in the :Macedonian dynasty of Egypt, the family of the Ptolemies. The wife of Lagas and the mother of Ptolemy I. was named Arsinoe. Other note worthy princesses who bore the name were (1) ABSINOK 11., horn about B.C. 31e), the daugh ter of Ptolemy I. and Berenice. She was mar ried in her sixteenth year to the aged Lysi machus, King of Thraee. The eldest son of this king. Agatho•les. had previously married Lysan dra, Arsinne's half - sister. Arsinoe's brother, Ptolemy II. Philadelphus, afterwards wedded Arsinoi; 1., the daughter of Lysimachus. Arsinoe II., wishing to secure the throne for her ehildren, prevailed on her husband to put Agathocles to death. Lysandra, however, (led with her own children to Seleuens of Syria. and induced him to declare war against her father-in-la•, who lost his life and kingdom. Arsinoii 11. sought refuge in Macedonia, which was also seized by Seleucus. After a few months, Ptolemy Cerau nus, the half-brother of Arsinoe II.. assassinated Seleueus; and in order to gain possession of Arsinoe's sons, whom he feared as rivals to his ambition, he offered marriage to his half-sister. She consented to the union and opened the gates of the town in which she had taken refuge, whereupon her suitor caused her suns to be killed before her eyes. Arsinoe fled to Egypt ( B.C. 279). Her own brother, Ptolemy Philadelphus, banished his wife, Arsinoe I., to Coptos, and mar
ried Arsinoe II., beginning, thus the series of sister-marriages which were in accordance with the Egyptian custom and exactly opposed to the Greek tradition. Arsinoe II. had no children by her brother, and adopted the three children of Arsinoe I. Her husband showed great affection for her. He named the capital of the Fayum (the Arsinoite Borne) after her, and had a splen did tomb and memorial temple erected to her by the architect Dinochares, who is said to have roofed it with loadstones, so that her iron statue seemed to float in the air. She seems to have assisted Ptolemy in the government. (2) Aust NOi;1 III. was sister and wife of Ptolemy IV., Philopator, who caused her to be murdered stain after the birth to her of an heir. (3) AasIxo IV. was daughter of Ptolemy XI.. Auletes (n.c. 80-51). She lied from Alexandria when Julius Cfrsar was besieged in it (u.c. 48), and was re ceived as queen by the Egyptian troops so long as her brother, Ptolemy XII., Dionysus, remained in the hands of Cesar. Captured by the lloinans, she was led in triumph through Rome; after wards she was liberated, and returned to Egypt. Her famous sister, Cleopatra VII., persuaded the Triumvir Antony to have her murdered at. Ephe sus (n.o. 41) , although she had taken refuge in the temple of Diana.