Arsenuphis (Harsenuphis) A Nubian deity associ-
ated with the goddess ISIS, Arsenuphis wore a plumed
CROWN. He received tributes from pharaohs of the New
Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.) and had a cult center at
MEROË. He was addressed as “the Good Companion,” Iry-
hemes-nefer, and was worshiped at DENDEREH. In the
reign of PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATOR (221–205 B.C.E.), a
The opening to the shrine of Hathor at Dendereh
ISIS. The Meroë ruler, Arkamani, aided Ptolemy IV in this
project.
See also GODS AND GODDESSES.
Arses(d. 336 B.C.E.)Ruler of Persia and Egypt, who was
murdered
He reigned only from 338 B.C.E. until his untimely death.
The youngest son of ARTAXERXES III OCHUSand Queen
Atossa, Arses came to the throne when a eunuch court
official, BAGOAS, murdered the king and his eldest sons.
Arses witnessed an invasion of Asia Minor (modern
Turkey) by Philip of Macedonia. Alert to the treacheries
of Bagoas, Arses tried to poison the eunuch but was slain
with his children. His successor was DARIUS III.
Arsinoe (1)(fl. third century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Ptolemaic Period
She was the consort of PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS (r.
285–246 B.C.E.). The daughter of LYSIMACHUS, the king of
Thrace, she became the ranking queen of “Great Wife” of
the ruler. Arsinoe bore him three children, including
PTOLEMY III EUERGETES, his heir. The marriage, which
took place c. 282 B.C.E., was part of an alliance between
Thrace and Egypt against Syria.
Despite producing an heir, Arsinoe was repudiated
when Ptolemy Philadelphus’s sister, another ARSINOE(2),
came to the court. She was accused of trying to assassi-
nate Ptolemy Philadelphus and was banished to the city
of KOPTOSin Upper Egypt. Ptolemy’s sister married the
king and adopted Arsinoe (1)’s children.
Arsinoe (2)(fl. third century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Ptolemaic Period
She was the daughter of PTOLEMY I SOTER(r. 304–284
B.C.E.)and Queen BERENICE(1).Asister of PTOLEMY II
PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.), Arsinoe was married to
LYSIMACHUS, the king of Thrace. She received three cities
onthe Black Sea and another one in northern Greece
upon her marriage. To gain access to the Thracian throne
for her own children, Arsinoe charged the heir to the
throne, AGATHOCLES(1), of attempting to murder Lysi-
machus. The result of Lysimachus’s decision to exe-
cute his son was a war between Thrace and the Seleucid
kingdom.
Lysimachus died in 281, and Arsinoe fled to her half
brother, Ptolemy Ceraunus. When she entered Cassan-
dria, a city in northern Greece, Ptolemy Ceraunus exe-
cuted her two younger sons. She fled to ALEXANDRIAand
arrived c. 279 B.C.E.
Charges were made against Ptolemy II Philadelphus’s
wife, ARSINOE(1) of Thrace, and she was sent to KOPTOS
inUpper Egypt, in exile. Arsinoe married her brother,
and he received the title “Brother Loving,” Philadelphus,
as a result. Arsinoe aided Ptolemy II in his war against
the Syrians (274–271 B.C.E.). She was given many titles
and honors, including the Arsinoeion, a great shrine in
Alexandria. A part of the FAIYUMregion was also dedi-
cated to her name. At her death she became the goddess
Philadelphus.Arsinoe (3)(fl. third century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Ptolemaic Period
She was the consort of PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATOR(221–205
B.C.E.). They were brother and sister, as she was the
daughter of PTOLEMY III EUERGETESand Queen BERENICE
(3). In 217, Arsinoe accompanied her husband to the
Egyptian army camp in Palestine, where she encouraged
the troops to win against the Seleucids in a battle there.
She gave birth to the heir,PTOLEMY V EPIPHANUS, in 210
B.C.E.
The court under Ptolemy IV Philopator was quite
depraved. Arsinoe tried to stem the debauchery and made
many enemies among the courtiers. When Ptolemy IV
Philopator died in 205, these courtiers plotted to murder
Arsinoe, accomplishing that deed in 204 B.C.E. The heir
was protected by the courtiers who did not announce the
death of Ptolemy IV or Arsinoe until Ptolemy V
Epiphanus was crowned. Rioting resulted from word of
her murder.
See also AGATHOCLES(2); TLEPOLEMUS.Arsinoe (4)(fl. first centuryB.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Ptolemaic Period
She was the daughter of PTOLEMY XIINeos Dionysius
(80–58, 55–51 B.C.E.) and sister of the famed CLEOPATRA
VII(51–30 B.C.E.). Arsinoe attempted to rouse the Egyp-
tians against Cleopatra VII and Julius CAESAR. When
Caesar rounded up the Egyptians aligned against him,
Arsinoe escaped. Her patron, Ganymedes, aided her in
her flight and she joined the army led by ACHIL-
LAS, intent on destroying the Romans and her sister.
When Achillas argued with her, Arsinoe ordered him
executed.
In a treaty with Caesar, Ganymedes exchanged Arsi-
noe for the captive PTOLEMY XIII. When the Romans con-
quered the Egyptian forces, Arsinoe was taken to Rome,
where she was led through the streets as part of Caesar’s
triumph. After this humiliation, Arsinoe went to Ephesus
in Asia Minor and took refuge in the temple of Artemis
there. In 41 B.C.E., however, she was hunted down by
Marc ANTONY’s agents and slain because she posed a
threat to Cleopatra VII. Her death caused a scandal in46 Arsenuphis