Alexander Helios
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Alexander Helioswas a Ptolemaic prince and the son ofCleopatra VIIandMark Antony.Alexander had a twin sister named Cleopatra Selene II. Both of their names had special meanings; Alexander's last name (Helios) means "Sun,"and his sister's last name (Selene) means"Moon."Cleopatra named her son after the famous leaderAlexander the Great.It's not known exactly when Alexander died, but it might have been between the years 29 and 25 BC.
| Alexander Helios | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Ptolemaic Egypt | |
 Bronze statuette that could belong to Alexander Helios, 1st century BC,Metropolitan Museum of Art | |
| Born | 40 BC (exact date unknown) Alexandria,Egypt |
| Died | possibly between 29 and 25 BC Rome,Roman Empire |
| Dynasty | Ptolemaic |
| Father | Mark Antony |
| Mother | Cleopatra VII Philopator |
Life[change|change source]
Alexander Helios was born inAlexandriaaround 40 BC. He was the second son ofCleopatra.Around 34 BC Cleopatra and her husband,Mark Antony,gave Alexander the titles of ruler of Armenia, Media, Parthia, and any lands between theEuphratesandIndus Riverthat were still not discovered. However, these lands were already ruled by other people at that time.[1]
In 33 BC, Alexander gotengagedto Iotapa, a princess from Media. Her father was Artavasdes I. When Mark Antony and Cleopatra lostbattle of Actiumin 31 BC, They killed themselves and Lotapa left Egypt to go back to her father.[2][3]
WhenAugustuswon against Cleopatra and Mark Antony, he didn't hurt Alexander or hissiblings.Instead, he took them fromEgyptto Rome.[3]He gave the children to his sister Octavia Minor to take care of. Octavia took good care of them and taught them well.[4][5]
Later life[change|change source]
The only other information we have about Alexander Helios and his brother Ptolemy Philadelphus when they arrived at Rome is fromCassius Diobooks. Cassius Dio explained that when Cleopatra Selene II married KingJuba II,Augustusallowed Alexander and Ptolemy to live because of the marriage.[6]Alexander is not mentioned in any more historical records after that.
References[change|change source]
- ↑Plutarch,Antony54.6-9;Cassius Dioxlix. 41.1-3; Livy,periochae131
- ↑"Ptolemaic Dynasty Affiliates".tyndalehouse.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-16.Retrieved2017-06-09.
- ↑3.03.1Cassius Dio xlix. 40.2; xlix. 44.1-4; li. 16.2; Plutarch,Antony53.12
- ↑Cassius Dio li. 21.8
- ↑Plutarch,Antony87.1;Suetonius,Augustus17.5
- ↑Cassius Dio li. 15.6; compare Plutarch,Antony87.1-2
Sources[change|change source]
- "Alexander Helios".Archived fromthe originalon 2003-11-02.
- Cleopatra Selene II & Juba II
- Plutarch-Antony