Kate
Tiffany
Honors 141
Character Report
September 10, 2002
Arsinoe IV
I. Historical Context of Arsinoe IV's life
A. Ptolemy XII flees Egypt 58 BC. Returns in 55 BC.
B. Ptolemy XII dies in 51 BC, and Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII
joint rulers.
II. Brief Biography of Arsinoe IV
A. Born 68-62 BC; Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra V?
B. Coregent with Ptolemy XIII 50-49 BC?
C. Joint ruler of Cyprus with Ptolemy XIV, 25-30 Aug. 48; Caesar
D. Sept. 48 declared Queen? (army)
E. Oct. 48 coregent with Ptolemy XIII against Cleopatra VII (i.e.
Alexandrian War)
F. 13 Jan. 47 captured by Julius Caesar
G. 19 Jul 46 marched in Caesar's triumphal march in Rome
H. Exiled to Ephesus (not beheaded)
I. 41 Executed by Antony (request of Cleopatra VII)
J. Buried in Ephesus?
III. Relationship with Cleopatra
A. Sister, but tried to murder each other
B. Internal fighting weakened Egypt -Rome
IV. Assessments of Arsinoe IV
A. Years of inbreeding in dynasty
B. Only child of Ptolemy XII not to rule
C. Younger sister complex and mentality
V. Principal Source
A. Bennett, Chris, ArsinoeIV
B. Chauveau, Michel, Egypt in the Age of Cleopatra pg 25
C. Grant, Michael, Cleopatra pgs. 3,28,68,71,74,79,85,120,111,121
Summary:
Erin Bumgarner
Arsinoe IV was born into a time of political turmoil in Egypt.
She was born in between 68 and 62 B.C. to Ptolemy XII and most likely
Cleopatra V, however we are unsure that Cleopatra was her mother.
In 58 B.C., Ptolemy XII fled Egypt. He then returns in 55 B.C. He
died in 51 B.C., and Arsinoe's siblings Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy
XIII became joint rulers. Arsinoe possible may have ruled with Ptolemy
XIII in 50 B.C. before Cleopatra gained power. In August of 48 B.C.,
she was a co-ruler of Cyprus with Ptolemy XIV. Some think that she
was declared Queen by the army in September of 48 B.C. In October
of 48, she fought with Ptolemy XIII against Cleopatra in the Alexandrian
War. On the 13th of January 47, Arsinoe was captured by Julius Caesar
at the Battle of the Nile. On July 19th, 46 B.C., Caesar made her
march in his triumphal march into Rome. He then exiled her to Ephesus
where we suspect that she is buried. In 41 B.C., Cleopatra VII persuaded
Marc Antony to execute Arsinoe. She never had a healthy relationship
with her sister Cleopatra. Their constant warring weakened Egypt
and made it easier for Rome to take over. It is said that she was
affected by years of traditional inbreeding in her family. She was
the only child of Ptolemy XII to never have her chance to rule Egypt.
Arsinoe is known for having the younger sister complex in that she
always was envious of her older sister; however, she was never able
to accomplish the feats that Cleopatra did.