Alexander Helios

Alexander Helios (Greek: ο Αλέξανδρος Ήλιος, 25 December 40 BC - between 29 BC - 25 BC) was a Ptolemaic prince and was the eldest son of Greek Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman triumvir Mark Antony. His fraternal twin was Ptolemaic princess Cleopatra Selene II. He was of Greek and Roman heritage. Cleopatra named him Alexander in honor of her Greek Macedonian heritage and after her maternal grandfather. His second name in Ancient Greek means "Sun"; this was the counterpart of his twin sister’s second name "Selene", meaning "Moon".cite encyclopedia | last = Mason | first = Charles Peter | authorlink = | title = Alexander | editor = William Smith | encyclopedia = Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology | volume = 1 | pages = 112 | publisher = Little, Brown and Company | location = Boston | year = 1867 | url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0121.html ]

Life

Alexander Helios was born, raised, and educated in Alexandria, Egypt. In late 34 BC, at the Donations of Alexandria, he was made ruler of Armenia, Media and Parthia. These kingdoms were, in fact, already ruled by Artavasdes II of Armenia (he was captured by Mark Antony), Artavasdes I of Media and Phraates IV of Parthia. He was probably intended to only control these thrones eventually. In 33 BC, he was engaged to Iotapa, a Princess of Media and daughter of King Artavasdes I of Media.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian (future Roman Emperor Augustus) at the Battle of Actium, Greece in 31 BC. The next year, they committed suicide as Octavian and his army invaded Egypt. Iotapa left Egypt to return to her father and later married King Mithridates III of Commagene, who was of Armenian and Greek descent.

When Octavian became master of Alexandria, he spared Alexander, but took him and his sister and his brother Ptolemy Philadelphus from Egypt to Italy. Octavian celebrated his military triumph in Rome by parading the three orphans in heavy golden chains in the streets. The chains were so heavy that they couldn’t walk. The three siblings were given to Octavia Minor to be raised in her house in Rome under her guardianship. They were generously received by Octavia, who educated them with her own children. Octavia Minor was Octavian's second elder sister and was Mark Antony's former wife. The fate of Alexander Helios is unknown. Plutarch states that the only child that Octavian killed out of Antony’s children was Marcus Antonius Antyllus. The ancient sources do not mention any military service, political career, involvement in scandals, marriage plans or descendants; if he had survived to adulthood, it is thought at least one of these would probably have been noted. [Cassius Dio, xlix. 32, 40, 41, 44, l. 25, li. 21] [Plutarch, "Anton." 36, 54, 87] [Livy, "Epit." 131,132]

References

Other sources

* Plutarch - Antony
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* [http://www.lunalucifera.com/Mauretania/index.html Cleopatra Selene II & Juba II]

External links

* [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sg/sg7957.html Coinage of Alexander with his mother]