Arsinoë III  [abt 235 - 204 BCE]

daughter of Ptolemy III & Berenice II
sister-wife of Ptolemy IV
mother of Ptolemy V

A popular queen whose attempts to restore Egypt's fortunes were thwarted by her debauched brother's ministers, who kept her a virtual prisoner of the palace & murdered her when she asserted her authority after his death. She was deified by her son after he reached majority.

Reference: Justin, Epitome of 'Philippic History' of Pompeius Trogus 30.2.*

* Justin mistakenly calls Ptolemy IV's wife "Eurydice," perhaps confusing her momentarily with the first wife of Ptolemy I. Other details of this account may also be distorted by the author's blatant moralizing.

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