Arsinoe (fl. 4th c. BCE)

views updated

Arsinoe (fl. 4th c. bce)

Egyptian princess. Name variations: Arsinoë. Pronunciation: Ar-SIN-o-ee. Born during the 4th century bce; married Lagus (Loqus); children: Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt.

She was the first Arsinoe of the Ptolemaic dynasty. A concubine of Philip II of Macedon, she was presented by him in marriage to a Macedonian soldier named Lagus shortly before the birth of her son, Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Thus, the Macedonians assumed that the Ptolemaic house was actually descended from Philip II and Arsinoe.

More From encyclopedia.com