Alexander Helios

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Alexander Helios (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Ήλιος, 25 December 40 BC – ? ) was the son of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Mark Antony, and the twin brother of Cleopatra Selene.

Although they were still children, for reasons of state he was married to Iotapa (b. 43 BC), daughter of the king of Media, in 33 B.C.. In the autumn of 34 BC, at the Donations of Alexandria, Alexander was crowned ruler of Armenia, Media and Parthia. Those titles were largely nominal, however, because all three thrones were already occupied by others: respectively, Artavasdes II of Armenia, Artavasdes I of Media and Phraates IV of Parthia. His parents probably intended that he should succeed to those thrones in due course.

After Octavian (Caesar Augustus) invaded Egypt and Alexander's parents committed suicide, he, his sister, Cleopatra Selene, and younger brother, Ptolemy Philadelphus, were taken to Rome and paraded through the streets in golden chains. The three siblings were raised by Octavia Minor, a sister of Octavian to whom Mark Antony had been married. But after Cleopatra Selene (II) married Juba II (approx. 26 BC), Alexander and his younger brother disappeared. It is suspected that they were murdered, coincidentally at the same time Herod the Great was visiting Rome; given Herod's hatred of the Ptolemaic dynasty, strong suspicions exist that he may have convinced Augustus to get rid of the two boys.

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