For decades, scholars believed that a skeleton discovered by archaeologists in the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus in 1929 belonged to Arsinoe IV, Cleopatra's half-sister. This revealed that the remains actually belonged to a young boy. which overturned long-standing speculation.
Researchers in Austria have determined that a person unearthed nearly a century ago was a teenage boy who suffered from developmental problems. Analysis detailed on January 10th study in the journal scientific reportFinally putting an end to speculation that the skeleton might belong to Arsinoe IV.
Cleopatra VII, last ruler of the Ptolemaic Empire of Egypt. It is celebrated for its political skill and strategic alliances that influenced the ancient Mediterranean world. She was eventually executed on Cleopatra's orders. It was part of her attempt to consolidate power.
In 1929, a team including Austrian archaeologist Josef Keil discovered a sarcophagus in the remains of the “Octagon”, an impressive burial chamber. with architectural elements inspired by Egypt. It was built on the main street of Ephesos in ancient Greece in modern-day Turkey. Archaeologists found a complete skeleton, and Keil took its skull.
Keil suggested that the funeral was for an important person. which may be a young woman More than two decades later, Josef Weninger, head of the Institute of Anthropology at the University of Vienna Agreeing with this assessment, then in 1982 archaeologists excavating discovered skeletal remains in various areas of the burial chamber.
In the following decade Octagon's Questionable Egyptian Influence It held a prominent position in the ancient city. And the fact that Arsinoe Accused of being assassinated in Ephesus around 41 B.C. Base of rebellion against Cleopatra This led to speculation that the skeleton belonged to the pharaoh's unfortunate sister.
Now we know it isn't. The latest interdisciplinary team is led by Gerhard Weber from the University of Vienna. The skull was digitized using computed tomography. (a 3D imaging technique that uses X-rays) before anthropological analysis. This led them to conclude that the person in question had been a boy between the ages of 11 and 14, possibly from the Italian peninsula or Sardinia.
He clearly has developmental abnormalities. This includes a deformed skull and an underdeveloped upper jaw. These conditions can cause severe chewing problems. This was determined by researchers from the abnormal wear and tear on his two remaining teeth. Researchers aren't yet sure what might cause the growth disorder.
However, what is interesting is The remains date to between 205 and 36 BCE. This overlapped with Arsinoe's presumed lifespan. Genetic testing also confirmed that the skull matched the remaining skeleton found in the crypt in the 1980s, where the team had taken samples.
“From repeated testing The skull and both femurs clearly show the presence of a Y chromosome, in other words, a male,” Weber said at the University of Vienna. statement– Researchers speculate that the boy may have been a Roman living in Ephesus.
While scientists are still unsure who this boy really is, But they knew it wasn't Cleopatra's rebellious sister. This means that the search for the true Arsinoe IV remains.