Alexander Helios
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Alexander Helios (Greek: ? ????a?d??? ?????, 25 December 40 BC - Between 29 BC - 25 BC) was a Ptolemaic Prince and was the eldest son to Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. His younger twin was Ptolemaic Princess Cleopatra Selene (II). He is of Greek and Roman heritage.
Cleopatra named him Alexander, in honor of her Greek Macedonian heritage and after her maternal grandfather, who had the name Alexander. Various Pharaohs of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, had sons who had the name Alexander. According to Plutarch (Antony, clause 36), his second name in Ancient Greek means Sun and the historian explains that his second name was the counterpart of his twin sisters second name Selene Moon.
He 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. Others, who were, already occupied these three kingdoms: Artavasdes II of Armenia (he was captured by Mark Antony), Artavasdes I of Media and Phraates IV of Parthia. His parents probably wanted him to succeed these thrones overtime. In 33 BC, for unknown political reasons, he was engaged to Iotapa, a Princess of Media and daughter of King Artavasdes I of Media.
His parents were defeated by Octavian (future Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus) during the naval battle at Actium, Greece in 31 BC. The next year, his parents committed suicide as Octavian and his army invaded Egypt. The three children became orphans. Iotapa left Egypt, to return to her father. Her fate is unknown, afterwards.
Octavian took him, his sister and his brother Ptolemy Philadelphus (Cleopatra) from Egypt to Italy. Octavian celebrated his military triumph in Rome, by parading the three orphans in heavy golden chains in the streets of Rome. The chains were so heavy, they couldnt walk. The three siblings were taken by Octavian and given to Octavia Minor to be raised in her house in Rome. Octavia Minor became their guardian, was also Octavians second elder sister and their fathers formal wife.
The fate of Alexander Helios is unknown. Augustus most probably didnt murder him, because he spared his life. Plutarch states, that the only child that Octavian killed out of Antonys children was Marcus Antonius Antyllus. Nothing is mentioned about any military service, political career, if he was involved in any scandals, any marriage plans or any descendants. If he survived to adulthood, it would have been mentioned in the ancient sources. Alexander most probably died through illness in Rome, through the climate change of the two countries. This is the most reasonable possibility and the logical choice.
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Sources:
http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/helios.htm
http://www.ruark.org/coins/Mauretania/
Plutarch - Antony
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